Michael Cordova looks to his wife as she speaks to his story buying and owning the store.
Cathy Cordova cashes in payment on Santiago Zaragoza’s shirt that he bought on Thursday, June 28, 2023.
Cathy Cordova checks out Saniago Zaragoza. Michael Cordova comes over to explain pricing and how he got the item Zoragoza wanted.
Cordova and his wife pull out their upcycles embroidered jeans that were not for sale. Cordova plans on opening the stores on the weekend for locals to create similar items for themselves.
Michael Cordova holds a pair of hand embroidered jeans they made for the store.
Customer Santiago Zaragoza and his brother walk into the store on Thursday, June 28, 2023. Michael Cordova went on to hold items for him until he came back later in the week to pay for the,.
Michael Cordova points out his daughters’ art over the wall of his store. The store’s walls are also home to works from many local artists through College Station and Bryan.
Cathy Cordova and her daughter sit on a table behind the racks of clothing filled with folded shirts, pants and shoes.
Cathy Cordova and her daughters sit behind the racks of clothing and listen to Michael Cordova speak about his store.
Cathy Cordova pulls out a box of old stero tapes. Cordova talks about how the tapes, like many other items in the store boggle younger customers when she asks them what they are.
Located on 404 Main St. in Downtown Bryan, Sweet Repeat Resale has been home to the latest fad that is thrifting since February. Local owner and Bryan-native, Michael Cordova, opens his doors for customers to enter the world they once knew: their childhood closet. As graffiti paints the walls from the hands of local artists and racks of unique, thrifted finds occupy the store, Michael wanted to build a place that pulls happiness out of shoppers.
Michael said he always worked in sales, from selling insurance to working for a flooring start-up company until COVID-19 hit, resulting in him being laid off and searching for another way of income. Michael’s daughter is the reason he started hunting for clothes, he said, by keeping a close eye on her fashion taste and buying clothes he thought she would like. For her birthday, all she wanted to do was thrift.
“I’d really jumped in then into reselling … I guess it was the whole vibe at the time is what attracted me,” Michael said.
Michael began selling clothes online and in Navasota, where he had the opportunity to set up booths outside of stores. Michael said he noticed he did not have the right product and was not making money.
“I stopped selling and I started buying, buying, buying,” Michael said. “Now, I’m hunting for clothing.”
His wife, Cathy Cordova, said they have a room designated to racks of clothes in their house from Michael’s hunting. For the last two years, she said, they were searching for the perfect and affordable storefront to display the business they built on their own while bouncing back from the repercussions of COVID-19. At the intersection of W 23rd and Main Street, stands the blessing of a place that the Cordovas said they gained when they saw the building was for sale.
“He had these little corners of the [other] stores, but he was looking for his own store,” Cathy said. “And when this place came up for sale, it was the right timing.”
Being in Downtown Bryan allows customers to find their way to them, Cathy said. With the growth that the surrounding streets are receiving, it felt comfortable for the Cordova’s to have their business located where the base of the community is appreciated and supported.
“The community has been so supportive, whether it’s [Blinn] students and Aggies … high school students, [or the] Downtown Association,” Cathy said. “He’s gotten the support from the community.”
Cathy said they are trying to be as supportive as the local community has been to them. Kindness is a two way street, and they support the events that are happening in Downtown Bryan and offer costume pieces for the Theater Company of Bryan and their productions. The couple aims to create a safe space for the community where everyone is welcomed, Cathy said.
“I’ve had great conversations with all kinds of people here … I am supporting the people that need support,” Michael said.
With the store being his only means of income, Michael said he does not have as much time to go out and buy thrifted finds, leading to the local business being the only store in town to trade with their customers. He said he feels obligated to give his thrifters the best deal that he can with the chance to negotiate.
“I try to have something for everybody,” Michael said. “You can find everything [in the store].”
The future plans of Sweet Repeat Resale are to help people with fashion. Michael said he wants to begin catering to more customers and hunting for the clothes they are looking for. If customers are trying out certain pieces, he will continue to pull and hunt similar styles to make sure they feel the happy feeling that Michael hopes to create in his store.
“I’m going to try to do the best I can for you so you leave with that [clothing],” Michael said.
Sweet Repeat Resale is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
