New Shop Taking on Crowded Consignment Market

There are plenty of clothing consignment shops in Bethesda.

Current Boutique owner Carmen Lopez and store manager Amanda DeSanto think there’s room for another.

The pair opened a shop in August at 7220 Wisconsin Ave. and will hold a grand opening celebration tomorrow (Saturday).

The company specializes in upscale brands, and is careful in its selection of which items to buy from customers.

“I think we stand out because of the quality of the things we take, unlike your typical consignment shop” DeSanto said. “In this market, knowing that people will bring in the best stuff and having savvy shoppers works perfectly for us.”

DeSanto managed Current Boutique’s flagship store in Arlington, Va., for two years. The Bethesda store, which stocks women’s clothes, jewelry, shoes and designer handbags, will be Lopez’s fourth in just more than five years.

Consigners receive half of the selling price.

“There’s a little more competition here, but Carmen and [Carmen's husband] Chris do such a great job of designing the store,” DeSanto said. “It’s that attention to detail and customer service that we focus on.”

Consignment shops already in Bethesda include Second Chance Boutique (4920 Fairmont Ave.), Reddz Trading (7801 Woodmont Ave.) and Woman’s Boutique Consignments (8118 Woodmont Ave.).

Update 2:50 p.m.: We are told Second Chance Boutique closed last week. The store’s phone number is disconnected.

The previous tenant in Current Boutique’s new space was a recruitment agency for temporary staffers, so there was quite a bit of remodeling to do.

Lopez replaced the blue carpet and with a hardwood-style floor, had the walls painted yellow and designed the fitting area with a yellow couch and black and white curtains.

Tomorrow, Current Boutique will offer free gifts and refreshments to customers as part of the grand opening event.