Stellar Human celebrated their grand reopening at the new location in downtown Binghamton located on Washington Street. Owner LaRue Simmons plans to use the space beyond a second-hand vintage storefront, and invite creatives from all mediums “to cultivate culture and community, that’s the ultimate goal.”
Simmons was joined by collaborative partners, friends and members of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce to formally welcome Stellar Human into the heart of downtown. Before the ribbon cutting Simmons expressed his gratitude for the recognition and the opportunity to celebrate the milestone.
“I can’t wait to see what the future holds,” he said. “We got some really great things coming.”
City of Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham presented Simmons with a plaque to highlight the progress Stellar Human has made. “I’m really excited about the future of this store in downtown,” Kraham said.
The store’s first location on Robinson Street opened in February 2021, during a time in the COVID-19 pandemic when Simmons remembers “wiping down handles and everything every ten minutes.” The new location brings has brought Simmons’ to a “full circle” moment, thinking about the beginning stages of creating a name, all the way to actively achieving goals.
Stellar Human is more than a business for Simmons, it is a reminder of his journey and determination. A Johnson City native, Simmons said, “through sobriety I’ve learned so much and gained so much, with this being one of the biggest things. One of my biggest goals is for others that might be struggling with maybe the same kind of issue, to know that it is possible to not just recover but to go above and beyond.”
Simmons believed Stellar Human “was something special and had a lot to offer the community.” At the new Washington Street location, with greater accessibility, Simmons has already seen sales numbers double what was seen at the previous location.
Why vintage clothing?
Simmons says the power of vintage clothing is rooted in nostalgia. When he sees a customer light up, when they come across a piece “that really speaks to them or reminds them of a loved one that isn’t here anymore… It’s really beautiful to see.”
What’s next for Stellar Human
Along with selling clothing, artwork from graffiti and street artists will be featured in the store. The inspiration stems from Binghamton native Charlie Ahearn, known for the 1983 hip-hop film “Wild Style.”
Erica Stella, who helps curate the art pieces in the shop, said the motivation is “to curate street and graffiti art here in honor of [Ahearn] and then build the space where we are educating people about him.”
Stellar Human is opening the floor for artists to network, for live music sessions, comedy and street art.
The store is open noon to 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.
A $5 clear out sale will be held Thursday. All clothing on the racks will be $5 and there will also be a fill-a-bag section for $5.
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