Three Stores, One Convenient Location | Quality Resale Shopping for the Whole Family
📍 Location: 4544 Yadkin Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303
📞 Phone: (910) 867-6822
✉️ Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: thewhaleycenter.com
🕐 Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am-9pm | Sat: 10am-6pm | Sun: 11am-6pm
Call Us Today Email UsLooking for the best thrift stores in Fayetteville, NC? Welcome to The Whaley Center, where sustainable shopping meets unbeatable value. As Fayetteville's first exclusive retail resale destination, we've revolutionized the thrifting experience by bringing three popular resale stores together under one roof.
Whether you're hunting for trendy teenage fashion, adorable children's clothing, or sophisticated women's apparel, The Whaley Center offers an affordable, convenient, and conscientious shopping experience for the entire family. No more driving across town to visit multiple stores—everything you need is right here in one convenient location on Yadkin Road.
🎯 What Makes The Whaley Center Special?
We're locally owned and operated by Karese Whaley, a Fayetteville entrepreneur passionate about serving our community through quality resale shopping. Since opening our first store in 2008, we've grown into Fayetteville's premier thrift shopping destination, serving thousands of satisfied customers and keeping countless items out of landfills.
The Whaley Center houses three distinct resale stores, each catering to different age groups and fashion needs. While you may recognize these as national brands, our stores are locally owned and operated with a distinctive North Carolina flair and personalized service you won't find at corporate locations.
Children's Retail Resale Store
Your go-to destination for gently used children's clothing, toys, and baby gear. Once Upon A Child specializes in quality items for infants, toddlers, and young children at prices that make sense for growing families.
What We Buy and Sell:
Young Adult Retail Resale Store
The ultimate destination for trendy teen and young adult fashion. Plato's Closet offers the hottest brands and styles at prices that won't break the bank, perfect for fashion-forward teenagers and college students.
What We Buy and Sell:
Women's Retail Resale Store
Sophisticated resale shopping for women who love designer brands and quality fashion. Clothes Mentor offers contemporary and classic styles from your favorite brands at fraction of retail prices.
What We Buy and Sell:
The Whaley Center operates on a simple but powerful concept: we buy gently used clothing and items from local families, then resell them at affordable prices to others in our community. It's a win-win-win situation—sellers get cash for items they no longer need, buyers get quality goods at great prices, and our environment benefits from reduced waste.
Have outgrown clothing, toys, or accessories taking up space in your closet? Bring them to The Whaley Center! We pay cash on the spot for items that meet our quality standards. No appointment necessary—just bring your items during business hours.
💡 Pro Tip: Clean your items before bringing them in, make sure they're free from pet hair and odors, and hang or fold them neatly. Well-presented items are more likely to be purchased!
Shopping at The Whaley Center means getting incredible deals on quality merchandise. Our inventory changes constantly as we acquire new items daily, so there's always something fresh to discover. Many customers visit weekly to catch the latest arrivals!
Designer jeans for $15? Name-brand kids clothes for $5? These aren't fairy tales at The Whaley Center—they're everyday prices.
Extend the life of quality clothing and keep usable items out of landfills. Sustainable fashion made easy and affordable.
Find your favorite brands like Nike, Lululemon, Gap, Carter's, and more at prices that won't strain your budget.
New items arrive daily! Every visit brings new discoveries and treasure-hunting excitement.
Every item is inspected for quality. We only accept items in excellent, gently used condition.
Shop for kids, teens, and adults all in one convenient trip. No more visiting multiple stores!
The Whaley Center is more than just a shopping destination—it's the realization of one woman's vision to serve her community through sustainable, affordable retail. Karese Whaley opened her first store, Once Upon A Child, in 2008, driven by a passion for helping Fayetteville families access quality children's clothing and gear at prices they could afford.
The success of Once Upon A Child inspired Karese to expand her mission to serve additional demographics. In 2011, she opened Plato's Closet for teenagers and young adults, followed by Clothes Mentor for women in 2013. Each store operated independently at different locations throughout Fayetteville, building loyal customer bases and establishing reputations for quality merchandise and excellent service.
After years of success at three separate locations, Karese envisioned an even better customer experience: bringing all three stores together under one roof. When the longtime Dixie Pawn Shop location became available, she saw the perfect opportunity to create The Whaley Center—a one-stop destination where families could shop for all their resale needs in a single, convenient visit.
The transformation from a 50-year-old pawn shop to a modern, beautifully organized retail space required complete renovation. Karese's vision was to create not just a thrift store, but an elevated shopping experience with sparkling clean facilities, excellent organization, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes sustainable shopping feel special.
🏆 Community Commitment: Beyond running successful businesses, Karese is deeply involved in Fayetteville community service. She's been a Junior League member for 15+ years, and The Whaley Center actively supports multiple local organizations including Fayetteville Urban Ministries, Cumberland County Health Department's Maternity Clinic, and the Cumberland County Foster Family Program.
The Whaley Center's mission extends far beyond retail. We believe in using our success to support Fayetteville's most vulnerable residents and important community causes. Here's how we give back:
All three of our stores regularly donate clothing to support Operation Blessings' clothing closet and food pantry. Since 1982, this organization has provided essential services to those in need, and we're proud to help ensure they have garments for all ages and sizes.
Our Once Upon A Child store provides regular donations to support the maternity clinic's mission of offering low-risk prenatal care and delivery services to all pregnant Cumberland County residents, regardless of ability to pay. Every infant deserves access to clean, comfortable clothing, and we're committed to making that happen.
Foster families face unique challenges, and we want to help. We provide monthly discount cards to foster families, allowing them to stretch their budgets further while outfitting children with quality clothing that boosts confidence and self-esteem. Our Young Adult Retail Resale Store and Children's Retail Resale Store offer extensive options for children and teenagers in foster care.
Karese Whaley has been an active Junior League member for over 15 years, contributing volunteer hours and leadership to this organization of women committed to improving the Fayetteville community through effective voluntarism.
💙 Want to Help? If you run or know of an organization that could benefit from clothing donations or partnerships, please reach out. We're always looking for new ways to serve our Fayetteville community. Contact us at [email protected]
Thrift shopping has evolved from a necessity to a smart lifestyle choice embraced by people of all economic backgrounds. Here's why more and more Fayetteville residents are choosing resale shopping at The Whaley Center:
The fashion industry is one of the world's largest polluters. By choosing secondhand clothing, you're actively reducing waste, conserving resources, and minimizing your environmental footprint. Every item purchased at The Whaley Center is one less item ending up in a landfill and one less new item that needs to be manufactured.
Why pay full retail price when you can get the same quality and brands for a fraction of the cost? The average American family can save thousands of dollars annually by incorporating thrift shopping into their routine. With children constantly outgrowing clothes and fashion trends changing seasonally, resale shopping makes financial sense.
There's genuine excitement in thrift shopping that you don't get at traditional retail stores. Finding that perfect item, discovering a designer piece at an incredible price, or stumbling upon exactly what you've been searching for creates a shopping experience that's both fun and rewarding.
Because we're selective about what we accept, our inventory consists of quality, gently used items in excellent condition. You'll find current styles, popular brands, and unique pieces you might not find anywhere else—all at prices that leave room in your budget for other priorities.
When you shop at The Whaley Center, you're supporting a locally owned business that reinvests in the Fayetteville community through donations, sponsorships, and local employment. Your purchases directly benefit your neighbors and your city.
Want to maximize your thrift shopping experience? Follow these insider tips from our team:
Our inventory changes daily as we accept new items. Regular visits increase your chances of finding exactly what you want. Many of our best customers shop weekly!
We announce special promotions, sales, and new arrivals on social media. Stay connected to catch the best deals and know when we have special events.
While we receive items throughout the day, morning hours typically offer the fullest racks and widest selection, especially right after weekends when many people bring items to sell.
Even if you're primarily shopping for one age group, browse the other stores too. You might find gifts, or discover that "teen" sizes work for adults, or "women's" accessories perfect for teenagers.
While we carefully inspect everything, take a moment to check items yourself. Look for any wear, missing buttons, or minor issues. Most items are in excellent condition, but careful inspection ensures satisfaction.
If you're bringing items to sell, we pay cash on the spot. While we accept credit cards for purchases, having cash available makes the selling process smooth and immediate.
Items should be freshly laundered, free from pet hair and odors, and neatly presented. Well-maintained items are more likely to be purchased and command better prices.
The Whaley Center is conveniently located on Yadkin Road in Fayetteville, making us easily accessible to residents throughout Cumberland County and surrounding areas. We proudly serve:
Our central location on Yadkin Road provides easy access from all parts of greater Fayetteville, with ample parking and three stores side-by-side for maximum convenience.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
Main Address: 4544 Yadkin Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303
Phone: (910) 867-6822
Email: [email protected]
Website: thewhaleycenter.com
Once Upon A Child: 4560 Yadkin Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303
Plato's Closet: 4550 Yadkin Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303
Clothes Mentor: 4556 Yadkin Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303
No appointment necessary! Simply bring your items during regular business hours. We recommend visiting during weekday mornings or early afternoons for the shortest wait times.
Bring your gently used items to the appropriate store (Once Upon A Child for kids' items, Plato's Closet for teen/young adult, or Clothes Mentor for women's). Our buyers will review your items while you shop or wait. We'll make offers on items that meet our current needs and quality standards, and pay you cash immediately for accepted items.
You can take back any items we don't purchase, or you can choose to donate them. We partner with local charitable organizations, so donated items go to good causes in the Fayetteville community.
Return policies vary by store. Please check with the specific store where you made your purchase for their return policy details.
Yes! All three stores at The Whaley Center are locally owned and operated by Karese Whaley and her family. While Once Upon A Child, Plato's Closet, and Clothes Mentor are national franchises, our locations are independently owned with a strong local focus.
Yes! We have ample free parking directly in front of all three stores, making it easy to visit even if you're bringing items to sell.
We appreciate our military families! Please contact individual stores for current military discount information and special promotions.
Currently, The Whaley Center operates as in-person retail stores only. We encourage you to visit us in person for the full treasure-hunting thrift shopping experience!
The Whaley Center
4544 Yadkin Rd
Fayetteville, NC 28303
United States
Phone: (910) 867-6822
Email: [email protected]
Website: thewhaleycenter.com
Monday - Friday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
🛍️ Three Stores, One Location: Shop Once Upon A Child, Plato's Closet, and Clothes Mentor all in one convenient trip!
Conveniently located on Yadkin Road - Easy access from all parts of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Plenty of parking available!
Ready to discover why thousands of Fayetteville families choose The Whaley Center for their clothing and accessories needs? Whether you're looking to save money, shop sustainably, find unique treasures, or all of the above, we invite you to experience the difference of quality resale shopping.
Visit us at 4544 Yadkin Road and explore all three of our stores in one convenient trip. Bring items to sell for instant cash, or simply browse our ever-changing inventory of quality brand-name clothing and accessories. With new items arriving daily and thousands of satisfied customers, The Whaley Center is Fayetteville's trusted destination for smart, sustainable shopping.
Call (910) 867-6822 Email Us Today
Join the thousands of happy customers who shop