Consignment shop celebrates 50 years of service, great values

by LAURA JAMIESON

Whether you are looking for a formal dress for a night on the town, a suit for a business meeting, or just monkeying around, there is one shop in Chestnut Hill that has it all. On April 19, Monkey Business benefit shop celebrated 50 years of selling upscale and designer clothes, shoes and accessories at great prices and for a great cause.

The shop is more than just a bargain shoppers’ paradise, it is also a community resource. The profits from the business go to The Auxiliary of Chestnut Hill HealthCare. The auxiliary is part of a foundation that supports healthcare workers and helps patients afford ambulance services, prescription drugs and rehabilitation equipment. Over the last 50 years, Monkey Business’ proceeds have totaled over a million dollars. Manager Rose Malley said the shop “benefits the hospital, the community and the volunteers. It’s a fabulous concept of making it work for everyone.”

While trends and clothing styles have changed in the last 50 years, the vision of Monkey Business has not. The store was started by a group of doctors’ wives who did everything from painting the walls to writing the rules. “All of our rules and regulations were established in 1955. They have checks and balances on everything,” said Malley. “Over the years they have always had a manager and volunteers. I have 33 volunteers and we are like one big family.”

The “girls,” as Malley affectionately refers to the volunteers, make the shop work. “Every manager and every volunteer has always done more than they were ever expected to do,” said Malley. “It has given them a purpose and a connection with other people.” Three of the volunteers have been working at the shop for the entire 50 years of its existence. “We really have a great time,” said Malley. “I learn from each of them everyday,” she added with a smile.

The volunteers aren’t the only ones finding connections and having fun at Monkey Business. “People just fall into conversation about whatever, whether it’s the clothing, or, like last week, dental work,” chuckled one regular customer. Malley remembers having two older women talk about death benefits. “It went on for hours. They sat back there and a couple customers got involved and knew what the next procedure was. It’s just unbelievable” she said. “The concept of family is here in the front with the customers and with the volunteers in the front and the back.”

When the Local visited on a recent Saturday afternoon, customers were welcomed by a warm smile from Rose and volunteer Claire Sanders. A plate of cookies sat on the counter for people to nibble on as they meandered through the store, tried on clothes and chatted with Rose and Claire. A little girl admired the fancy shoes while her dad dug through the men’s suit rack. A young couple found some adorable onesies for their baby on the way. And a number of regulars dropped by to catch up with the Rose, Claire and each other. 

Monkey Business attracts a diverse clientele, including men and women, young and old people, doctors, nurses, lawyers and librarians. Sanders said they all have one thing in common: “people who shop here like nice clothes, good clothes, because they know how they are made.”  You can find products from Jones New York, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani, Christian Dior, Kate Spade, Gucci and more. These labels are sold at great prices normally, but even better deals are available on the last Friday and Saturday of each month when they offer red-tagged items at half price.

But you can’t “just look” at Monkey Business, you have to dive in, dig through racks, check out labels, hunt for bargains, and strike up some conversations. “You have to learn how to work a benefit store,” said Malley. “Some people come in and they just stand there and don’t know where to begin, but others work the shop and within five or ten minutes and they’ve got five items, while the other person never takes their hands out of their pockets.” 

Many people are raised to appreciate consignment shopping. “I was raised on recycling,” said Malley. “My mother, who was an Irish immigrant, brought me to Monkey Business in 1957. And since them I’ve had the bug. I raised my kids on the clothing and now I’m raising my grandkids on the clothing.” One customer said that when she was a child growing up in the country it was embarrassing to shop consignment stores, but as she has gotten older she has realized all they have to offer and now she shops at Monkey Business on a weekly basis.

The people who “get it” really appreciate the full experience of visiting Monkey Business. “People come in and they stay,” said Malley. “Lots of people will come in and spend 2 or 2 1/2 hours. Yesterday I had a woman come in and she must have been here close to 3 hours. It was just the perfect place for her to be at that particular time.” She proudly added, “She bought a few things and walked out with the biggest smile on her face, and she got some very stylish upscale labels.”

Monkey Business is located in a little alley near the top of Chestnut Hill, but people from around the country, and even the world, manage to find the shop. Customers come from Baltimore, New York City, and even Canada and New Zealand. Malley said, “A true person who knows how to work a benefit shop, wherever they go, they always check them out.”

People also come from all over to consign and donate clothing, but Monkey Business has very high standards for what they will accept. “We probably reject about 15 to 20 bags of clothing a week,” said Malley. Even with such standards the backroom was filled with clothes that had all come in the afternoon before. Malley and the volunteers thoroughly inspect the clothes multiple times before they accept them.

“I hear some local customers mentioning that we are basically known as the third Talbot Shop, the second Chico shop and the only Gap shop,” laughed Malley. But Monkey Business offers variety and prices that the chain stores and department stores can’t beat. Malley said, “We have great inventory and the fun of the whole shop is that we never know what’s coming in. It’s like Christmas everyday.” They have sold a handstitched beaded dress from the 1950s, antique handbags, and even an 1836 military uniform.

Where else can a shopper find Salvatore Ferragamo shoes for $40, a Coach handbag for $28 or a Jos. A. Bank man’s pinstriped suit for $50? One shopper, Bernadette Miller, said, “I come here almost every Saturday.” She added with a chuckle, “This is such a great place that you want to tell people about it, but at the same time you want to hold it to yourself, because it can become too popular from my point of view.” She added, “I have bought clothes here that still have the tags.”

“It’s such an opportunity to be able to experience the pleasure of this job,” said Malley. But the real opportunity is for customers who are able to experience the thrill of finding quality clothes at great prices, the joy of meeting Malley and the wonderful volunteers, and the satisfaction of knowing that our community has supported this worthy institution for 50 years, and there is no sign of it slowing down.