Anne Kuronyi was tired of doing freelance film work for a living.

She was ready to branch out and try her hand at something new. So she decided to travel as a way of regrouping.

During a visit out West, she became aware of how popular vintage clothing shops were, especially among the younger crowd. Why, she thought, couldn't an eastern state like Pennsylvania offer something similar?

So she returned home and opened up shop.

That was in 2003. Nine years later, the 33-year-old entrepreneur is living the dream, running a second-hand shop with three locations, the most recent opening up on Main Street in Manayunk in July.

"I remember thinking it would be a really good location," Anne's sister, Margo, said about the idea to open a branch of The Attic in the Northwest Philly neighborhood where she spent four years living while attending graduate school at Villanova University.

Today, Margo, 30, helps Anne run the Manayunk location, one that has seen a steady amount of business since opening its doors this summer, clientele that includes new faces and customers who have become regulars at The Attic's other locations in Kutztown and Bethlehem.

"It took me so long to figure out what I was doing," Anne said during a visit to her shop last week, located at 4335 Main St.

But now, Anne is content in knowing she built a business that has developed a reputation and a decent following. She said many of The Attic's return customers are young, "hipster" types, who know the value of a good bargain, and serve as the perfect clientele when it comes to vintage duds. And since Manayunk is popular with students, many likely surviving on limited funds, Anne knew this would be the perfect spot for a third store.

When she came across a Main Street storefront that had just become available, Anne knew for sure that there was no turning back.

"It was the right size," Margo said.

"It was the right location, too," Anne added.

What makes The Attic unique is that it's a "buy, sell, trade" store, meaning the business will actually pay for used goods. Of course, the staff reserves the right to turn away business. For instance, The Attic won't take clothing that is torn or in otherwise poor condition.

Customers have the option of taking either cash or store credit. If one chooses the former, the customer will receive 30 percent of the amount the store pays for an item, while the store credit option offers 55 percent of the price tag. Cash or credit is received on the spot.

"All ages, all races," Anne said on those who visit The Attic. "It's really cool. You literally cater to everyone."

The store doesn't just buy clothes; a scan of the inventory last week showed jewelry, pocketbooks, shoes, toys, Halloween masks and an assortment of trinkets.

The clothes, however, remain the biggest draw.

The sisters view their operation as being on the higher end when it comes to secondhand stores. They focus more on buying brand name items, such as articles of clothing from the Gap, or similar "mall stores." They also tend to cater to a younger crowd, although they said everyone from teenagers to senior citizens have dropped by. And while the clothing is most often picked up by young people, other items, like jewelry, can go to almost anyone.