Greenberries in King's Contrivance is Moving; Expanding

A Columbia children’s consignment store is moving from its cozy, compact boutique in the King's Contrivance Shopping Center to a new facility more than four times its current size.

moves out of its current 500 square-foot space this weekend to a 2,200 square-foot building at 6925 Oakland Mills Road in Snowden Center shopping center.

This is the second vacancy at King's Contrivance to make headlines in recent months. In March, after 25 years in the neighborhood. The Corner Stable restaurant is aiming to fill that location by October,

Advocates for King's Contrivance said this week that the area has suffered due to a grocery store vacancy in past years, but has rebounded with the recent opening of Harris Teeter and Rita’s Ice.

Rachel C. Baliff, owner of Greenberries, said the new store will offer monthly classes in nutrition and wellness for moms, baby sign language and a children’s play area.  

“We’ll have the space to do a lot more things, especially with the workshops," she said.

The expanded space is one of the major reasons for the move, said Baliff, but increased visibility is equally as important.

“We’re going to be facing Snowden River Parkway and getting more visibility than we did on Guilford Road," she said. "They will be located next to the highly-trafficked whose signage can readily be seen from Snowden River Parkway."

Greenberries is having a huge clearing out sale Saturday, its last day on Guilford Road. It is offering 25 to 75 percent off consigned items and 15 percent off toys.

The store is also offering customers a chance to win a baby carrier, said Baliff.

The store sells about 50 percent in consigned merchandise and the remaining half in new items. The split with consignors ranges between 40 and 50 percent, which is discussed and negotiated with the store’s management staff. Consignors must call for an appointment.

The store opened in May 2009 and has offered consigned maternity clothes as well as new and gently-used children’s items for newborns up to size ten. Aside from clothes, the store also sells baby carriers, cloth diapers, eco-friendly wooden toys and a variety of strollers and joggers.