22 Best Thrift Stores in New York City – Best Vintage Shops in NYC – ELLE

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From Queens to the Seaport, here’s the low-down on thrifting your way through the Big Apple.
You thought I was going to begin a story about New York City’s best thrift stores with a Macklemore lyric? Please.
I’m going to start with a Little Mermaid lyric: “Look at this trove, treasures untold/How many wonders can one cavern hold…I’ve got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty/I’ve got whozits and whatzits galore…But who cares? No big deal,/I want more.”
I don’t think there were any Plato’s Closets under the sea, but the mermaid’s words certainly resonate with thrifters. Once you’ve caught the secondhand bug, it becomes a full-fledged hobby. And with a metropolis as robust as New York City, you better believe the thrifting market is full of one-of-a-kind finds.
“There is something about New York,” says Kathleen Sorbara, owner of Chickee’s Vintage in Williamsburg. “People don’t have a lot of space, so there’s always going to be that supply-and-demand in thrift stores simply because people are always getting rid of things because they don’t have enough space in New York City.” (I never thought I’d be grateful for Manhattan’s tiny closets, that is, until the day I stumbled upon a vintage Fendi top. God bless.)

But where to start? There are a lot of shops purveying everything from secondhand handbags to Hypebeast sneakers. Janelle Best, the owner of Williamsburg’s Shop 86, admits it can feel impossible to thrift in New York City. Whether you’re a born-and-bred New Yorker or just visiting for a weekend getaway, you’ve got to be a strategic shopper.

So I dug deep, polling fashion editors and industry insiders to find out which of the city’s thrift stores and vintage shops are actually worth a subway ride. Ahead, find all you need to know about the best thrift stores in NYC.
(Editor’s Note: Each store has been sorted into the following categories. $ signifies a shop with most items under $100; $ signifies one with a wide range, mostly between $50-200; and $$ indicates a shop with few to no items under $100 and many upwards of $200+)

A post shared by ltrainvintage (@ltrainvintage)
Prices: $
Neighborhood: East Village, Brooklyn locations
Online shop: No
All locations open daily except for Bushwick, closed on Sunday.
L Train Vintage is as close to a chain shop as secondhand gets without venturing into Buffalo Exchange territory. You can also find LTV, No Relation Vintage, and Urban Jungle locations throughout the city. (More on Urban Jungle below!)
A post shared by procell (@procell)
Prices: $$$
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Online shop: On Depop
Closed on Monday.
As a Procell shopper, you join the ranks of Bella Hadid, Rihanna, and Kourtney Kardashian.
A post shared by chickee’s vintage (@chickeesvintage)
Prices: $$
Neighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Online storefront: Shop now
Open daily.
You can always rely on Chickee’s for classic staples like Levi’s 501s. Fashion insiders and editors (cough, cough) consider Chickee’s one of the must-see vintage stores in the city. Designers, celebrity stylists, and other bigwigs also frequent this minimalist shop.
A post shared by Lara Koleji (@larakoleji)
Prices: $$
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Online storefront: Shop now
Closed on Monday.
Lara Koleji is another industry favorite, being one that some of the other thrift store owners I talked to cited this shop as one of their go-to’s.
A post shared by Rogue (@roguegarms)
Prices: $$
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Online storefront: Shop now
Open daily.
From graphic tees to crochet hats, Rogue is the funky shop to hit up after scrolling Y2K fashion TikToks all weekend.
A post shared by Other People’s Clothes (@opcbuyselltrade)
Prices: $
Neighborhood: Brooklyn, Queens locations
Online storefront: Shop now
Open daily.
Head to Other People’s Clothes to make a few bucks off your spring wardrobe purge, and pick up some very well-priced pieces while you’re at it. Bonus points for naming the store Other People’s Clothes.
A post shared by Shop 86 (@shop86nyc)
Prices:
Neighborhood: Williamsburg
Online storefront: No
Open daily.
Shop 86 has something for everyone. It comprises seven different vendors, all of whom have vastly different styles and specialties, ranging from archival Balmain to electro-rave.
A post shared by Beacon’s Closet (@beaconscloset)
Prices: $
Neighborhood: NoHo, Brooklyn locations
Online storefront: Shop now
Open daily.
Perhaps one of New York City’s most well-known vintage shops, Beacon’s has certainly earned its place in secondhand stardom. Each of the locations is stocked with a diverse selection of well-priced clothes and accessories, ripe for the picking.
A post shared by vintage clothing/ Urban Jungle (@vintagebrooklyn_)
Prices: $
Neighborhood: Bushwick, Brooklyn
Online storefront: No
Open daily.
A true thrifter’s haven. This spacious lot is stocked with racks of Instagram-ready attires, inexpensive books, and other fun knickknacks to add to your collection.
A post shared by FRIENDS NYC (@friendsnyc)
Prices: $
Neighborhood: East Williamsburg
Online storefront: Shop now
Open daily.
What started as an entirely vintage shop run by two best friends has blossomed into a tchotchke wonderland. The store is now split between vintage clothes and retail gifts and decor. Think: Urban Outfitters, but a small business—and better. I can guarantee you won’t walk out empty-handed.
A post shared by Seven Wonders Collective (@sevenwonders_collective)
Prices: $$
Neighborhood: Brooklyn locations
Online storefront: No
Open daily.
Vintage stores featuring curations from a variety of buyers are often the best because they have greater range. Case in point: Brooklyn’s Seven Wonders Collective.
A post shared by 10ft Single By Stella Dallas (@10ftsinglebystelladallas)
Prices: $
Neighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Online storefront: No
Open daily.
Some vintage stores lean more antique shop than thrift beat. This is one of those places. Block off a chunk of time to peruse the dense inventory of home goods and deadstock apparel here.
A post shared by Club Vintage (@clubvintageorg)
Prices: $$$
Neighborhood: Seaport
Online storefront: Shop now
Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
WARNING: Do not go to Club Vintage if you are prone to interior design and home decor lust. In addition to a beautiful curation of designer garments, the store’s furnishing selection is unmatched.
A post shared by Michael’s Womens Consignment (@michaelsconsign)
Prices: $$$
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Online storefront: Shop now
Closed on weekends.
Honestly, really good vintage stores are far more plentiful in Brooklyn than in Manhattan. But Michael’s? It’s a real gem.
A post shared by Grand Street Local Vintage (@grandstreetlocal)
Prices: $$
Neighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Online storefront: Shop now
Closed on Monday.

I had to put myself on a thrifted tee ban because my collection has grown to an absurd size. But, alas, if you have more self-control than I do, Grand Street Local is your one-stop shop for graphic sweatshirts, band tees, and the like.
A post shared by Crossroads NYC (@crossroads_newyork)
Prices: $
Neighborhood: Flatiron, West Village locations
Online storefront: No
Open daily.
Full disclosure, Crossroads is more well-liked as a place for buying secondhand clothes than it is as a place for selling your clothes. So keep that in mind, but if you’re just looking to shop—shop on!
A post shared by Tokio7 (@tokio7ny)
Prices: $$$
Neighborhood: East Village
Online storefront: Shop now
Open daily.

Tokio 7 specializes in luxury brands and designer items that are in excellent condition. Check it out for both menswear and womenswear from labels like Proenza Schouler, Marni, and Jean Paul Gaultier.
A post shared by The Quality Mending Co. (@qualitymending)
Prices: $$
Neighborhood: Bowery
Online storefront: Shop now
Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Quality Mending has a unique selection of items that feel truly vintage. You won’t find any Zara or Forever 21 items hanging here.
A post shared by Lable (@churchstreetsurplus)
Prices: $$
Neighborhood: SoHo
Online storefront: Shop now
Closed on Sunday.
Military surplus store-turned-Gen Z-favorite. It’s the American Dream.
A post shared by Le Grand Strip (@legrandstrip)
Prices: $$$
Neighborhood: Williamsburg
Online storefront: Shop now
Open daily.
Can I just let this Chanel bag do the talking? Shopping at Le Grand Strip doesn’t feel like secondhand shopping. Check it out for a luxe experience and your next sustainable investment piece.
A post shared by Stock Vintage (@stockvintagenyc)
Prices: $$$
Neighborhood: Union Square
Online storefront: No
Closed on Monday.

Yes, it’s technically a menswear shop. But anyone with a good sense of style knows gendered clothing is merely a suggestion. Plus, the shop has a dog.
A post shared by Raggedy Threads (@raggedythreads)
Prices: $$
Neighborhood: Williamsburg
Online storefront: Shop now
Open daily.
Imagine finding a time capsule of clothes left behind by a bunch of 20-somethings from the ’70s. That’s pretty much what you’ll find at Raggedy Threads.

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