Cheap Children's Clothing Store, Baby Bloomers, to Close After 16 Years

Now that her own kids are grown, the owner of is ready to move on as well. The store that is known for its great deals on kids' clothing and gear is closing June 30.

Lorelei Smith, who has owned the store for 16 years, said she is ready for it to close. “I’ll miss the kids most of all,” said Smith. “It was definitely a labor of love for me.”

When Smith opened Baby Bloomers she had three kids, who were 2, 3 and 9-years-old. Raising three kids can cost a lot, so instead of buying new clothes and gear for her kids, she frequented Trader Tots, which was located on Pacific Ave. “I had shopped at stores like mine,” said Smith.

All of her friends brought her maternity clothes and she redistributed them among people she knew. Smith said a good motto for her store is think global, act local. Before she opened Baby Bloomers, she said, “I was the hub of my friends.”

Since her family was living off her husband’s income, shopping at another used clothes boutique, Trader Tots,  helped her with raising her kids. She said she wanted to help others the same way. “If you have to buy it new for everything, it’ll just bankrupt you,” said Smith.

Baby Bloomers sells everything kid-oriented from bibs and books to frog beanies and yellow rain jackets.

As part of the closing sale, all inventory is 40 percent off and all used clothing is eighty percent off. Anything that isn’t sold will be donated, sold at a flea market or consigned at another store, said Smith.

“Recycling is such an important thing,” said Smith.

Smith said she is directing her customers to The Hungry Caterpillar in Santa Cruz, the Little People’s Store in Soquel and Cheeps for Your Peeps in Watsonville. After June 30, Smith is retiring but plans on helping her friend who owns Cheeps for Your Peeps as well as assisting the other stores.

“I’m passing the torch onto the next generation,” said Smith.

Smith said the owner of the store’s space, who also owns located next to Baby Bloomers, has no plans for the building yet.

Visit Baby Bloomers at 923 Water St., Santa Cruz. Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.