Second Act Kids: Grand Opening: Saturday, October 11th Soft Opening: Tuesday, October 7th
Wallingford is welcoming a new addition to its family-friendly retail scene: Second Act Kids, a secondhand boutique for children’s clothing, gear, toys, and books, opening in the heart of the neighborhood. The store is the brainchild of longtime Wallingford residents and parents of a 7-year-old, Molly Reagan and Amilcar Alfavo, who are combining their professional backgrounds and personal values to create something joyful and sustainable for the community.
The idea for Second Act Kids was born out of an unexpected twist. Molly, who has worked in human rights and animal welfare, and Amilcar, who
comes from tech marketing, had packed up their home for an international move that ultimately didn’t happen. As Molly sorted through their belongings, she was struck by the sheer volume of excess stuff their small family had accumulated. That moment of reckoning sparked a new direction, and when they ended up not relocating, they decided to open Second Act Kids.
Located in the former Pacific Northwest Shop space (owned by Time Printing and a retail fixture for over a decade), Second Act Kids will officially open its doors with a soft opening on Tuesday, October 7, 10 am to 5 pm. The community is invited to stop by, explore the space, and help Molly and Amilcar fine-tune their operations. Regular hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 12 to 5 pm. The store will be closed on Mondays.
Second Act Kids hopes to be more than just a resale shop; it’s a reflection of Molly’s commitment to conscious consumerism. As an admin for the Wallingford Buy Nothing Facebook group, she sees firsthand the power of community sharing. She believes there’s room for both gifting and resale in a neighborhood like Wallingford, which has a rich history of secondhand kids’ stores, including Paron’s Closet in the Wallingford Center, and the beloved Kids on 45th, which closed after many creative shifts during the pandemic.
Unlike Kids on 45th, Second Act Kids will operate as a resale boutique, offering direct buys with cash or store credit. Sellers can book appointments to bring in gently used, high-quality items for children from infants to age 12. The response has already been enthusiastic, and more buying appointments will be opening soon. In addition to secondhand goods, the store will carry seasonal new items, including the Pacific Northwest staple, Muddy Buddies.
Molly and Amilcar are committed to keeping prices modest while maintaining high standards for durability and quality. Their goal is to make Second Act Kids a resource for families, a hub for sustainable shopping, and a happy place in uncertain times.
As Molly puts it, “With the state of the world now, we just wanted to do something happy.” And with Second Act Kids, they’re doing just that, bringing joy, sustainability, and community connection to Wallingford, one tiny raincoat at a time.
For more information, visit their website or give them a follow on Instagram @second.act.kids.
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Hopefully they can find the right balance. I think Wallingford and surrounding neighborhoods are more doner-heavy than buyer-heavy for this type of things. In general, I think it makes sense to take donation in north Seattle and sell in south Seattle.
If you look at the equity tier map of Seattle public schools, you can argue that Wallingford is located in the center of kids with richer families, since schools with the poorest kids are along Rainer Blvd in the south, with the north end of Seattle also slightly poorer. North of downtown and south of North Gate are all tier 4 schools.
From personal experience, my coworkers in the same office ( therefore working in Wallingford) who've bought from Kids on 45th live in Kent and Shoreline. The ones living in Green Lake, Wallingford, Laurelhurst, or Magnolia aren't really the type of people who shop at this type of places.
I'm so excited to see a sustainable shop open in our neighborhood! A great alternative to buying kids stuff new. Love it!