With a retro denim couch and a Mortal Kombat arcade machine, The Drop at University Town Center feels more like a dorm lounge than a storefront.

Founded by Chapman University entrepreneurship student Sean von Kaenel, the consignment, resale and vintage-fashion destination replaces typical racks-upon-racks displays with community and creativity.

“We want people to feel invited,” von Kaenel says. “Even if someone doesn’t buy anything, they’ll tell their friends they had a great experience. That kind of word of mouth is the most valuable — and most cost-effective — marketing there is.”

As a high school student, von Kaenel resold sneakers via bot technology and worked at retailers such as Foot Locker, where he says he witnessed the economics of hype culture. The goal at The Drop is circular fashion — reuse and recycling of sustainably made clothing as opposed to the traditional take-make-dispose approach.

The business model is opportunity-focused: The Drop offers buy/sell/trade options for students, who bring in their own clothes for cash, credit or new gear, and consignment opportunities for local fashion entrepreneurs.

“You’re not a customer, you’re a client,” von Kaenel says.

Coming soon: monthly live DJ sets and pop-up flea markets.