Overview:

Connie Salone, a longtime customer of Déjà Vu Women's Consignments in Athol, will become the new owner of the business following Ann Willhite's departure in July. Salone, who has always had a desire to own her own business, will be reopening the store on October 4th. She plans to continue the annual scarf bombing of downtown Athol and participate in the Fourth Friday events, as well as the Midnight Madness sale, Halloween, and Small Business Saturday.

Connie Salone (left) and Ann Willhite at Déjà Vu Women’s Consignments. Salone, a longtime customer at the store, will become its new owner, following Willhite leaving the business in July. PHOTO BY GREG VINE

ATHOL – A longtime patron of Déjà Vu Women’s Consignments is stepping up to become its new owner.

Athol resident Connie Salone will be taking the helm of the Main Street business. A reopening ceremony will be held this Saturday, Oct. 4, with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m.

Ann Willhite, who opened Déjà Vu in 2009 at the age of 55, announced earlier this year that she would be leaving the business in July. Willhite later put out feelers to the community, hoping to find someone local interested in owning and operating the store. After speaking with several people, Willhite said she came to an agreement with Salone.

“I was blessed that Connie wanted to do this,” said Willhite. “I’d had a couple of people express interest before advertising, but neither of those panned out. So, I decided I had to do something. I’d been closed too long and knew I wasn’t going to go back to it. So, I put it on Facebook on a Sunday and Connie came to see me on Monday, and by late afternoon or early evening, the deal was done.”

The support for Connie has been overwhelming. People are very anxious for the reopening.”

Ann willhite

Salone, who said she had been a regular customer of Déjà Vu, told the Athol Daily News, “I’ve always had the desire to have my own business. I love clothes and shoes and jewelry and this was a chance to not just to enjoy all of those things, but to engage with people. I always like the store and it just seemed like the perfect situation.”

Salone said her husband Christopher and son Patrick have been very supportive and helped get the store ready for its reopening. Salone said it was important that she was able to set up the store to her liking “and Ann has made it so effortless. I liked it as it was, but I wanted to make it a little different.”

“It’s almost like having to redo a whole house,” said Willhite. “You have to do the painting and decide on the placement of things, all that kind of stuff. The support for Connie has been overwhelming. People are very anxious for the reopening.”

Willhite said she is confident she is leaving the business in good hands.

“She’s local and she has the same drive and the interests I do,” she said. “We just want to make it possible for women to have nice things without having to pay a fortune, to look good and feel good. That’s really what it’s about.”

Salone said while there have been some changes made, some will remain the same. She said she will continue the annual scarf bombing of downtown Athol, an event that provides hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, and socks to help those in need during the colder months.

She also plans to participate in the Fourth Friday events that take place from May through August. Other events that will continue to see the presence of Déjà Vu will be the Midnight Madness sale, which takes place during the holidays, as well as Halloween and Small Business Saturday.

“I definitely will continue to be an active part of the community,” said Salone.

The store is closed Monday and Tuesday, with the exception of the upcoming Monday holiday, during with the store will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Other hours are Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 11a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sundays to be announced.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.