Poco Loco to Close

Poco Loco nears the end of its three-decade run in Swarthmore. Photo: Rachel Pastan

Poco Loco, a women’s clothing and jewelry store that has been a Swarthmore mainstay for over 30 years, will be closing soon.

“I’m 84 years old,” says owner Beverly Scarani. “I just can’t really do it anymore.”

Scarani’s first Swarthmore store, Galleria Maya, sold gifts and art objects. Running it gave her an excuse to travel, she says. After a while, she wanted to add clothing to the mix but didn’t have the space. When a nearby antique store went out of business, she saw her opportunity and rented the storefront at 19 S. Chester Road.

“It started out with more ethnic clothes and gradually went into more modern things,” Scarani recalls. “I do a big sock business. All kinds of cute, fun socks.”

Scarani used to travel to New York clothing shows to choose her stock, but “that’s a lot of work,” she says. “I can’t do that anymore.”

As for when the store will close, she hasn’t decided yet. “I’ve had all the clothes on sale at 50 and 60% off,” Scarnari reports. “I’m trying to gradually sell things off.”