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EBE’s Originals Marks 25th Anniversary

EBE’s Originals, located at 135 E. Fairmount Ave. in Lakewood, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. From left, owner Bobbi Bragg and her daughter, manager Andrea Bragg. Submitted photo

The idea may have sparked in an attic.

But 25 years later, EBE’s Originals has become the definitive consignment store of the area, combining a large collection of modern, trendy fashion with affordable, hard-to-beat prices.

For owner Bobbi Bragg, it’s hard to believe 25 years has come and gone.

”I don’t feel that old,” she said, with a smile. “But it feels good. It feels like an accomplishment … like ‘I can’t believe I did that.”’

EBE’s Originals, located at 135 E. Fairmount Ave. in Lakewood, was born out of a humble desire to clean the attic, Bragg said. A Frewsburg resident and mother of four, Bragg said she had plenty of children’s clothes lying around, and decided a consignment store may be an ideal way to put them to good use.

”I asked my friends if they wanted to help me and inventory a store … and it just worked,” Bragg said. ”That’s how it started with the name … ‘Everybody Else’s Originals.”’

Bragg, who would branch out into three locations, later merged her inventory into one large Lakewood store. Today, the store marks about 3,000-plus pieces of clothing a week and has an inventory of at least 35,000 to 45,000 items on the floor, including all types of accessories, handbags, shoes and belts.

The store only accepts clothes considered modern and of good quality and purchased new within the last three years. Consigners can drop off up to 30 items a month, but they must be clean and in ”ready-to-sell” condition. When their items are sold, they can receive 50 percent of the selling price.

Every Tuesday, all items are half-price storewide.

”Customers are getting much better quality for a lot less money, and the consigner is getting some of their money back — which is great,” Bragg said. ”If you throw a lawn sale, people want to nickel and dime you to death. For those who’d rather sell online, I don’t want some stranger showing up at my door.”

Indeed, the consignment store concept was so successful for Bragg she decided to start a home decor addition to EBE’s Originals called The Store Next Door last year.

”It was kind of a bucket list thing,” Bragg said. ”I just wanted to see how it would roll … to see if I could try to do the same type of thing. There’s a lot of antique stores in the area that and we wanted to do something a little bit different … to come off more like your TJ Maxx, or Pier 1 and Pottery Barn.”

For Bragg, both stores offer customers a quality shopping experience, fully computerized and accepting of credit and debit cards.

”We’re just a really modern store,” she said.

EBE’s Originals will celebrate their 25th anniversary on April 1, with refreshments, discounts and more. Starting April 1, customers can also stop in and pick up their preferred customer card.

For more information, visit EBE’s Originals and EBE’s Home Decor on Facebook or call 763-6990. The store is open daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The store is closed Sunday.

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