East Rock | Economic Development | Fashion | Vintage clothing | Youth Arts Journalism Initiative
Maria Teniza Photos.
Walk through the doors of Witch Bitch Thrift, and every corner beckons with a different surprise.
In the center of the room stands a tall wardrobe, its shelves holding candles, tiny decorated treasure boxes, and leaves suspended in amber. Just by the window, a table offers “Blind Date with a Book,” each title wrapped in brown butcher paper to clasp the story inside. Gemstones wink out close to the counter in half a dozen different colors.
Welcome to Witch Bitch Thrift, a secondhand and witchy shop that moved to 105 Whitney Ave. in October of last year. The brick-and-mortar brainchild of Virginia Semeghini and Eva Ray, the store is a labyrinthine and sartorial maze, with items on sale from candles and tarot cards to skirts and dresses. Starting in May, the store released its mystery “grab bags” for winter and fall. They are available at the site and in person.
Semeghini and Ray last year, when the shop opened. Lucy Gellman File Photo.
“I've always had the entrepreneurial spirit. I just don't think I knew where to take it until this became an idea,” Semeghini said during a recent interview at the shop.
Their origin story started in Bridgeport, with a random thought during the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic. A musician by training, Semeghini was suddenly home all the time, with months of canceled gigs on her hands. While in lockdown, she started to dress up just for herself. She had always loved thrifting, and began thinking about the lack of plus-size wardrobe options at most thrift, second-hand, and consignment shops.
Suddenly, a thought popped into her head: What if she started a thrift business with plus-size bodies like her own in mind? Excited by the idea, she snatched up the domain name for Witch Bitch Thrift before another person could buy it. When she ran the idea by her business partner (and now life partner), 22 year-old Ray, she immediately accepted it.
Originally, the two started selling clothes straight out of their living room, with an internet-only business and website. As business blossomed, they knew that they would have to become bigger to serve their customers. For a time, they moved Witch Bitch to 955 Connecticut Ave. in Bridgeport, a rental space in an office building.
But business kept rapidly expanding. So they shut down for a bit, only to move to New Haven and open their brick-and-mortar store at 105 Whitney Ave. in October.
“I look around to this day and this happened because of that morning, if I haven't had that idea where would I be right now?” Semeghini said. “This is where I want to be. I'm glad I'm here. This is good.”
Now they learn about the community they reside in while trying to learn what they can do for it. Clothes range from extra small to 8X, with options that range from formal dresses to shorts and jeans. On the racks are lacey shirts, t-shirts emblazoned with slogans like “I love hot moms,” mini and maxi skirts, sneakers, heels with platforms, frilly dresses and denim jeans.
All of these items are sourced second-hand and donated by community members, adding a sustainability element to the business approach.
For both Ray and Semeghini, it’s a small way to care for the earth. Fast fashion is currently one of the leading contributors to pollution and waste, with 85 percent of clothes that end up in the dump each year.
As for the future of the store, they are planning on opening more space for upcoming events. They currently invite different tarot readers every Sunday, and have considered an open-mic, workshops, performances, art events, dungeons and dragons game events, witchcraft events, fashion events, and more. Last month, they turned one of the rooms into a black box theater, inviting drag performers into the space.
“We’re going to have different readers every Sunday, it can be tarot readings, it could be oracle readings, it could be different kinds of practices.” said Semeghini.
“We don't think that we have all the answers in this business,” she added. “We do our best, but we also do this for people, so the best we can do is ask people for what they want.”
On a recent Friday, customer Emily Tyler made her way through the store, looking at a rack of skirts. She said it was her first time in the store; after passing by it several times, she decided to stop in.
“I like it's not just one thing, there's different vibes for every person,” said Tyler. “I like that you can find what you're looking for here.”
“We try to create a community that promotes inclusivity, sustainability, and just being able to support each other,” said Ray.
This article comes from the 2023 Cohort of the Youth Arts Journalism Initiative. Maria Teniza is a rising senior at Hill Regional Career High School. To read more about the YAJI 2023 cohort and read more from students and alumni, click here.