Prince checks out a customer in his store, Poor Boy Rich Taste, in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago on Friday, April 11, 2025. Prince tries to give each customer the same great experience, welcoming them by saying, “Welcome to Poor Boy Rich Taste where everything looks expensive but is extremely affordable — except me of course.” (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

Prince checks out a customer in his store, Poor Boy Rich Taste, in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago on Friday, April 11, 2025. Prince tries to give each customer the same great experience, welcoming them by saying, “Welcome to Poor Boy Rich Taste where everything looks expensive but is extremely affordable — except me of course.” (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

Poor Boy Rich Taste: Where Prince blends style and stories

It is impossible to leave Poor Boy Rich Taste without feeling a little lighter and convinced that retail therapy is entirely worth it. Prince, the owner of the Uptown resale clothing store, has been changing the game in the fashion industry since college, making people feel their best no matter what they are shopping for.

His selection of vintage and couture pieces reflects style and a belief that fashion should be accessible, inclusive and exciting.

“I really want to have a store that works for everyone,” Prince said. “It can take you from going to work, to out on the town with your partner or your friends, to everything in between."

While Kate Hudson’s “Glorious” album plays through the store on Friday, April 11, 2025, Prince sifts through the racks at his store, helping a customer choose an outfit for the Exxxotica Expo on Friday, April 11, 2025. His store, which opened in June 2024, is located in the heart of Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, near the Wilson Red Line, and offers the community affordable fashion and a welcoming environment. The racks of both practical and extravagant clothing are broken up into sections such as, “sophisticated curves” and “masculine threads” among others — allowing for customers to find exactly what they are looking for every time. The idea for both the store and the name came from his own life experiences. Growing up as one of six siblings, his family often faced financial worries. However, he says he always felt rich when he went to the thrift store with his grandmother, where he could get anything he wanted. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

While Kate Hudson’s “Glorious” album plays through the store on Friday, April 11, 2025, Prince sifts through the racks at his store, helping a customer choose an outfit for the Exxxotica Expo on Friday, April 11, 2025. His store, which opened in June 2024, is located in the heart of Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, near the Wilson Red Line, and offers the community affordable fashion and a welcoming environment. The racks of both practical and extravagant clothing are broken up into sections such as, “sophisticated curves” and “masculine threads” among others — allowing for customers to find exactly what they are looking for every time. The idea for both the store and the name came from his own life experiences. Growing up as one of six siblings, his family often faced financial worries. However, he says he always felt rich when he went to the thrift store with his grandmother, where he could get anything he wanted. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

Prince edits an Instagram reel of his March fashion show “Poor People Rich Taste” on Friday, April 11, 2025, in Chicago. In between helping customers, Prince edits and posts photos and videos on social media to promote his brand. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

Prince edits an Instagram reel of his March fashion show “Poor People Rich Taste” on Friday, April 11, 2025, in Chicago. In between helping customers, Prince edits and posts photos and videos on social media to promote his brand. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

Prince checks the tags on a colorful floral jacket for a customer on Friday, in Chicago on April 11, 2025. He began organizing sold-out fashion shows with “D-list” celebrities when he was in college at Eastern Illinois University. However, he says he always felt rich when he went to the thrift store with his grandmother, where he could get anything he wanted. Prince says he is inspired a little bit by everyone in the world. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

Prince checks the tags on a colorful floral jacket for a customer on Friday, in Chicago on April 11, 2025. He began organizing sold-out fashion shows with “D-list” celebrities when he was in college at Eastern Illinois University. However, he says he always felt rich when he went to the thrift store with his grandmother, where he could get anything he wanted. Prince says he is inspired a little bit by everyone in the world. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

He gets to know each customer by name and recognizes his regulars, who come in just to say, ‘hi’ sometimes.

But the road to opening a storefront has not always been an easy one. Prince was picked on in elementary school for being gay and not wearing popular clothing brands. In high school he became more extroverted, but it wasn’t until college when he realized he could be whoever he wanted to be.  

Clothing racks sit outside the fitting room, which displays a photo of the musical artist, Prince, in Poor Boy Rich Taste in Chicago on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. He chose the name Prince when he realized he could reinvent himself. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

Clothing racks sit outside the fitting room, which displays a photo of the musical artist, Prince, in Poor Boy Rich Taste in Chicago on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. He chose the name Prince when he realized he could reinvent himself. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

He chose the name Prince in college before he knew about the grammy-winning singer, Prince. Growing up, his household was all about Michael Jackson.

 “It had everything to do with how I wanted the world to treat me, and it was like royalty. So, I came up with the name Prince,” he said. “Shortly after that, I did discover who Prince was and I said, ‘Oh, I love the name even more!'”

In fact, pictures of Prince — the artist — are featured heavily in his store alongside photography by Prince, the store owner.

Prince looks through the Pops of Color rack at Poor Boy Rich Taste on Friday, April 11, 2025 in Chicago. After college, Prince tried to organize fashion shows again, but the turnout wasn’t what he hoped for. He took a step back from the fashion scene, but decided to give it another shot a few years later. The show was so successful, it inspired him to open a store, making it easier for others to access the kind of style he’s known for. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

Prince looks through the Pops of Color rack at Poor Boy Rich Taste on Friday, April 11, 2025 in Chicago. After college, Prince tried to organize fashion shows again, but the turnout wasn’t what he hoped for. He took a step back from the fashion scene, but decided to give it another shot a few years later. The show was so successful, it inspired him to open a store, making it easier for others to access the kind of style he’s known for. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

A customer feels the sequined fabric of a jacket they plan to purchase on Friday, April 11, 2025 in Chicago, for an upcoming celebration of life. Prince sources his clothes from thrift stores, consignment stores and his own closet. “Anywhere there is clothes, there is me,” he tells customers. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

Along with the highs of opening his first store, came a fair share of challenges. Prince said finding a storefront was difficult and he often dealt with racial profiling when meeting with landlords.

Poor Boy Rich Taste was also broken into twice within the first year of being open. Prince said in those moments he felt like “that child that was bullied again."

“I didn’t know who I could trust, who had a vendetta against the store, and I was scared coming here, I was scared leaving here,” Prince said. “Not necessarily because something would happen to me, but because something would happen to my baby.”

A customer looks through the necklace options for his mannequin at home, Vanessa, on Friday, April 11, 2025 in Chicago. Prince knows many of his regular customers’ names and welcomes them back with open arms, making conversation with casual familiarity. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

Prince sits behind the register at his store on Wednesday  April 9, 2025. He named his store Poor Boy Rich Taste as a reflection of his life, he said. He shopped at thrift stores as a child because that is what his family could afford – but finding good clothes always made him feel rich. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

Prince sits behind the register at his store on Wednesday  April 9, 2025. He named his store Poor Boy Rich Taste as a reflection of his life, he said. He shopped at thrift stores as a child because that is what his family could afford – but finding good clothes always made him feel rich. (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

But Prince has his eyes set on the future. He’s looking to expand his footprint and open up more locations of Poor Boy Rich Taste.

“I think that the store represents so many different walks of life that, often time, I feel like if you remove the gender from the name, it’s everyone’s life story,” he said.

Prince holds the door open for a customer as she leaves with her purchase in Chicago on Friday, April 11, 2025. The tagline for his store and brand is, “Being so poor never looked so rich.” (Photo by LiLi Jarvenpa)

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