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The Littlest Trunk opens second location in South Tampa

 
The Littlest Trunk opens a second location in South Tampa. Photo courtesy of Michael Flanagan.
The Littlest Trunk opens a second location in South Tampa. Photo courtesy of Michael Flanagan.
Published May 19, 2017

Ever since sisters Ashley Ligas and Carey Kleinmetz opened The Littlest Trunk, a children's and maternity re-sale shop, in 2014 in St. Petersburg, Ligas' 3-year-old son, Evan has been right by their side.

"He was born five weeks before the store opened," Ligas said. "He's been with us every day. Now he's all over our Facebook and Instagram. Customers love him."

With a second child on the way, Ligas and her sister are about to open a second location in South Tampa.

"It felt like the next step and the next market to step into was South Tampa," Kleinmetz said.

Before opening The Littlest Trunk, Kleinmetz was a preschool teacher for about 10 years.

"I am definitely an avid shopper but a bargain hunter, of course," Kleinmetz said. "Now that my kids are teens, I wanted to open a shop. It made sense that I went into this realm because of my background with kids."

Ligas joined her sister in the venture and together they bring different parenting perspectives.

"I have four teenagers, so I can speak on the old school, while Ashley is good at speaking to the new school way of doing things," Kleinmetz.

The re-sale store carries clothes from premature to size 10, as well as shoes, toys, baby gear, nursing items, cloth diapers (which are "very popular right now"), baby carriers and more.

"Kids grow so fast and hardly wear their items for very long," Ligas said. "Our re-sale store has more of a boutique feel. We like to call our items pre-loved."

In addition to second -hand items, the store also carries new, locally handmade items by fellow mothers.

While parents are browsing used and new sections, kids can shop around with their own mini carts or enjoy the play area.

A grand opening for the second location will take place beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday (May 20) at 808 S Dale Mabry Highway. For the first week, the store will host a diaper drive for Champions for Children.

The shop also makes amends for the busy schedules of parents.

"The store is open seven days a week so our working parents can access the deals as well," Ligas said.

For more information, visit thelittlesttrunk.com or call(813) 898-2652.

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