Thrifty Style Beckons in Bethesda
By Lonnie Shekhtman

One block from the Bethesda Metro, discreetly tucked into the 7000 block of Wisconsin Ave., sits Mustard Seed, a new and used clothing shop that started 11 years ago as a street vending business run by co-owners Derek Kennedy, 36, and Gayle Herrmann, 35. Since those early days, Mustard Seed has attracted a loyal clientele that has followed it from the Bethesda's Farmer's Market and various college campuses, to a second store location.

Herrmann and Kennedy met and came up with the concept while waiting tables at a restaurant in Prince George's County. Both had plenty of retail experience; Herrmann even attended the New York Fashion Institute of Technology for a while.

In the first location in Bethesda, at the Shops of Wisconsin Ave., customers mostly came by word-of mouth because the shop was so hidden. Customers have been loyal, explains Herrmann, because "society is so busy, we're all exhausted. When we go somewhere, we want to know what to expect," as opposed to large, overwhelming department stores -- the amusement parks of shopping. Mustard Seed's affordable prices don't hurt either.

Good Eyes

How do they know which used clothing will sell? "We just have good eyes, as far as keeping up with things and picking the right stuff," explains Herrmann. "It's one of those intangible things." Of course, they make occasional mistakes by purchasing duds that don't sell, she says, "but, luckily, with used items, it's only one item."

What differentiates Mustard Seed from other consignment shops, particularly in Bethesda, is that while others seek couture designer brands, Mustard Seed has made a name for itself in the simplicity and affordability of its selection of second-hand clothing.

Lonnie Shekhtman is a recent college grad who is sick of people asking whether she's found a job yet. Isn't it depressing enough that she's only able to afford Mocha Coconut Frappuccinos by scrounging for change in her couch cushions and the back seat of her car?

Photos by Gabe Cohen