Business

Consignment store opens up shop downtown

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Michael Mahon and Danielle Gisiger have taken over the first floor of the former Red Collection to run a consignment called Galore.
BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Michael Mahon and Danielle Gisiger have taken over the first floor of the former Red Collection to run a consignment called Galore.

Downtown Riverhead has gotten its consignment shop back.

Consignment Galore has taken the place of the shuttered Red Collection, which closed its doors in September.

The latest consignment store’s owners, Michael Mahon and Danielle Gisiger, said the shop held a soft opening roughly two weeks ago and they’ve been working through the kinks of operating the business.

“The challenges are many,” Mr. Mahon said. “[The previous owners] wouldn’t have left if it was easy.”

Mr. Mahon said he plans to shut down the other East Main Street store he and Ms. Gisiger own, a boutique called 73 Main, and combine the two businesses.

After coming close to calling off his plans last month, he’s since been able sort out the finances. He’s now working on trying to figure out how to turn a healthy profit, he said.

“It’s a big space, an expensive space to run,” he said. “An absentee owner is not good for this business, that’s why I’m here.”

Mr. Mahon will run Consignment Galore from of the first floor of the building seven days a week, adding that the building’s owner may eventually add apartments to the second floor, which the Red Collection previously occupied.

Though it’s been “very difficult” so far, Mr. Mahon said he is confident he will overcome the challenges to keep a consignment shop in the huge space on Main Street.

“It’s an anchor of Main Street,” he said. “It’s really important for the store to be open, in my view.”

So far, he said, customers are responding. “The one thing I’ve received is a lot of positive support,” Mr. Mahon said. “I feel the people want this to happen.”

Riverhead Business Improvement District president and nearby salon owner Ray Pickersgill said he believes the store will succeed, despite the failure of The Red Collection, which kept shorter hours.

“Those types of stores really do well,” Mr. Pickersgill said. “Almost every town has a consignment store or an antiques store.”

The new store’s hours will also help to bring in customers, he said.

“Those kinds of stores need to be open on Sunday, they need to be open on Saturdays, they need to be open past 5 o’clock,” Mr. Pickersgill said.

But most of all, he said, Mr. Mahon has the dedication and know-how to make Main Street’s latest storefront a success.

“I gave him some of my stuff to sell,” Mr. Pickersgill said.