Prospect Avenue runs along Hartford’s West End, close enough to the West Hartford line that the neighborhood blends the two towns, and it is here at number 585 that Max and Lily’s Closet has set up shop as a green resource for kids stuff. The store deals exclusively in gently used children’s clothing and goods, built on the idea that reusing what one family has outgrown is a simple way to cut down on waste while saving another family money. Rather than pitching itself as just another secondhand shop, Max and Lily’s Closet frames its whole model around sustainability, positioning every consigned onesie, coat, or toy as one less new item that needs to be manufactured.
The store keeps a fuller schedule than many consignment shops its size: Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., with Mondays closed. That spread gives working parents evening-adjacent weekday hours plus a weekend window, so a trip to restock a kid’s wardrobe does not have to compete with a narrow midweek slot. Consignors looking to bring items in can do so on a seasonal basis, and the shop’s website includes a short quiz to help people figure out whether their gently used clothing and gear are a good fit before making the trip.
One feature that sets Max and Lily’s Closet apart from a typical resale rack is its Go GREEN Rewards Program, which hands new members store credit, described on site as Lily Bucks, simply for signing up. The shop also runs a standing 10% Tuesdays discount, giving regular shoppers a predictable day to stretch their budget further. Between the loyalty perks and the seasonal consignment cycle, the store has built repeat habits into its customer base rather than relying purely on walk-in traffic.
Reaching the shop is straightforward: the main store line is 860-920-5270, while a separate number, 860-839-8239, is designated for consignment requests, letting the business route selling inquiries away from general customer questions. Shoppers can also reach out by email for questions about current inventory or drop-off scheduling. Because the shop’s stock depends entirely on what local families bring in, the specific mix of clothing sizes, toys, and baby gear on the racks shifts week to week, which is part of the appeal for regulars who treat a visit less like shopping a fixed catalog and more like checking in on what turned up.
For families in Hartford’s West End and the surrounding area, Max and Lily’s Closet offers an easy way to both recirculate outgrown kids’ items and find another family’s gently used pieces at a fraction of retail cost, all through a shop built around the idea that reuse should be the default, not the afterthought. Max and Lily’s Closet is a green-focused children’s consignment store on Prospect Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut, connecting families who have outgrown kids’ clothing and gear with those looking for affordable, gently used replacements.
