At their July meeting, the Board of Aldermen approved a Conditional Use Permit for Once Upon A Child to open a store at 9901 Watson Road, Suite 103, in the Crestwood Centre shopping center. This is the same shopping center that includes Harbor Freight.
The owners of Once Upon A Child are planning to relocate their store from its current location in Kirkwood to Crestwood. “We have proudly served our customers since 1996 in Kirkwood, Missouri, and we hope to continue to do so in Crestwood for many years to come,” said owner Joseph Del Carmen. “Currently, we are located at 1247 S. Kirkwood Rd. in Kirkwood. The store is 4,200 square feet, and we are hoping to expand to 10,183 square feet. We have 24 amazing employees, and we anticipate adding even more employees from Crestwood and the surrounding area.”
They plan significant work to the new space at a cost of over $320,000 to prepare for their grand opening in spring of 2025.
Once Upon A Child is part of a national chain with over 415 stores, each independently owned and operated by franchisees. The store buys and sells new and gently used children's items, including clothing, shoes, toys, books, baby gear, and furniture. This accounts for 95% of their inventory, while the remaining 5% is new product purchased directly from manufacturers.
“We have become a fixture in our community by providing quality, safe, and innovative children's items at an incredible value,” said Del Carmen. “Our store is well-organized and colorful, providing our customers with a pleasant shopping experience. We do not take drop-offs for donation. Instead, customers bring their items to sell, and they usually shop while we process their items. Items that we accept are paid for on the spot, and the customer leaves with their purchases. Occasionally, we donate items that we may have too much of or no longer need to local women’s shelters.”
Once Upon A Child has a long history of community involvement, partnering with local charities to donate items to families in need. The new location in Crestwood will allow them to offer more products to a larger group of families.