YWCA Evanston/North Shore is adding to its family of social enterprises. The Crowded Closet, a consignment boutique located at 808 Dempster Street in Evanston, will now be owned and managed by YWCA Evanston/North Shore.
Like the YWCA Shop for Good in Wilmette, which YWCA Evanston/North Shore acquired in 2018, all proceeds from the Crowded Closet will go to support YWCA’s domestic violence and economic advancement programs, helping women and children throughout northeastern Cook County.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to steward Crowded Closet’s legacy into the future,” said Karen Singer, CEO and president of YWCA Evanston/North Shore. “We’re looking forward to the synergy between the Crowded Closet, a consignment boutique, and the YWCA Shop for Good, a resale shop. We are excited by the possibilities these enterprises offer to support our mission.”
She added, “We’re grateful for the generosity of Mickie Donohue and Cindy Caldwell and we deeply thank them for passing the baton to us for the next chapter of the Crowded Closet.”
Donohue and Caldwell are retiring after operating the Crowded Closet for four decades.
“Rather than shutter the boutique, we are thrilled it will continue under the ownership of YWCA Evanston/North Shore,” said Donohue and Caldwell. “We fully support this transition and have complete confidence the shop will be in good hands.”
The Crowded Closet will reopen on August 13 at its current location, 808 Dempster Street. Beginning August 13 and throughout the month of August, it will be open for shopping and consigning during these days and times:
- Thursdays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Fridays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Learn more about YWCA Crowded Closet at www.ywca-ens.org/crowded-closet. The YWCA Shop for Good, Crowded Closet’s sister shop located at 1107 Central Avenue in Wilmette, is open for shopping Tuesdays and Thursdays noon – 5 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Learn more at www.ywca-ens.org/shop.