Lesser Known Thrift Shops You Need in Your Rotation
The local co-ops, thrift shops, and cluttered shopping dens of Brooklyn and Manhattan
Besides delicious food and niche speakeasies, New York is also a great destination for fashion-forward thrifting. It comes as no surprise, then, that most millennials have forgone commercial outlets and shopping centers for cramped, dusty, and whimsically curated spaces offering vintage wear from the ’60s onward.
Maybe it’s the authenticity, the ability to stylize your wardrobe from found pieces on a recent-college-graduate-broke-girl budget, or maybe it’s simply the trendy way to shop these days, but thrifting offers a type of capitalist serotonin spike us shopaholics crave. There’s nothing like finding the perfect denim jacket or a pair of bell-bottom jeans at an affordable price after sifting through piles of stained band tees.
We’re all familiar with NYC’s thrifting mainstays (Monk Vintage, Junk, and Beacon’s Closet—which, I must say, is a lackluster shopping experience) so, let’s dive into the lesser-known shops in Brooklyn and Manhattan that make it almost impossible to keep your wallet closed.
Dobbin St. Vintage Co-op
When we say co-op, we mean co-op. The original five members of this groovy vintage store individually set up shop at the Brooklyn Flea, with separate stores and a shared vision. They decided to pool their savings and open a storefront at Greenpoint. From there, they expanded to Bushwick, coining the new location, Dobbin St. Outpost. The shop is now run by six members, all of whom handpick the houseware and fashion. Well, enough of their coming-up story. From beautifully dated macrame, mid-century vintage furniture, and leather jackets with fur collars, Dobbin St. is almost too good to be true.
The Greenpoint location boasts an impressive curation of antique furniture that’s updated daily on their Instagram page, and guests are encouraged to shop in-store and on their social media platforms. The clothing ranges from ’70s disco goddess to modern-day office attire. Both stores have a strong bungalow vibe: a generous amount of hanging-wall plants, woven wall tapestries, wooden chests, and shaggy carpets. Whether you’re furnishing your apartment or looking for the perfect winter coat, Dobbin St. is an essential thrifting destination.
Greenpoint / 37 Norman Ave
Bushwick / 1033 Flushing Ave
Williamsburg / 310 Graham Ave
Feng Sway
Right around the corner from Dobbin St. is Feng Sway. If Dobbin St. had a co-op lovechild, it’d be Feng Sway. A boho-chic, green oasis in the middle of Greenpoint, the store is a one-stop destination for silk kimonos, chain halter tops, and vintage button-down shirts. The shop is run by a “girl gang” of artists and designers, and the space—an industrial garage-style layout—feels like you're perusing a friend’s eclectic closet. The employees are uber helpful stylists who are equally impassioned about plants and fashion.
Their men’s section is nicely curated and often features silk button-downs, band tees, and vintage jean jackets at affordable prices. They also offer a nice selection of candles, gemstones, and small accessories ranging from crystal rings to heart-shaped sunglasses. Their vintage wicker purses are a bit on the pricier side, but they are authentic pieces restored from the ‘60s and ’70s and make for beautiful statement pieces.
Prepare to walk away with some household goodies, a plant, and your dream pair of platform heels. Feng Sway will have you swagged out. (And if you're in the mood, swing by another green oasis just a few blocks up, Rooted, a dreamy, lush plant store with major urban jungle vibes.)
86 Dobbin St
Eye Candy
Oh, Eye Candy. Stumble upon this wonderfully cluttered jewelry store in Manhattan and you’ll find yourself trying on the most stunning vintage earrings for hours, until, finally, you find a pair of perfect gold hoops made by a Greek artist and loyal friend of the shop owner. Okay, okay… I’ll stop projecting my experience. But you will not be able to deny the excitement you feel when you enter this shop.
Owned by Ron Cadwell, a former jeweler and stylist, Eye Candy is a shopaholic’s sweet spot. Think your grandmother’s vanity mixed with Studio 54’s lost and found and you’ll have the genetic makeup of this glamorous shopping den. Eye Candy has a delightful selection of fashion accessories, jewelry, and vintage clothing mostly curated from the ’60s onward. Here you’ll find leather clutches, faux fur scarves, and midi summer dresses.
If you're anything like me, and dream of looking like an Andy Warhol groupie à la Edie Sedgwick, then you’ll probably have a shopgasm (you can quote me) after browsing the impressive accessories library. My advice: Go when you have money to spend—it’s one of those shops where you're guaranteed to find something undeniably special and one-of-a-kind.
W 23rd Street
