While businesses nationwide struggle to climb out of the recession, one local business is actually gaining popularity because of the state of the economy.

Plato's Closet, 1619 N. Atherton St., moved today to its new location, 1534 N. Atherton -- which is more than double the size of the original location.

The store moved from its current 2,000-square-foot store into a 5,100-square-foot store because there was not enough room for all the merchandise, owner and manager Justin Baker said.

Plato's Closet buys and sells men's and women's gently used brand-name clothing and sells it back at up to 70 percent off the retail price, Baker said.

"We are five times bigger inventory-wise than in 2005," Baker said. "We have the potential to be one of the top 10 biggest stores in the nation."

Plato's Closet first opened in 2001 and has grown bigger little by little, Baker said. He thinks the store has the potential to compete with larger discount stores like TJ Maxx.

"In this economy, people are watching their dollars a little more," he said. "Going green is popular right now, and our brand recognition is getting known more."

Baker said customers like the idea of recycling clothes and receiving money for their contributions.

"Students don't have a lot of money, so Plato's Closet has become more popular because you can sell your clothes you don't wear anymore," Allison Williams (sophomore-broadcast journalism) said. "The store is more popular than similar stores like Goodwill because they sell brand name clothing that people have heard of and know."

Kimberly Potempa (sophomore-speech pathology), a customer of Plato's Closet, said the store is perfect for when girls want to wear something new when going out.

"Some girls don't want to wear the same thing over and over again," she said. "This is another way to get new clothes for a cheap price."