The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Baby Business: Willow Glen residents Jared and Debbie Kelner say their new store allows them to spend more time together as a family.

Used-clothing store helps keep this family together

The Well Dressed Baby sells quality clothes at low prices

By Cecily Barnes

Fed up with not having any time to spend as a family, Willow Glen residents Jared and Debbie Kelner decided to consolidate work, child care and family time by opening a consignment children's clothing and toy shop called The Well Dressed Baby. With a family-owned and -operated store, the Kelners are able to make a living and be together at the same time.

"We wanted to work together somewhere where we could have our children," Jared Kelner said. "We really wanted to keep the family together."

Before opening The Well Dressed Baby, Jared Kelner worked nearly 60 hours each week as the bar manager at Uno's Pizzeria in Cupertino and Santa Clara.

"It wasn't fair to Debbie that she was doing all the raising and I was just bringing the money in," Kelner said. "I was always working long hours."

Jared Kelner also wanted to be with his children more, so he and his wife mapped out their store idea and made it happen. They opened the first Well Dressed Baby at 2666 Homestead Road this spring and plan to open two more. They are looking for locations in Willow Glen, Almaden and Los Gatos.

Their 3-year-old son, Cody, and 20-month-old daughter, Tori, have their own play and nap area in the back of the store. Most of the time, however, Cody and Tori are in the front of the store tearing the place apart.

"It's a lot of work taking care of the kids while running the shop, but it's worth it," Kelner said. "This gives us the freedom to go out and take the kids to soccer or to the park."

The Well Dressed Baby differs from other secondhand stores because its clothes are all name-brand and in very good condition. Kelner estimates he turns away 60 percent of the used clothes people try to sell him.

"A lot of them have stains or holes, and we won't buy that stuff," Kelner said. "We only carry name-brand stuff so people know they're getting good-quality clothes."

Kelner and his wife hit garage sales at the break of day every Saturday and Sunday morning to find quality used clothes. They say the long hours and constant activity pay off by allowing them all to be together.

"We are strong believers that Mom and Dad should be the primary caregivers in their child's life," Kelner said. "We had kids so we can be with them, not work till we drop to feed and support them but never hold or play with them."

The Well Dressed Baby has also been well received by the community. Regular patrons say the clothes are always in great condition and much more affordable than those in department stores.

"My sisters and I have gone to secondhand stores before, and they were full of junky things," said Clisty Borzoni, mother of two. "But you know that when you go to the Well Dressed Baby, you will find good-quality stuff, like Nordstrom, Baby Gap and Old Navy. That stuff is such good quality that it's even good used."

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