By Shania Russell
Looking for the best vintage shops in New York?
Then you’re in the right place!
Shopping in New York City is a tough adventure to make it through as is; but, when you’re sifting through the vintage clothing scene, it gets all the more difficult.
Seeing as New York is full of stores that claim to be vintage and thrifty, you may end up doing plenty of pursuing and finding nothing – though luckily this city is also full of gems just waiting to be unearthed.
If you’re interested in being the one to dust them off, you should check out these top spots for vintage shopping in NYC, which are some of my personal favorites as a local New Yorker.
Bonus: These shops are also great if you’re looking for the best New York souvenirs that go beyond cheesy novelty store finds.
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1. L Train Vintage
Locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan
For some of the best vintage shopping in New York, check out L Train Vintage. With three locations in Brooklyn and one location in the East Village, this is one of the best NYC vintage shops where you can find some incredible secondhand clothing and accessories.
As the name suggests, all of these shops are located off the L train, so if you can’t find what you’re looking for at one of them, just hop on the train and check out the next location!
2. AuH2O Thriftique
84 E 7th Street, Manhattan
If you’re really looking to get thrifty, then look no further. Despite the small size of the store, AuH2O is guaranteed to have something you want.
This small boutique understands the struggle and aims to put forward an affordable and accessible selection. Most items in the store are under $25 – not to mention the $5 and $10 racks.
The best part is, rather than packing the cozy space with as many clothes as possible, AuH2O focuses on quality.
This shop is curated and handpicks every item in its stock to ensure the selection is wide and distinctive. So while this may not be the perfect store for your specific wants, it is a store that was meant to be browsed through.
Everything from handwoven dresses to vintage leather purses awaits you, and it’s all begging to be purchased!
3. Beacon’s Closet
10 w 13th Street, Manhattan & Brooklyn locations in Bushwick, Greenpoint, and Park Slope
Prepare to breathe in style with Beacon’s Closet. Everything from the clothing selection to the design of the store takes a fashion-forward approach.
If you manage to survive beyond the fairy lights and glamorous mannequins, it’s the shoes that’ll strike you next.
What this shop offers is not your usual selection of footwear, so you’re bound to find what you’re looking for, along with something more.
And once you’ve found the perfect shoes, you’ll have no trouble putting together the perfect outfit, especially as the merchandise is organized by color!
The simplified search will bring you through a massive selection of high-end designers – everything from Alexander Wang to Victoria Beckham – all reasonably priced!
This franchise thrives for a reason. They’ve strived to establish their brand as trendy and they’ve been more than successful in doing so.
4. Metropolis Vintage
803 Broadway, Manhattan
For all your hardcore throwback needs, Metropolis is the place to be; it only takes a few seconds of sifting through the racks for this to become apparent.
Another shop well known for t-shirts, Metropolis offers everything from vintage Prince tees to souvenir Return of the Jedi shirts.
Whether you’re looking at the valuable collectibles on the walls or the hidden treasures in the $7 bins, the selection is wide and you’re bound to find something of interest.
If you manage to wrench yourself away from the tees, you’ll find that the venue is rather extensive with its vintage selection.
They offer everything from genuine military jackets to the sort of 80’s boots you’ve only ever seen on TV. The store, overall, bleeds authenticity in a manner that’s easy to appreciate.
5. Cure Thrift Shop
91 3rd Ave, Manhattan
This softly lit vintage shop has a boutique-like feel to it; something that comes as a surprise considering the size of its space. But despite its two floors of room, Cure manages to be crammed with products – which works out perfectly because it promises variety!
And sure enough, while clothing dominates the store quantity-wise, there are always a number of other things to catch your attention.
The ever-changing selection of antique furniture practically lines the walls; not to mention the scattered selection of quirky accessories that accompanies it.
Racks upon racks of scarves, earrings, artwork, and what can only be described as conversation pieces litter the store too.
And while their products may lean towards the expensive side, one of the best things about Cure is the fact that all proceeds are donated directly to the Diabetes Research Institute, so your money goes to a great cause.
6. Buffalo Exchange
Locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan
Buffalo Exchange is actually a national chain of secondhand stores, so it may not be as unique as some of the other New York City vintage shops on this list, but it’s still a great place to look for secondhand clothing, shoes, and accessories at reasonable prices.
There are five Buffalo Exchange locations across New York, with three in Manhattan and two in Brooklyn. All of the stores are quite large, so you’ll find lots of variety.
7. 2nd Street
Locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan
2nd Street is another one of the top spots for New York vintage shopping.
It originated in Japan, but now there are seven different locations around NYC. You’ll find 2nd Street in the Upper East Side, Chelsea, Union Square, NoHo, SoHo, the Lower East Side, and DUMBO.
This is a great place to shop if you are looking for vintage streetwear and designer clothing. Because of this, it can be a pricier place to shop, but you can still score some good deals.
8. Chickee’s Vintage
135 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn
Chickee’s Vintage is one of the best vintage shops in NYC, favored by fashion editors, celebrities, and other trendsetters.
This smaller shop located in Williamsburg doesn’t have a huge selection, but it prioritizes quality over quantity.
You can find some really cool pieces at Chickee’s Vintage, including vintage designer clothing and basic staples that never go out of style.
9. 10ft Single by Stella Dallas
285 N 6th St, Brooklyn
Another one of the best vintage stores in New York is 10ft Single by Stella Dallas. This is a large store in Williamsburg that has a varied selection of vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories.
Williamsburg is one of the best neighborhoods for vintage shopping in NYC, so it’s no surprise that you’ll find this popular mainstay in the neighborhood too.
One of the best things about 10ft Single by Stella Dallas is that you can find funkier and more offbeat pieces. There’s also a selection of antique and vintage home goods here.
10. Mr. Throwback
437 E 9th St, Manhattan
Mr. Throwback is a niche vintage shop in New York that specializes in vintage sportswear from the 1980s and 1990s.
Located in the East Village, this shop boasts an impressive array of vintage apparel and merchandise for NBA, MLB, NFL, and NHL sports teams.
Although it focuses primarily on vintage sportswear, you can also find a selection of throwback toys and video games as well as secondhand sneakers at Mr. Throwback.
11. Rogue
53 Stanton St, Manhattan
Tucked away in a small shop front in the Lower East Side, Rogue is another gem for vintage shopping in NYC.
You’ll find vintage clothing from a variety of decades here, but an especially good selection of early 2000s clothing.
Perfect for hopping on the popular Y2K trend, Rogue is a great place to shop if you are looking for funky and unique secondhand clothing and accessories.
12. Grand Street Local
154 Grand St, Brooklyn
While you’re perusing the many vintage shops in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, don’t miss popping into Grand Street Local.
This is a cool vintage store with a varied selection and lots of one-of-a-kind pieces you can’t find anywhere else.
Although some of these rare prices can be on the pricier side, this is the perfect place to shop if you’re looking for really unique vintage clothing and accessories.
What are your favorite spots for vintage shopping in NYC?
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