2023’S BEST 28 THRIFT STORES IN NEW YORK CITY

 

Discover How To Thrift Your Way Through The Big Apple, From Queens To The Seaport.

It’s true that you can spend a fortune in New York’s iconic department stores and trendy boutiques, but for most of us, shopping in these stores is not the most cost-effective option. What is the best place to shop? The best thrift stores in New York offer amazing deals and the possibility of making amazing, unexpected discoveries, just like the city's flea markets, vintage stores, and consignment shops. Furthermore, shopping at thrift stores avoids fast fashion and supports charitable causes.

Putting in the time is key to bringing home a variety of unique pieces, but walking into the experience with a specific piece isn't recommended. There are scores of thrift shops spread throughout the five boroughs of New York City, both carefully curated and uncensored. The best thrift shops capture the city's energy, regardless of whether they are located in the upper class or the downtown trendsetters. Visiting a city, you might get lucky and find vintage Alaïa or Chanel donated by a celebrity, fashion editor, or business executive. Furthermore, many thrift stores rely on donations and donate proceeds to important causes such as AIDS research and homelessness assistance.

If you're looking to branch out beyond online consignment shopping but tend to get overwhelmed by the thought of walking into a roomful of clothes, we suggest starting your tour of the best of New York's thrift stores with a few general needs in mind. And what doesn’t spark joy for them may certainly spark joy for the rest of us and our wallets! However, when it comes to thrifting there’s always a chance of running into high ticket items due to the label attached to them and the “vintage” aspect of it. Not to worry!

NYC's best thrift stores:

James Veloria

The James Veloria boutique in New York specializes in pre-owned vintage and contemporary clothing. As lovers of avant-garde and experimental fashion design, Collin James Weber and Brandon Veloria Giordano launched the James Veloria brand. In July 2017, James Veloria opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Chinatown following its launch as an online-only retailer in 2014. Located beneath the Manhattan Bridge, the store has attracted stylists, photographers, and musicians, and has appeared in print editorials and publications such as The New York Times, Vogue, I-D Magazine, and WWD. Clothing is not regarded by the pair as a structured and conventional endeavor, but rather as a form of empowerment, inspiration, and presenting the best version of yourself to the world. It features innovative, exciting, and iconic pieces designed by Japanese and European designers in bold colors and patterns. It is curated with a specific vision and critical eye in order to maintain the James Veloria aesthetic at an accessible price point.

Dana Foley

Designed for the glam tomboy, Dana Foley NYC offers both new and vintage clothing. In a rare story, Ms. Foley and Ms. Corinna turned a flea-market friendship into a $20 million retail company. Both of them were uninformed about the mechanics of design and, for that matter, business. No prominent profiles have been published in Vogue or Elle, and they have never walked on the Bryant Park runway. However, Ms. Corinna's eye for vintage fashion and Ms. Foley's intuitive sense of how to adapt those styles to modern women are complementary. Their popularity has been fueled by those reasons, as well as the creation of knockoffs. Companies that specialize in making cheap imitations of designer clothing have aggressively appropriated the designs of Ms. Foley and Ms. Corinna because they have chosen to hide their work from the public eye. Since most designers take ideas from vintage clothes, this business thrives, a fact that does not advance the cause of copyright protection. For example, designers often send memos to vintage dealers describing what they are looking for each season, so Ms. Foley and Ms. Corinna were usually aware of the upcoming trends. Furthermore, they noticed that women gravitated towards certain items in the store but did not buy them because the fits were outdated. Their selection of time-honored pieces is complemented by their own unique designs.

Cure Thrift

As Fourth-generation New Yorker Liz combined her passion for arts and antiques with a personal quest: to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. Since opening its doors in 2008, Cure Thrift has gained a reputation as one of the leading thrift stores in the country. It has quickly become Manhattan's most magical thrift experience thanks to a dream team of artists and designers who share a passion for fashion, antiques, vintage, and the obscure. A number of commercials and films have also been filmed at Cure Thrift. Liz and her creative partner, Nick Guy, packed up Cure Thrift after 13 years at 111 East 12th Street and moved to 91 Third Avenue. As a result of their new location, the corner of 12th and 3rd has been transformed into a treasure hunter's paradise. Taking a stroll through our doors will allow you to lose yourself for hours on end.




2nd Street

As an established Japanese second-hand store with a diverse inventory of "one-of-a-kind" items, 2nd Street has helped style-setters express their individuality in a highly organized, clean environment unusual in traditional second-hand stores. Besides retail, 2nd Street offers a to-buy service for people looking to sell their fashionable, gently-used items. Their first US store opened on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles in 2018. With stores in California, New York, Oregon, and many more on the way, 2nd STREET USA continues to grow. There are over 10,000 items in the nearly 3,000 square foot Chelsea store, including clothing and accessories for men and women, as well as a wide variety of well-known international brands such as Marni, Issey Miyake, Burberry, Comme des Garcons, Supreme, Rick Owens, and Amiri. Among the luxury brands represented are be Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Gucci to name a few. Through its Hand2Hand Project, 2nd Street aims to reduce global landfill waste by buying and selling gently used clothing. It donates any items that cannot be sold to a partner organization that will recycle the clothing for the purpose of cleaning up oil spills, and sends others to third-world countries in order to create jobs for the local population and supply them with clothing.

The Vintage Twin

A vintage styling company that is the world's first of its kind. If you take a quiz, you will be able to receive a curated collection of vintage clothing delivered straight to your door. Try on the clothes at home, buy the ones that you like, and send back the rest. There is a mission behind their organization which aims to get more people to wear vintage clothing and, in the end, to raise awareness about vintage shopping. It is essential for them to make it easy to buy vintage so that instead of you having to spend hours browsing endlessly for the perfect things, they will do all the shopping for you. As of the moment, the only thing you will be able to find online is a try-before-you-buy box that will be hand-picked just for you by a member of your personal stylist.

Wooden Sleepers

Specializing in vintage American workwear, and outdoor and military clothing- Wooden Sleepers has taken the crown when it comes to menswear in the thrift world. Founded in 2010, Wooden Sleepers has been serving New Yorkers for a little over 10 years and doesn’t show any signs of stopping anytime soon. The pieces are timeless and will fit the need of any season at any time. As one of the best New York City thrift stores, it’s easy to see that no corners are cut when it comes to deciding what pieces make it to the floor. This well-thought-out New York City thrift store appreciates the beauty of vintage and values customer experience.

AuH2O

Kate Goldwater, a native Milwaukee who graduated from NYU in 2006, opened AuH2O in an effort to bring their customers a curated selection of vintage and thrift clothing ($5-$25) and accessories ($3-$30) that are easy on the eyes and the wallet. AuH2O offers a range of second-hand, vintage, and upcycled items. It features a unique blend of clothing, shoes, accessories, and vintage jewelry, all at an affordable price. There is a reason why they call themselves the "thriftique" because their boutique has the same prices as an open-air thrift store. According to them, the cost of shopping sustainably should not be prohibitive for consumers who wish to do so. They are committed to providing vintage, secondhand, and recycled clothing to the world for everyone to enjoy.

L Train Vintage

Their family-owned business is dedicated to bringing NYC the best thrift. The company has buyers across the country searching for classic vintage items all over the country. Each month, they receive shipments to provide new merchandise to their locations at least three times a week. Despite not finding anything on your first visit, you can always come back for the latest vintage fashions, even if you don't find anything on your first visit. It features clothing, accessories, men's apparel, and a variety of statement pieces. As a whole, the quality and condition of items in this store range from good to great, since these are vintage items after all. This place is likely to have what you're looking for, whether you're looking for a denim jacket or a classic windbreaker. The store can seem overwhelming at times, especially when it's crowded. Weekends are the busiest, so if you're looking for a more relaxed experience, visit during the week.

Buffalo Exchange

At the time, Kerstin Block got the idea for a different kind of secondhand shop in 1974, she never imagined it would grow into what it is today - she just followed her love of thrift store shopping and saw what would happen. Introducing a new business model - a resale shop where customers can buy hand-picked secondhand treasures and also trade or sell clothes in person. Current trends, designer styles, everyday styles, vintage, and one-of-a-kind fashion finds are available on-the-spot for 25% in cash or 50% in trade. With over 40 stores, Buffalo Exchange is growing rapidly.

Housing Works

In New York, Housing Works is more than just a thrift store. An ambitious non-profit (by the same name) manages this thrift shop which aims to fight HIV/AIDS and homelessness. Their NYC thrift stores donate 100% of their profits to fight HIV/AIDS and homelessness. All items on the shelves (books, DVDs, housing items, etc.) are donated. Every penny of sales goes directly to the cause because the store is run by volunteers. It's not guaranteed that you'll find the specific item you're looking for since the items are donated. Peruse the shelves and pick up something you would not normally buy if you're feeling adventurous. Several options are available. There are dark floor-to-ceiling bookcases lining the store. The in-house cafe is upstairs on the balcony, where you can spend a good hour lingering.

Procell

Procell's vintage shop thrives on nostalgia. Among his collaborations are Alexander Wang, Depop, Opening Ceremony, and more in his New York City store. The aesthetics of Brian Procell's childhood in Elizabeth, N.J. are rooted in his memories. In his earliest memories of fashion, he recalls scouring thrift stores for the latest finds — to make an outfit on a shoestring budget — or passing by Soho boutiques on one of his many trips to the city. It was an entirely different business when Procell opened his first shop on Clinton Street in the Lower East Side in 2006. In his collection, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and Carhartt were mostly featured; he also reintroduced pieces from the 1980s and 1990s. It was in 2012 when he opened Procell, a Lower East Side store that sells coveted luxury sportswear, nostalgia-heavy designer pieces, and vintage garments that capture pop culture's biggest moments, such as MTV's 1997 animated series "Daria". The racks are always crowded with musicians, influencers, designers, and the coolest New Yorkers, sometimes accompanied by tourists wandering through Soho, Little Italy, or Chinatown.

Hamlet’s Vintage

A simple booth at trade shows and flea markets was the beginning of their business in 2007. The store is now the largest in Greenwich Village. Their vintage pieces date from the 1940s to the 1990s. Their vintage clothing is hand-picked, ensuring quality and authenticity. They have countless little gems within their collection, carefully chosen by their store owner Hamlet. Be your past self in the present by jumping into the time capsule! Hamlet-type girls are very fun, confident, and most importantly, fully dressed like they just stepped out of a glamorous time machine - not just because of their wardrobe, but also because they have found themselves as queen of the past in the current era.Take a look at their dresses collection and discover how you can become the next Hamlet's Queen. There is always an era or a time period associated with their vintage items. There are some of them that dates back over 80 years, making them unique treasures of historical significance. Find your perfect vintage style through their unique vintage finds. Specializing in clothing from the 50s through the 90s, they keep up with all the latest fashion trends and only source the best one-off items.

Chickee’s Vintage

Founded in 2019, this vintage clothing boutique in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was created by Kathleen Sorbara who left the fashion industry to create a space for the community and share the love. As well as vintage clothing from all eras, Chickee's Vintage also features a few sustainable pieces from local designers. Her travels throughout the country and around the world inspire her thoughtful observations. Whether it's Levi's 501s or other classic staples, Chickee's always delivers. Chickee's is considered one of the city's best vintage stores by fashion insiders and editors (cough, cough). Several bigwigs, designers, and celebrity stylists frequent this minimalist shop as well.

Goodwill Store

The first Goodwill in the New York City Metropolitan area originated in Brooklyn on February 13, 1915. Our organization was started by two clergymen, one from the Brooklyn City Mission and Tract Society and the other from Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, who were inspired by the work in Boston of national Goodwill founder Rev. Dr. Edgar J. Helms. Our founders wanted to help persons with disabilities and disadvantages achieve self-sufficiency. Instead of receiving charity, people in need earned a living collecting and selling donated clothes and household goods, giving birth locally to the philosophy of retail stores funding services for the community.

Rogue

The art of thrift is well known to Emma Rogue. After school or gymnastics practice, she and her mom would visit their local Unique Boutique - a fabled chain of vintage clothing and trinket stores that is now defunct. Rogue wasn't looking for hidden gems or designer pieces back then, but nowadays secondhand sellers are. She and her mom bonded over Unique and restocked her childhood wardrobe. In time, she realized she could use her thrift store knowledge to make a profit from her shopping trips. Rogue listed two vintage Skechers on Depop in 2018. Both were sold that day. Rogue's online business took off from there. Vintage and secondhand shopping has become the forefront of fashion retail as a result of Rogue's success. Resale platforms such as Poshmark and Depop have led to the rise of used clothing. In fact, some vintage items cost more than brand-new ones - grails like vintage Jean Paul Gaultier tops (of which Rogue stocks many) and John Galliano-era Dior bags are in high demand. For many fashion enthusiasts, sourcing an old Dior bag is cooler than buying a new one from Dior's Greene Street store. Thrifting's newfound trendiness makes sense to Rogue.

Other People’s Clothes

Simply bring your clothing, shoes, and accessories in a bag, and they will sign you in with their vouchers. In order to price the pieces they love, they examine your pieces. With some fast fashion, designer, vintage, and one-of-a-kind pieces, OPC aims to curate an eclectic thrifting experience. Most of their pieces are priced at roughly 30% of their current retail value. When it comes to designer, vintage, & rare pieces, they always do their best to research & evaluate the correct value. They love discussing brand or designer value with you, the seller, and determining whether it's desirable to give you a fair return. The vouchers are totaled once the items are priced and recorded in-store. You can redeem 50% store credit or 30% cash from the total retail value. The front register will allow you to choose credit or cash when closing out your voucher. Store credit is put on a gift card for you, and you can use it at either location. It is also possible for you to use partial store credit on items purchased on the same day as you pick up your voucher, and to redeem the remainder in cash.

Beacon’s Closet

At Beacon Closet in Greenpoint and Bushwick, you will find a wide selection of vintage clothing as well as newer collections, handbags, shoes, and many other items. Because it is one of the more well-known thrift stores in New York City, its selection is usually robust with options you will find hard to turn down, making it one of the most difficult thrift stores to pass up. There are also multiple non-profit organizations that Beacon's Closet partners with in order to better the communities in which they live. Beacon's Closet sells brown paper bags for .30 cents each, 15 cents each for the Cooke Center Academy or New York Cares annual coat drive if guests forget reusable bags at home. It is one of the best thrift stores in New York City where New Yorkers can spend their hard-earned money and feel good about it.

Friends NYC

Friends NYC began in 2012 as a friendship pact between wannabe sisters and BFFs Mary Meyer and Emma Kadar-Penner. These two women are the perfect match: Mary brings her experience as a fashion designer and Emma, has expertise in fashion/textile history, and a legitimate obsession with thrifting. The store grew out of a real friendship and the business continues to be based on the foundations of love, respect, and FUN. We love humor and nostalgia, so you'll find products that will make you chuckle, while you're transported to your childhood bedroom. Friends is a home and gift store heaven, and we also carry vintage clothing and a variety of unique accessories and jewelry. We also have a pretty stellar smoke shop for the stoner-inclined. We love supporting local New York friends and vendors, like Brooklyn Candle Studio, Anecdote Candles, Field Trip, and Only Hearts. We also carry cool items from around the world! Friends is committed to giving back. We run a Toys for Tots drive every holiday season, as well as regularly donate portions of our sales to various causes, including Callen-Lorde, G.L.I.T.S, Swop Behind Bars, Women's Prison Association, Planned Parenthood, Human Rights Campaign, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, and Bad Ass Brooklyn Animal Rescue.

Mr. Throwback

As one of North America's premier vintage stores for the 1980s / 1990s original fashion, Mr. Throwback was founded in 2012. Mr. Throwback, located in the East Village of New York, specializes in sports apparel (original 90s Starter jackets, NBA Champion jerseys, Chalk Line jackets, snapbacks). New Yorkers can throwback to the old days at this next thrift store in New York City, regardless of whether it's Thursday or not. Due to their consistency and quality, Mr. Throwback in the East Village specializes in the 1980s/1990s sportswear. When it comes to finding authentic retro jerseys, snapbacks, or starter jackets, Mr. Throwback gives you the best odds. The store even sells footwear, so you can find rare Jordans or other athletic shoes there. It is also possible to shop on their website if you are located out of town. If the price seems a little high, you can view the items and even make an offer. Their Instagram is also worth a follow if you're looking for a specific item or just like to get inspiration from one of the best thrift stores in New York. As well as collaborating with other designers, Mr. Throwback also creates new items that have a vintage aesthetic.

Vintage by Round Two

Vintage by Round Two was founded in 2016 as an extension of Round Two. A lot of attention has been drawn to Round Two's YouTube channel by its national brand. Videos are uploaded of customers visiting their stores as well as sellers coming in to sell their stuff. They sell a lot of collectible brands, such as Supreme, Yeezy, and Bape, as well as vintage items. The site is popular with resellers looking for more merchandise and YouTube exposure. Besides the brick-and-mortar stores, there are also online stores that get a lot of traffic. Store credits cannot be used at the online store or returned to the store. However, it is one of the best thrift stores in New York City and the country in general.

10ft Single By Stella Dallas

Under the BQE, this Williamsburg vintage shop offers button-down shirts in seventies prints, breezy summer dresses, and broken-in boots. A few decorative surfboards flank the entryway, along with glass cases of jewelry, barrels of printed scarves, and vintage signs on the brick walls. Ten Ft. differs from Stella Dallas in the West Village. With equal space devoted to menswear and women's wear, Single offers clothing for both sexes. Brightly printed dresses, eighties tees, and quirky-preppy button-downs fill the racks. There is a wall lined with cowboy boots, as well as heels, flats, and Converse sneakers displayed under clothing racks. With the same amount of space dedicated to menswear and womenswear at Single - including lacy dresses and full skirts for women and logo tees and military jackets for men - purses range from slouchy leather shoulder bags to tiny evening clutches. There is also separate apparel for men and women in the back room.

Michael’s

It is an institution in New York City and one of the most fashionable and savvy shops for women in the city. Through three generations, they have set out to help every woman look like a million without spending a million. Using luxury and haute couture items, they dress New York City's fashionistas in fabulous high-end designer apparel and accessories at a fraction of the retail price while monetizing consignors' unused items. Merchandisers with years of experience in the high-end market carefully curate their designer labels, from clothing to handbags to shoes, jewelry, and furs. With Michael's personal and hands-on approach, whether you're purchasing or consigning, you'll feel confident that you're working with the best.

Grand Street Local

There is a family-owned and operated vintage shop on Grand Street Local in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that offers a unique collection of items that have been hand-curated by a team of curators. Their goal in starting Grand Street Local was to bring as much cool vintage as they could find right here in our neighborhood. It is their mission to search the country for unique, rare, and fun items to bring back to our Brooklyn store, and they spend a considerable amount of time doing so. Clothing, small accessories, and a variety of items from the 1940s to the 1990s are all available in the shop.

Crossroads Trading

Crossroads Trading was one of the first to pioneer the idea of secondhand clothing as an alternative to traditional retail in 1991. Several years and stores later, their vision of creating a better shopping experience for communities still guides company decisions. Fashion shouldn't be expensive. Crossroads offers an alternative to fast fashion's environmental impact and inaccessibility to most luxury markets. Consider selling your clothes and buying them second-hand to extend the life of your wardrobe.

Screaming Mimi’s

A pioneer of its kind, Screaming Mimis developed an iconic reputation by approaching vintage clothing and costumes from a fashion stylist's perspective. Featuring elaborate displays, hip staff, and celebrity clients, Screaming Mimis is an experience not to be missed. It is often imitated, but never duplicated, Screaming Mimis continues to excite and sustain the souls of true individuals in today's world of mass production. Screaming Mimis is always on the look for impressive pieces for making an entrance, stopping a heart, or leaving a lasting impression. There's something for everyone in this thrift store. It's loud and fun, and you'll make a statement with whatever you find. Among the best thrift stores in New York City, these pieces are bold and unforgettable.

Tokio 7

Watanabe founded Tokio7 in 1996. Throughout the years, it has become one of the most popular consignment stores in New York City. From high-end to local designers, they offer a wide range of apparel, shoes, accessories, bags, and vintage items. In order to authenticate luxury brand bags, Entrupy (artificial intelligence and advanced computer vision techniques) is used. The system is based on a curated repository of millions of microscopic surface images collected from over 200,000 authentic and fake products sourced from around the world.) or by curating their experienced staff. The company takes pride in its Japanese heritage and introduces its customers to Japanese designers. The experience of window shopping alone is worth it, even if you don't intend to spend money. Experiencing one of New York City's most unique collections and getting lost in one of its best thrift stores is truly unique. Those looking to sell nice items on consignment without doing it themselves can use Tokio7's consignment services. You receive a percentage of the sale price based on how much your item sells.

Quality Mending Co.

It has been more than a decade since the Quality Mending Company opened its doors on the same block of Prince Street in lower Manhattan. Since its establishment in 2003, Eleven Vintage has been dedicated to stocking the finest in vintage menswear at a reasonable price. Following the realization that certain in-demand items were becoming increasingly difficult to locate, the owner launched Quality Mending Company in 2010, a line of mainly locally made clothing and accessories influenced by vintage, but with a modern approach. In addition to these new items, the store's carefully curated vintage pieces continue to be essentials.

Awoke Vintage

Sometimes it's hard to shop at thrift stores in New York City consistently because you never know when that fabulous piece will appear. The first Awoke Vintage store opened in Williamsburg, New York in 2012. Three new Awoke stores have opened across New York following the success of the Williamsburg store. Their goal is to provide unique pieces for a wide range of shoots, projects, and events by collaborating with designers, stylists, and production companies. Working directly with stylists to create looks from any period, they can cater to and source a wide range of vintage pieces from their amazing and diverse pool of vintage suppliers.

By Rashmi Goel