Theresa LaMonaca said she feels like she was given a second chance in opening her Broadway boutique/ consignment shop Treasures On Broadway.

After she was diagnosed with lupus a chronic autoimmune disorder that can affect almost any organ in the body LaMonaca, a Washington Township resident, had to give up a 25-year career in nursing and she wasn’t sure what she was going to do next.

“When you get sick, it’s tough, but I didn’t want to stay home anymore,” said LaMonaca. “It was actually my friend Janet [Zuchowicz, who now works at Treasures On Broadway] who helped me to find this mission. I volunteered at a consignment shop for a while and fell in love with it so I decided to open this place.”

LaMonaca said part of her mission was to “bring great celebrity fashions at economical prices” to the area. She said she chose Pitman because she didn’t want to be in a strip mall and liked that the town was on the brink of revitalization. Treasures On Broadway officially opened last March.

“We are a consignment shop, but we have new things as well,” said LaMonaca. “Consignors bring us their items and at the end of the consignment period, if the item hasn’t sold yet, they can donate the items to the store and then any profits go to the Lupus Foundation of America.”

In addition, Treasures On Broadway will host their first fundraising event for the Lupus Foundation this March.

Called The Spring Butterfly because the butterfly is the symbol for lupus the fashion show, luncheon and silent auction will be held on March 20 the first day of spring at Bogey’s Club & Cafe in Mantua Township. Models will show off clothing, jewelry, designer handbags and more from the shop, which will be available for purchase, and the silent auction will feature baskets from local vendors.

Tickets for The Spring Butterfly event are $40 per person and can be purchased by calling Treasures On Broadway at (856)218-1414 or emailing treasuresonbroadway@verizon.net. LaMonaca hopes to sell between 200 and 300 tickets. Treasures on Broadway is also seeking additional vendors who wish to make donations of items for the silent auction.

“We hope to make it an annual event,” said LaMonaca. “There have been no new drugs for the treatment of lupus in the last 52 years, but a new drug is on the verge of being approved hopefully by March. Of course, this is in no way a cure and won’t work for everyone because no two lupus patients are alike, but it’s a start and we’re all hopeful.”

In lupus, the body’s immune system forms antibodies which attack normal tissues and organs including the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, heart, lungs and blood. The disorder is characterized by periods of illness and periods of remission. The disease currently has no known cause or cure and early detection and treatment are key for better outcomes.

“Lynn [Scowcroft, LaMonaca’s business partner from Williamstown] sends me home when I’m not feeling well, and I’m very fortunate to have her here with me,” said LaMonaca. “She’s a big help because she has experience in the consignment business and because I’m sick a lot. Together, we want to offer women an experience when they come in here. We want people to come in and have a good time, to laugh and have fun even if they don’t buy anything, but most people find something they love.”

LaMonaca and Scowcroft go to trade shows and shop at wholesale vendors in New York City for much of their merchandise as well as accept items from a variety of consignors. They say their goal is to “make customers’ wishes come true.”

“In the height of the season, we might go to a trade show once a week,” said Scowcroft. “We try to provide a total look for women, get them out of the box to try something new. At our prices, they can take a chance on a new style.”

Treasures On Broadway features designer handbags from Coach, Prada and Mary Frances, locally-created jewelry and new and consignment fashions from top designers in sizes zero to 26. The store caters to everyone from prom-goers to wedding guests to those just seeking a new and interesting wardrobe.

“It’s really a fabulous place, truly a treasure on Broadway,” said consignor and shopper Sue Lombardi, of Mullica Hill. “I’ve been consigning for years and just happened to walk in there one day. They are truly wonderful people just to hang out with there and every time I go, I find a new treasure. I can’t speak highly enough about the place and what they’re doing for lupus awareness is great – they’re truly a treasure in so many respects and really go out of their way for the customers.”

Treasures On Broadway is located at 50 S. Broadway. It is open Monday from noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Gloucester County Times (read original article here)
Friday, February 04, 2011
By Jessica Driscoll
jdriscoll@sjnewsco.com