Quinnie’s

Located at Rijnstraat 179 in the Rivierenbuurt neighborhood of Amsterdam, Quinnie’s is a unique hybrid space. The shop blends a cozy coffee bar with a boutique for preloved children’ clothing, shoes, accessories, and other baby gear. Their concept is summed up as “preloved kidswear • coffee • more”, placing equal importance on quality coffee and the local reuse of children’ essentials.

The vision behind Quinnie’s belongs to Danique Witlox, the founder and owner. Her journey is a blend of her hospitality experience during her student years, her role as a young mother, and a passion for circular solutions. Quinnie’s opened its doors in Amsterdam in September 2022.

The retail side of the business focuses on second-hand children’ clothing and gear, with the goal of giving items a second or third life. By doing so, Quinnie’s creates a local hub for the supply and demand of preloved kids’ items. The shop accepts brand-name clothing in sizes 50 through 146, as well as selected toys, balance bikes, children’ books, muslin cloths, sleeping bags, and shoes, provided they meet the quality standards.

The intake model operates on a consignment basis. Based on available information, sellers receive 40 percent of the sale price for accepted items. Items that remain unsold after the sales period are typically donated to charity, unless the provider requests them back before the return date. Alongside second-hand finds, Quinnie’s also sells selected new products, including deadstock items from previous collections.

On the caffeine side, Quinnie’s serves coffee from Gosling Coffee. Their 2024 menu features a full range of espresso-based drinks, including espresso, americano, espresso macchiato, cortado, cappuccino, flat white, caf’ latte, latte macchiato, and dirty chai. Iced coffee options are also available.

Customizations are available for their coffee drinks, with options for decaf upon request, oat or dairy milk, caramel syrup, and extra shots. This offering fits the profile of a modern urban coffee bar, though the business isn’t positioned solely as a coffee spot. Instead, the coffee is one piece of a broader concept where retail, hospitality, and family-friendly spaces converge.

Beyond the coffee, the menu offers warm drinks for all ages and preferences, including babyccinos, babyccino parties, hot chocolate (with or without whipped cream), and chai lattes. Quinnie’s also offers a selection of fresh infusions and teas from Senza Tea, and is known to serve vegan baked goods.

A key feature of the concept is the seamless integration of shopping, coffee, and play. The space provides a dedicated area where children can play, aligning with their focus on young families, sustainability, and neighborhood needs. In this sense, the coffee bar is inseparable from the retail concept.

Quinnie’s is also a hub for community activity. Their newsletter highlights donation days, Instagram live sales, and various workshops. The space hosts a variety of gatherings, including lectures, children’ parties, showroom pop-ups, storytime sessions, parent-child yoga, and mindfulness workshops. One notable event featured a workshop with Sep7ember Kids, where children created upcycled wool hangers.

Events centered around reuse and the local community are also a staple. Examples include a Tiny Library x Quinnie’s pop-up and a second anniversary celebration on September 14, 2024, at Rijnstraat, which featured baby and children’ music sessions, kids’ photography, and a 0.0 percent toast. Sharing With Kids is recognized as their permanent donation partner, supporting children in vulnerable situations.

The circular philosophy extends beyond the products to the interior design, which utilizes repurposed and sustainable materials. This includes a cork floor and display cabinets crafted from old painting frames. Other creative touches include toilet doors repurposed for the bar and benches, a pastry display made from recycled glass, an old table, and hinges made from cigar boxes.

Several partnerships were mentioned regarding the offering. Alongside Gosling Coffee, Reflower, De Tweede Jeugd, and The Ketchup Project are listed. Gosling Coffee describes its own approach as direct trade with farmers, short supply chains, and published information regarding origin and price transparency. For readers within the coffee sector, it is particularly relevant that Quinnie's chooses an external coffee partner that provides public information about sourcing.

Quinnie's fits into a segment where coffee is combined with another social or retail-oriented concept. In this case, the emphasis is on second-hand children's clothing, local input, and family-oriented activities. The business has been mentioned in various publications as a second-hand children's store with a coffee bar in the Rivierenbuurt. This attention focuses primarily on the combination of preloved kidswear, hospitality, and circularity.

For coffee lovers, Quinnie's primarily serves as an example of how specialty coffee can function within a hybrid neighborhood concept. The coffee menu consists of recognizable espresso drinks, while the broader business model revolves around reuse, children, and local exchange. As such, Quinnie's is not a classic stand-alone coffee bar, but a combination of retail, hospitality, and community activities.