Kids’ Clothing Store ‘Hatched’ Moves to New Nest

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Liz Vittori Koch pauses for a photo at the 3 Green St. location of her store, "Hatched," on Aug. 15, 2014.

Chris Helms

Liz Vittori Koch pauses for a photo at the 3 Green St. location of her store, "Hatched," on Aug. 15, 2014.

Liz Vittori Koch pauses for a photo at the 3 Green St. location of her store, Hatched, on Aug. 15, 2014.

Chris Helms

Liz Vittori Koch pauses for a photo at the 3 Green St. location of her store, Hatched, on Aug. 15, 2014.

After nearly nine years on Green Street, a JP boutique specializing in eco-friendly, ethically-produced children's clothing will reopen in a bigger space around the corner on Thursday.

Liz Vittori Koch, the entrepreneur behind "Hatched," said the new 668 Centre St. location, right beside City Feed, will raise visibility. And that's crucial in a marketplace where consumers have so many options.

"People want it when they want it," Koch said.

When Koch launched Hatched, the store focused on clothing and toys for children 0 to 4. The "mindful kidfitter" (as the store's Facebook page puts it) has grown along with its clientele. These days, parents will find items for children as old as 10.

Koch brings three decades of experience in retail, informed by her background in art history and experience as the mother of two children (ages 8 and 10), to the process of curating a store where parents can feel every item on offer is good for the planet and has been produced in sustainable, worker-friendly way. For example, none of their toys are made in China, the Hatched web site notes.

The new space has a long history. Old time residents may remember when 668 Centre St. was Kennedy Butter & Eggs. Most recently, the storefront's landlord, the Stamatos family, has allowed various "pop-up" activities there. The Centre/South Main Streets business development organization has held several events there, including a First Thursday back in April where Jamaica Plain News held our launch party.

Koch will be having a grand opening party of her own at the September First Thursday celebration. The opening celebration runs from 5-8 p.m. Thursday.

The move by Hatched isn't the only retail switch on that stretch of JP this week. On Centre Boutique is moving from 636 Centre to 676 Centre. That's the old Jamaicaway Book space, which was more recently given a big makeover by Q Salon and Spa before the salon moved to the South End.

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