Former consignment shop celebrates evolution to all-new kids products for sale
Kathi Lafferty, owner of The Growing Tree in Kennett Square cuts the ribbon celebrating the reinvention of the toy store, Friday. Behind her, left store manager Louise D’Amico, right Cheryl Kuhns, Executive Director of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce. Immediately behind Lafferty is her husband Tom, and back left, Dennis Rowan and various well-wishers.
KENNETT SQUARE — While it might have been one of the borough’s better-kept secrets for years, The Growing Tree, located below The Mushroom Cap on State Street probably won’t be for long.
Last Friday, owner Kathi Lafferty, friends, family, customers and various members of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the a new beginning for the toy shop, which has evolved into selling only new and must-have products for kids ranging from newborns to about age eight, according to Lafferty, who also owns and operates The Mushroom Cap upstairs (and in her spare time, serves as Festival Coordinator for the Mushroom Festival, one of the region’s largest annual civic events).
Although the consignment business dates back many years — something Lafferty originally started with her daughter — she said Friday she thought the time had come for a new approach. While the Growing Tree always had some mix of new product along with the consignment items, there seemed to be a lot of interest in new items, especially from those too busy to want to deal with the hassle of big-box stores.
Landenberg author Dalen Keyes and Growing Tree manager Louise D’Amico show off just a couple of Keyes books during a signing event at the store, Friday night.
The featured product line includes Melissa & Doug products, Namesake Bears and NameTrains and a wide range of educational toys, arts and crafts and just plain old fun stuff for kids.
The store has been completely remodeled and is a delight of color and light.
Helping to celebrate the new Growing Tree, Friday night, was local author Dalen Keyes was on hand to sign books and meet and greet customers. Keyes, a resident of Landenberg, is the author of Just A Quilt? and many other other popular books.
The store is located at 114 West State Street (lower level) in downtown Kennett Square.
