GRAND CHUTE — Teens crave the latest trends, like the destroyed jeans, A-line tops and graphic T-shirts they see in Abercrombie & Fitch, Delia's and Hollister.

But what if a parent lost a job, or the teen wasn't able to find a summer employment? Buying fashionable clothing at full retail prices might be out of the question for back-to-school.

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One increasingly popular solution during tough economic times is a swing through Plato's Closet, a resale store on the outskirts of the Fox River Mall. It's been attracting budget-pinched, trend-conscious teens since it set up a little over three years ago because it buys gently used, trendy clothing from teens and sells it to others.

The recession has been good to Plato's Closet.

A framed award certificate on the wall proclaims this branch at 311 N. Mall Drive had the highest increased sales percentage of any Plato's Closet in the country in 2008, edging out about 270 other stores.

Franchise owner Don Endres and store manager Andrea Hertzel collected the honor in May as a result of their unparalleled 46 percent sales increase year-over-year.

So far in 2009, they're up almost 35 percent and are right now in the middle of their busiest season of the year.

"We'll sell 23,000 to 25,000 pieces of clothing this month," said Endres.

In the last two years, business has multiplied faster than screams at a Jonas Brothers concert.

"We will have more than doubled our volume by the end of 2009 if it continues as we anticipate," Endres said.

He just completed a 1,200-square-foot expansion, taking the store to 4,400 square feet.

The reason for the store's success, at a time when plenty of other stores are struggling, is price. Customers get addicted to the bargains.

"We always start here and what we don't find, we'll buy at the mall," said Nancy Garrelts, a mom from Goodman, Wis., buying for her two teens Wednesday and trying to shave off $200 off her back-to-school budget this year.

Kayle Nieuwenhuis, 20, a Kaukauna resident, got to the store midweek with a laundry basket of her castoffs. She's been both a buyer and a seller at Plato's since the store opened, and said she has gotten as much as $80 to $100 at a crack for her fashionable castoffs.

"I can take that money and go to the mall and buy one pair of pants and one shirt. Or I can get three shirts and two pairs of pants here," she said on the reason she keeps coming back.

The latest trendy jeans in the mall might run $30 to $100. At Plato's, jeans are older — from one season to 18 months old — but still have popular labels and a current look. They're likely $8 to $22 per pair.

"We're not your average thrift shop. You're not going to find junk here," said Hertzel. "We're seeing more and more people using the money (from selling clothing to the store) toward purchases. The stigma of buying used is definitely lessened because of the economy."

Part of the store's success, said Endres, is Hertzel's sharp eye for buying and her enthusiastic staff. Loud music and proximity to the mall also don't hurt.

Maureen Wallenfang: 920-993-1000, ext. 287, or mwallenfang@ postcrescent.com