While on a trip back “home” to Phoenix, Planet Xchange owner, Beth Boline visited her favorite restaurants and shops, and found herself missing them upon her return to Knoxville. Wanting the best of both Worlds, she found herself seeking a place in Knoxville where she could sell her (no longer wanted) clothing for cash, or trade them for something new. Unable to find it, she decided to create it - offering herself and others somewhere to buy, sell and trade their clothing and accessories. She saw a “For Rent” sign in the window of a small storefront on the (now hip) 100 block of South Gay Street, and signed a lease the next day. “I couldn’t afford a store and a place to live, so I snuck a mini fridge, microwave and a mattress in the loft.” There was a small bathroom with a shower in the back of the store, and she and her cat My cat lived there together for the first year.

Waiting on tables for tips at night, and spending them at local thrift stores the next day, she eventually amassed enough inventory to open the store, and on October 31, 1996, she opened her doors for the first time. Since then, she has moved several times, and grown the Knoxville store from 600 square feet to 6,000. The Alcoa store adds an additional 6,000 square feet.

Setting out to create a space that offered more than a product - Planet Xchange is more like a lifestyle. “In the beginning, there was absolutely nothing like it in East Tennessee, let alone Knoxville. I am so proud of the way it was embraced by the locals.” In addition to PlanetXchange, Boline opened a “clothing by the pound” store in 2019. “Greater Goods” sells donated items, as well as outdated items from PlanetXchange. All proceeds are shared with the Cancer Support Community of East Tennessee.

Come visit any one of the stores, and see why Planet Xchange is East Tennessee’s most awarded resale store.