Our Story
Since 2008, Uptown Cheapskate has delighted customers with a unique combination of value, assortment, and sustainability, all wrapped in a beautifully designed shopping environment. Founded in Utah, we’ve grown from a single location in Salt Lake City to over 130 stores operating across 25 states. With another 40+ stores under development, Uptown continues to be one of the fastest growing names in franchising. And we’re only getting started! With a passion for resale, a focus on community engagement, and a commitment to innovation, Uptown is poised to accelerate its growth for years to come.
A Retail Experience Like No Other
Unbeatable Value
For once, customers don’t have to choose between quality and affordability. At Uptown Cheapskate, each store brings an expansive selection of gently used, fashionable items to the masses – all at unbeatable prices. With prices typically 50- 70%+ off original retail, Uptown’s value proposition is truly second-to-none. As owners, our franchisees also take pride in knowing that they are helping families in their communities stretch their paychecks and access aspirational brands that would otherwise be out of reach.
Upscale Design
When shoppers walk into an Uptown Cheapskate for the first time, they might not even realize that they are in a secondhand clothing store – except when they look at our prices. We take great pride in our in-store experience, which has been carefully crafted over time and is immediately recognizable for both its upscale design and vibrancy. In short, shopping at Uptown Cheapskate feels far different than at a typical dusty, disorganized thrift store. It’s no surprise then that Uptown Cheapskate is able to attract, retain, and delight a much broader customer base than our competition.
Pursuit of Perfection
Uptown combines the benefits of an established brand with the entrepreneurial mindset of a startup. Every day, our team comes to work with one goal in mind – to propel our brands, our support, and the performance of our stores to ever increasing heights. Our commitment to innovation and continuous improvement is a foundational pillar of our franchise system and spans across our entire support infrastructure – from technology to marketing to operations, and beyond. As our systems continue to improve, so will our competitive edge in retail.
Community Impact
Every Uptown franchisee has the opportunity to make a positive, lasting impact both in their local community and on the world more broadly. On the local level, Uptown Cheapskate stores are often bedrocks of their communities, providing meaningful employment opportunities, helping individuals stretch their paychecks further, and supporting a wide array of charitable causes every year.
Return on Investment
Uptown Cheapskate stores bring considerable value to their communities, and also support an attractive economic value proposition for our franchisees. As shown in our latest FDD, in 2023, our average store generated >$1.2MM of Gross Sales and >$170K of Net Income, with our top quartile stores delivering even more impressive results. Ultimately, the most important ingredients for success are hard work and dedication, but the performance of our franchisees illustrates the power of our business model.
Uptown Accolades
As Uptown Cheapskate has continued to grow in both awareness and adoption, so has the recognition we have received from both the franchise community and beyond. Uptown has been named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Franchise 500” for over 10 consecutive years. That same publication also recognized Uptown as the #1 franchise in the Apparel & Accessories category. In 2025, Uptown was also included on Franchise Business Review’s list of Top 200 Franchises, which is based on franchisee satisfaction and earnings potential, as well as franchisor training and support. Our stores have also been featured in some of the nation’s top media outlets. As Uptown’s differentiated model continues to move into the spotlight, we expect momentum to only accelerate.
ABC’s Good Morning America
By combining a high-quality boutique experience with an operation that continually fuels stores with fresh in-season merchandise, Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate not only meet consumer demand but also contribute to the circular fashion economy.
Forbes