2015-06-02T18:52:45-04:00

Mount Vernon Has A Treasure Trove And A Blue Door

June 2, 2015August 8, 2019/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

Westchester County is an oasis of thrift shops. From Pelham to Bedford to Tarrytown, up and down the Harlem and Hudson line, you will be delighted to find some of the most notable thrift shops. There are shops more spacious than New York City but equally as impressive as their NYC counterparts. The consignment stores are numerous as well and new ones are opening all the time. You can spend a day just hitting the shops in one or two towns alone and I highly doubt you would go home empty-handed. There are wonderful estate sales in Westchester County every weekend and I know I have come home with some amazing treasures from these sales. If nothing else, it is always enjoyable just to browse.

The focus of this chapter is Mount Vernon;

Some quick history on Mount Vernon– In 1850, a merchant tailor from New York City by the name of John Stevens set out to create a property that would help improve the condition of the working class in the city. To this end, he founded the Industrial Home Association No. 1 of New York which enrolled 1,017 due-paying members. This land went on to become the Village of Mount Vernon. It was then a part of the Town of Eastchester. The community was named after George Washington’s estate in Virginia. (Mt Vernon info from CityTownInfo.com website.)

Treasure Trove’s Thrift Shop’s motto is “Where Lost and Hidden Gems Are Found”. I cannot understand for the life of me why Treasure Trove in Mount Vernon is not on everyone’s radar. They do have lots of gems. I understand that this place is off the beaten path, but on the upside it has tons of parking (which we all know can be a major issue at times in many places). The place is humongous; they have a couple of thousand feet of everything you can imagine not to mention the owners are incredibly nice.

Parents, if your kid is going to college, this is the place to find some great dorm room pieces and accessories. For those getting their first apartment, this is the place that you should go to get started –they carry so much and have so many options for your decor. If you are looking to change-up your home décor a little, they have quite the selection. They have racks and racks of clothing in the back and shoes as well.

This place should not be kept secret; it has quite a lot to offer – just check out the pictures.

Treasure Trove Thrift Shop
152 South Macquesten Parkway
Mount Vernon NY 10550
Tel. 914.612.3215
Monday-Saturday from 10am-6pm

The next place up is The Blue Door Thrift Shop at the Community Church at the Circle. This shop hopes to provide a source for stretching the family clothing budget for people in the community. Proceeds from the shop provide a resource for church programs and maintenance.

It is a pleasant little shop and everyone that works there is so wonderful. They have mostly women’s clothes and some men’s and tons of books, CDs and videos. The housewares section is right when you walk in and there are some other things all along the back wall along with kitchen items. It really is worth browsing because you never know what you are going to find there from one week to the next.

They have 1/2 price Thursdays every week where selected items of a certain color will be half price. It is definitely worth shopping there on a Thursday.

FLEA MARKET

The Community Church at the Circle will be holding a Flea Market on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 7 East Lincoln Avenue, Mt. Vernon between the hours of 10:00am – 3:00 pm. There will be a wide selection of new and used crafts, jewelry, cosmetics and clothing. The event is in-doors. Admission is free and parking is available.

Tables are available for $25 for the day. Call 914.668.8989 for additional information.

The Blue Door
Community Church at the Circle
7 E Lincoln Ave
Mt Vernon, NY 10552
(914) 668-8989

I found this great website that I wanted to share with you; find garage sales, yard sales and estate sales in your area by viewing a map. Plan your next weekend bargain hunting trip on www.gsalr.com.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!

Two Blocks On The Upper East Side Equals Three Great Shops (Sadly, all closed)

May 26, 2015August 22, 2024/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

There are two blocks on the Upper East Side of Manhattan that have three of the most popular thrift shops in that area. “Thrifter’s Row” is one of the most popular names that it goes by. The (Memorial Sloan Kettering) Society Boutique, the Cancer Care Thrift Shop and the Arthritis Thrift Shop are all within three blocks. You would be hard pressed not to find a bargain in one of the three. Even though I find these to be “high end” thrift shops, they do have sales and good ones at that. And if you are into designer duds J, these are the shops that you want to visit. 🙂

Proceeds from the Cancer Care Thrift Shop helps offer free (and extensive) professional services for people with cancer and their loved ones.

What I like most about this store is that they go by the color coded sale system so ultimately there is always a sale. This store definitely has more stock than the others but not too much space to move around in to shop. There are designer treasures buried among the racks, it just takes patience to find them. The shoe section is a definite must look for designer shoe lovers and the jewelry section tends to have some unusual pieces. The women’s section is much more extensive than the men’s. This is definitely worth looking a visit.

Cancer Care Thrift Shop
1480 Third Ave. (between 83rd and 84^th St.)
New York, NY 10028
212.879.9868
Wed. & Thur. 11am-7pm
Friday 11am-6pm
Saturday 11am-4:30pm
Sunday 12:30pm-5pm

Proceeds from the Arthritis Thrift Shop help make a difference in the lives of adults and children living with arthritis. They fund research to find a cure for arthritis, advocate for better access to care and connect families to the treatments and support that they need.

Racks and racks and every single one is worth going through. There are lots of treasures to be found.

The women’s clothes range from very casual to exceptionally dressy. The sales are exceptional; the day I was there it was 50% off jewelry, handbags and shoes. The shelves were getting thin by the time I arrived late afternoon. It can get a little crowded but this is where patience pays off. The shelves high above carry art work and I always enjoy checking it out. I would say this thrift shop is definitely worth a visit.

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the windows and ask about special previews and sales!

Arthritis Thrift Shop
1430 Third Ave. (between 81^st and 82^nd St.)
New York, NY 10028
212.772.8816
Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm
Sunday 12pm-5pm

The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK), founded in 1946, is a volunteer-led organization within MSK dedicated to promoting the well-being of patients, supporting cancer research, and providing public education on the early prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer.

The Society Boutique (formerly Memorial Sloan Kettering Thrift Shop) is the most expensive of the three. They carry more designer items than not and this is where you may find the piece you always wanted or even the one you didn’t know J you wanted. They are currently renovating the back room so they are not fully stocked at the moment. The have fine china, crystal and some houseware (a bit overpriced in my opinion). The book selection offers some coffee table books but be prepared to pay but it is still better than full price. They also carry some evening wear. The store is spacious so you can browse leisurely.

This shop has a very loyal following but please don’t listen to the naysayers who think it is a shop for the older crowd, there is something here for both young and not so 🙂 young.

Great window displays, check them out.

PSA: Their Summer Bazaar takes place from Wednesday, June 17 – Saturday, June 20.

The Society Boutique (formerly Memorial Sloan Kettering Thrift Shop)
1440 Third Ave. (between 81^st and 82^nd St.)
New York, NY 10028
212.327.2957
Mon.-Sat. 10:30am-6pm
Sunday 11:30am-5pm

A thrift shop is only as good as the donations it receives. Now that summer is coming and you may be cleaning out that closet again – please, please bag up the clothes that you no longer use and donate them to charity. Donate to your favorite charity or any charity. Goodwill, Salvation Army, any local thrift store by you — just donate – thousands of people are being helped in New York every day by the money thrift shops raise throughout the area. They help so many people with a wide variety of needs. Hopefully as I tell you about each charity, you will understand how your shopping dollars help those in need. Pay it forward.

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!

Great Thrift And Consignment Shops In Greenwich, CT

May 14, 2015August 8, 2019/ToniOnThrifting.com/1 Comment

Sy Syms said “An educated consumer is our best customer”. Very true words. When I go thrifting, I always try to check websites beforehand to see if they have sales posted. If not, as soon as I walk in, I ask what the sales are for the day and in my favorite shops, what day and time they restock. Some have seasonal sales and even clearance racks. And the never go wrong “fill a bag” sales which are starting to gain popularity. Also, if you find an item that you think is excessively priced, no harm is asking the manager if they would lower the price.

I must start with this fantastic thrift shop in Greenwich. It is the Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store and also a favorite of mine.

The first thing that you should do when you walk in is take a flyer; they are always, always having sales. The flyer shown is typical of the sales they have.

Everything about this store is fantastic – but be prepared to pay extra for this and of course the location. I think this shop in particular has some of the highest prices I have seen in CT — BUT the clothes are always in pristine condition as are most of the items in this shop so there is somewhat of a tradeoff. They do not have a excessive inventory of clothes but what they do have is high quality. And they are ALWAYS having sales so you may luck out. Any item of clothing that I have bought has never been a disappointment.

They have a great household section and I have seen some impressive items up for sale. I just happen to fall in love with these hurricane lamps mainly because the glass was thin and delicate and I had the perfect spot for them. Imagine my surprise to find out when picking up the bottom that they were Waterford. The two cost me $40 but like I said I did fall in love with them and I felt that they were worth the price. I am sure they cost triple what I paid.

The book section is impressive and one of the best I have seen and most days, hardcovers are $2.00 and paperbacks are $1.00 but every single time I have been there the books are half off. The book section is well organized with a phenomenal selection or at least it has been whenever I was there. There are some recent releases. They also carry vinyl records and audio books.

The linen/decor section is nice as well. I have seen some lovely draperies, pillows,comforters in there and the quality is almost always outstanding.

Now for their furniture – good selection but again, like most furniture in thrift shops, it disappears rather quickly and especially here. I have seen some outstanding antiques there. I have also seen dining room tables, chairs, hutches, buffets, you name it and I do not think the prices were unreasonable considering the condition these pieces were in and it is always high quality.

Lastly, the most expensive accessories, designer shoes and handbags and housewares are kept behind the counter and worth a look, I have seen some pretty incredible things back there (not just anything I am willing to sell a kidney for 🙂 just yet.)

Greenwich Auxiliary Thrift Shop
190 Hamilton Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830
203.863.3933
Parking is available on premises
Mon-Fri: 9am-4:30pm
Sat: 9am-3pm

There are a couple more thrift stores in Greenwich that are nice but you should check out the Rummage Room.

The Rummage Room started as an annual rummage sale in 1964 at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich. The event was so successful it was transformed into a business. The Woman’s Fellowship of the First Congregational Church operates the Rummage Room to help numerous local, national and international charities. This includes Food Bank, Kids In Crisis, Boys and Girls Club, Visiting Nurse, Family Re-Entry, YWCA Domestic Abuse, Liberation Meridian, Bowery Women’s Shelter and so many, many more.

I found the Rummage Room to be delightful and fun to browse around. The prices are in tune for the area and the merchandise is plentiful and they have sales very often. The staff is extraordinary and I get the feeling there may be wiggle room on large items.

The ladies clothes range from average to designer and there is decent men’s section and lots of kids clothes. PLUS 🙂 they have fill a bag sales twice a year!!!

I like the way it is set up as well. There is some vintage is around and it is just generally a fun place to browse and you will always find something there. Plus they have previously won awards for their window displays which are always lovely.

The Rummage Room
191 Sound Beach Avenue
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
203.637.1620
Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm
Sat: 10am-1pm
**JULY – check for summer hours
**August – closed to clean, paint and restock

If you are looking for high end,fancy shmancy, uber elegant 🙂 designer duds — there is a consignment shop in Greenwich called Second Time Around.

It’s a chain of upscale consignment shops that buys lightly used clothing from shoppers and then sells it at 30 to 40 percent off the original retail value. They have 41 locations in 12 states now, including stores in New York, Washington, D.C., and New Hampshire and of course, Greenwich.

Second Time Around
6 Greenwich Ave
Greenwich, CT
203-422-2808
Monday – Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Sunday: 12pm – 5pm

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

The Upper West Side NYC – A Visit To GreenFlea

May 5, 2015August 8, 2019/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

If you are into repurposing furniture or like DIY projects, no better place to start than the flea market.

You can turn a $25 coffee table into a repurposed center piece. Find items to create one-of-a-kind wall décor and repurpose furniture to give your home an inexpensive makeover. Just watch “Flea Market Flip” on HGTV. I have gotten so many decorating ideas from that show and they demonstrate great ways to repurpose many different types of items. It is a great show and I highly recommend especially if you are handy and like DIY projects.

With that in mind, let me tell you about a GREAT flea market I visited last weekend;

GreenFlea Market on Columbus Ave between 76^th and 77^th Street

About GreenFlea:

The market is made possible through the support of the NYC Department of Education. The proceeds from the GreenFlea Market benefits four public schools: PS 87, The Computer School, PS 334 (Anderson Program) and PS 452.

Money generated by the market is used by the Parents Association to provide enrichment opportunities for the schools. Since 1985 GreenFlea has provided the schools with more than $7,000,000.

I really enjoy going to GreenFlea. There is just so much to see and browse through. Absolutely anything and everything that you can imagine and then some. Jewelry, clothing – new and vintage, accessories, antiques, lighting, vinyl records, soaps, candles, too much to list. And as an added bonus, they have awesome noshes while you are there. You must go to the right when you go in and have a piece of spinach pie, baklava, mini mushroom pastry or any of the delicious treats they are selling – the prices are more than reasonable and the food is absolutely scrumptious. The mini spinach pastry ($1.50 each) was almost sold out by 12:30pm and the flea market opened at 10am. And they have a whole space indoors that you should also check out.

One in particular vendor that I loved the merchandise was Latifs Designs. He has the most beautiful lighting fixtures and chandeliers, both traditional and a bit funky. I fell in love with them all.

www.LatifsDesign.com
www.lightningcolors.com

The jewelry is unique and there are many different types from ethnic to funky and so many unique designs so you are sure to get noticed. You will never find your run of the mill items at GreenFlea. The antiques are extraordinary (or they were when I was there) and they also carry a few modern pieces.

The merchandise for the most part is above average. What I like most about GreenFlea is that they actually have an approval process for a vendor which includes submitting a bill of sale for designer merchandise. All counterfeits and knockoffs are prohibited. They even have a moratorium on items so the market is not repetitive. I have been going for years and I loved it back then and I still love it now.

GreenFlea
100 West 77^th Street
New York, NY 10024
Text: 212-239-3025
Sunday: 10am – 5:30pm
www.greenfleamarkets.com

While we are on the subject of flea markets, here are a few others that you must visit:

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market
39^th Street between 9^th and 10^th Avenues
Sunday: 9am – 5pm (weather permitting)

Chelsea Market
It is on the uptown Side of West 25th Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue,
(Near The Flatiron Building, Eataly, and Madison Square Park).
9am–6pm
Every Saturday & Sunday, year-round (weather permitting)

Chelsea Market and the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market is most definitely worth a visit –you can spend hours just looking at some of the items on sale here. Even if you don’t buy anything, I can guarantee that you will have a blast just browsing. Again, lots of unique and interesting items just like GreenFlea. I particularly love checking out the vintage jewelry especially brooches. I just love brooches; they dress up everything, a denim jacket, that little black dress, so many different ways to dress up any outfit.

$1 admission at both

I would have loved to recommend the Antiques Garage as my most favorite flea market in the city, but unfortunately, it closed last June after twenty years. I found so many unique items there; I will treasure them more now that it is closed. I am sure some of you remember it.

Now let me get back on track;

While I was at GreenFlea, my next stop was Housing Works on Columbus Avenue. We all know how much I love Housing Works but this one was insane on the day I was there and it was early in the day. It was jam-packed and there was quite a selection of furniture. I thought that the furniture was reasonably priced but the housewares were a bit overpriced. You could barely get by the racks of clothes so many people were browsing. I am not sure if it always that crowded or if the gorgeous weather had something to do with it. J But I am sure that the furniture I saw is sold and long gone.

Just a FYI – Housing Works has membership packages – here are just two —– (please check the website for exact information and other membership packages).

$60 Friend membership gets you 10% off books at the Bookstore Café, a Housing Works tote bag and other special perks.

$120 Advocate gets you all the above plus special member discounts and 25% off on Sundays (exclusions apply). (That could explain the large crowd on Sunday.)

Housing Works
306 Columbus Ave. (At 74^th Street)
New York, NY 10023
212.579.7566
Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm
Sat: 10am-6pm
Sun: 11am-5pm

Right nearby are not one, but two Goodwill stores;

The West 79^th Street store is small and I think clothes are the specialty here. Nice variety and setup well for a small space. Being this is spring cleaning season, now may be the time to go. I have seen some beautiful suits, dresses, jeans on the rack and the pricing for the most part was reasonable. The housewares get an honorable mention here.

Goodwill West 79^th Street
217 West 79th Street
New York, NY 10024
212.874.5050
Monday-Wednesday: 9am-8pm
Thursday-Saturday: 9am-9pm
Sunday: 10am-8pm

The West 72^nd Street store has only two dressing rooms which can be a pain when there is line of people waiting BUT I do like the clothes selection here and I thought the dress section was above average although the pricing a bit steep for certain brands. I thought it had an excellent men’s section. This shop is definitely worth a trip.

Goodwill West 72^nd Street
157 W 72nd St
New York, NY 10069
212.799.2723
Monday-Wednesday: 9am-8pm
Thursday-Saturday: 9am-9pm
Sunday: 10am-8pm

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!

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23rd St in NYC has so many options!

April 28, 2015August 8, 2019/ToniOnThrifting.com/2 Comments

Welcome back!

When you find a thrift store that you like, make sure that you sign up for their email notifications and like their Facebook page when available, it is a great way to find out about sales and promotions and even see a preview of merchandise . And if you are very lucky, an occasional coupon!!

I thought I would cut right to the chase today and let you know about an abundance of thrift shops on 23^rd Street and the surrounding area. Sort of like a pub crawl but for thrift shops. 🙂

There is such a great array – City Opera, Cauz for Pawz, Housing Works, Vintage Thrift (off 23^rd St.), Unique Boutique (3^rd Ave and 29^th), Goodwill and Salvation Army.

So here we go;

City Opera Thrift Shop
222 E 23^rd St
New York, NY 10010
212.684.5344
Mon-Wed-Fri – 10am-7pm
Thursday 10am-8pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 11am-6pm

You have to love City Opera; it is a great thrift shop with lots of character. It has high quality clothing and not at exorbitant prices. They have a wonderful women’s selection with lots of dressy styles (fun to browse through) and I have seen some top brand men’s shirts/suits at reasonable prices. Upstairs is the artwork, books and assorted items. The costume jewelry is always fun to look at in the front of the store and you can find great buys in the shoe department if you are lucky. As far as furniture, I have seen some extraordinary furniture but it is gone as fast as it comes in. Join their Facebook page so you can see when they are having special events which are worth going to. City Opera is one not to miss!!!

Cauz for Pawz
212 E 23^rd St
New York, NY 10010
212.684.7299
www.cauzforpawz.com
Mon-Fri – 10am–8pm
Sun – 11am-7pm

Cauz for Pawz provides animal welfare organizations, rescue and no kill shelters with financial funds and supplies – they host animal adoption events and even run a community pet food pantry for animals in need. What is their not to love about this – I definitely want to help this cause!

They have two floors with the better quality clothing upstairs and the big markdowns downstairs. The housewares are downstairs as well as well as the majority of shoes. They have a fine selection of costume jewelry in the front of the shop and they are having a 20% off sale on it from May 8 – 10^th just in time for Mother’s Day. PSA – the elevator is a bit rickety but don’t worry J.

Housing Works
157 E. 23^rd St
New York, NY 10010
212.529.5955
http://www.housingworks.org/locations/detail/gramercy-thrift-shop/
Mon-Fri – 10am- 7pm
Sat – 10am-6pm
Sun – 12pm-6pm

I like this Housing Works (I like all Housing Works). The clothes are great – both a men and women’s section with a good variety and a nice sized shoe department with bags and accessories. They have a decent book section and I have never seen housewares jump off the shelves like this Housing Works so there always seems to be a limited supply. They have a sale rack which is worth going through and as in most thrift stores on 23rd Street; furniture has a short “shelf life”. The window displays are always fun to look at but the items are only available through auction. Another not to miss!

Vintage Thrift
286 3^rd Ave. (between 2^nd and 3^rd)
New York, NY
212.871.0777
http://www.vintagethriftshop.org/
Mon – Thur – 10:30am-8pm
Friday – 10:30am until dusk
Sun – 11am-7pm
Saturday – Closed

Purchases from the Vintage Shop benefit the United Jewish Council of the East Side which operates three senior centers. They have also developed and now manage 170 units of low income, elderly and special needs amongst many other programs. I salute UJC for helping the senior citizen population.

The sales here are great when they have them and it is just so much fun to browse through this shop. The displays are charming and have been set up quite nicely. There is just so much to see. I think that there are some great finds to be had here. Vintage Thrift – Another definitely not to miss!!!

Unique Boutique
402 Third Ave. (between 28 & 29)
New York, NY 10128
212.427.0077
Mon – Sat – 10am–9pm
Sunday – 11am-8pm

This is a great shop just have a little patience. Sweet book selection – the hardcovers are $2 and the paperbacks $1 with some new releases (obviously they don’t last long). The clothes selection is good but not extensive. They carry some good name brands but look over the clothes closely before purchasing. I think this is one of those places where you may find that “buy” but it will take a little work. The prices are reasonable and it is definitely worth a trip especially if you are in the neighborhood.

Goodwill
220 E 23^rd St
New York, NY 10010
212.447.7270
Mon – Sat – 9am-9pm
Sunday – 10am – 6pm
Salvation Army
206 East 23^rd Street
New York, NY 10010
212.532.8115
Mon, Tues, Thur and Friday – 10am-6pm
Wed and Sat – 10am-7pm
Sun Closed

The Salvation Army operates over 7,475 centers in communities across the United States. These include food distribution, disaster relief, rehabilitation centers, anti-human trafficking efforts, and a wealth of children’s programs. Their work is funded through kettle donations, corporate contributions, and the sale of goods donated to our Salvation Army Family Stores. Eighty-two cents of every dollar we spend supports various missions across the country.

I will touch upon this Goodwill and Salvation Army briefly.

I like this Goodwill and Salvation Army, I do — but you really have to go through the racks to find something. I just don’t seem to have much luck clothing-wise in this Goodwill although I have found a few nice things in the housewares section and very reasonably priced. I will say both have decent tee-shirt sections and both have vintage tees at times which are fun. FYI – This Salvation Army does not have a dressing room. I will say this about both stores – they both have heavy foot traffic and always have long lines at checkout so there is some good merchandise to be had and they are cheaper than the others on the block but the quality is not always as good.

PLEASE NOTE – all constructive criticism is welcomed and appreciated and let me know if there is a specific shop in mind you would like to know about!!

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

17th St in NYC and some vintage!

April 20, 2015August 8, 2019/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

Welcome back!

While doing my spring cleaning I looked at my “finds” and I realized that I have a few top quality pieces that I otherwise would not have had but for my “eagle eye” in thrift stores.

I have been to some thrift stores where I gasp at the prices and I walk into some thrift stores and do a little victory dance 🙂 it all depends on how you look at it. Me personally, I do not need a Dolce and Gabbana tee-shirt that is normally $275 for $39 – but for some, that is their spectacular buy and I get it and totally respect it. 🙂

At the Goodwill in New Rochelle I talked about in my last post, I bought a Tory Burch summer dress for $29.99 (not on sale) – it wasn’t because it was Tory Burch but rather black which is my favorite clothing color (I know, I know) and it fit perfectly. But I think it had more to do with luck — they had just restocked the racks a couple of hours earlier. Please don’t be discouraged by this, you will find some great buys just not every trip. I tend to stick with familiar brands that are a good fit rather than “label” shopping. And you never know, you might find that extraordinary piece or label you always wanted while looking.

You can spend days and days in the city going to all the “major” thrift shops let alone some smaller ones that aren’t even on the radar yet. I have always found the city thrift shops although pricier have a much wider variety of style and fashion trends. If vintage is your niche, the city is the place to find the best selection of vintage whether through thrift, consignment or vintage stores. Vintage stores like Screaming Mimi’s, No Relation Vintage and Vice Versa are all absolutely amazing and I think three of the TOP RATED vintage stores in the city. I promise any one of these stores will be a shopping experience you will thoroughly enjoy.

Screaming Mimi’s
http://www.Screammingmimis.com
382 Lafayette St.
New York, NY 10003
212-677-6464
Monday-Saturday 12-8pm
Sunday 1-7pm

Vice Versa
http://www.viceversavintage.com
241 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, New York
718-782-8847
Monday-Thursday 1-8pm
Friday-Saturday 12-10pm
Sunday 12-8pm

No Relation Vintage
http://www.ltrainvintage.com
204 First Ave.
New York, NY 10009
212-228-5201
Sunday-Thursday 12-8pm
Friday-Saturday 12-9pm

Please note that Vice Versa and No Relation have multiple locations.

I digressed but I do hope that you enjoy this information.

I thought about how I will handle all the thrift shops in the city and I thought that geographically would be best. After all, if I tell you about Angel Street (which I will today) I should also focus on the thrift stores in the near vicinity.

About Angel Street, the proceeds benefit the innovative programs of the Lower East Side Service Center. The LESC is dedicated to improving the lives individuals and families affected by substance abuse, HIV/Aids and mental illness. Kudos to Angel Street. I enjoy telling you who benefits from the proceeds of thrift stores so you know who are ultimately helping. 🙂

Angel Street is one of my favorite thrift shops in the city. I find the BEST accessories in Angel Street. They have such a great selection and all reasonably priced. They have headbands (I use them to cover the greys 🙂 in between salon appts), earrings, necklaces, brooches, hair pins, you name it. They have great furniture and home décor but it never ever lasts very long. The clothes are little pricey but all great brands and good quality and a respectable selection. They have shoes and handbags but again, the items in Angel Street have a generally short “shelf life” so if you fall in love with something, buy it. It is just so much fun to browse around Angel Street; it is definitely worth a visit and the selections will be different each time.

Angel Street Thrift Shop
118 West 17th Street
New York, NY 10111
212.229.0546
http://www.angelstreetthrift.org/about.html
Monday-Friday: 11AM-7PM
Saturday: 10AM-7PM
Sunday: 12–5PM

Housing Works is another great thrift shop. There are numerous Housing Works scattered throughout the city. They have a Bookstore Café downtown that is such a fun place to go alone or meet friends. It is a NYC institution. In Brooklyn, the have a $25 “BUY THE BAG” shop (we all know how much I love this type of sale) and it is known as “thrifters paradise”. I will treat each Housing Works separately as each has its own “personality”. This is another organization supporting those in need.

The mission statement — Housing Works is a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Our mission is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts.

This particular Housing Works that I am addressing is right down the block from Angel Street and another not to be missed. It has a lot in common with Angel Street in that most items have a very short shelf life. I absolutely love their jewelry selection. I bought a pretty crystal necklace for $19.99 last year and I always get compliments when I wear it. I am sure that it is worth triple what I paid. Because both these shops are popular and there is a lot of foot traffic so the shelves/racks are constantly being replenished. I can guarantee that every visit will have all new selections. The furniture barely gets there before a “sold” sticker is slapped on. The clothes fly off the shelves and the housewares/books disappear as fast. It is worth going just to experience. FYI – The window items are only available through auction.

Housing Works
157 East 23rd St.
York, NY 10010
212.529.5955
http://www.housingworks.org/locations/detail/gramercy-thrift-shop/
Mon-Fri: 10 AM- 7 PM,
Sat: 10AM-6PM,
Sun: 12-6PM

I will tell you all about 23rd St in my next blog – so many options – all good!

So until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!

Even more thoughts, Goodwill in New Rochelle – now CLOSED :( and an upcoming sale!

April 12, 2015June 18, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/2 Comments

Welcome back!

I have to tell you that I envy people who can sew; the thrift shop world is their oyster. I can do minor repairs but hems and sleeves, you do not want to see my handiwork. Finding a tailor that does quality work while not charging an arm and a leg, now that requires research.

One thing to take into consideration is that if you find a suit, dress, jeans, etc. and it is a good bargain or a brand you love, is it worth the price of alterations? That is when having a general idea of your tailor’s prices comes in handy. I have seen many a suit on a rack with tags on them but by the time you have the sleeves tailored and the skirt or pants hemmed, you might find a brand new suit of the same quality with a comparable price at TJ Maxx or Marshalls. So always take alterations into consideration when making a purchase like this.

Since shows where resellers are showcased became so popular, you have quite a few amateur and professional resellers out there. You will notice them with their phones and tablets looking up items and taking pictures of items. I totally understand that everyone has to make a living and I respect that but unfortunately, this is another reason why thrift store prices are going up. Thrift stores are now doing research on their items and charging a higher price. They check eBay, Tradesy, etc. and see what an item is going for and price it accordingly. What does irk me is when a reseller tries to get an item for next to nothing at a CHARITY thrift store to sell for profit. Oh well!

I have found that I get those RARE buys of a lifetime because I just happened to fall in love with an item and is reasonably priced and later on, when researching it out of curiosity; I realize what a score I made. I once bought a unique red vase at a yard sale in CT for $5 (I did not even bargain) only to find out it is a Orrefors vase worth $175. I put some eucalyptus in it and every time I look at it, I smile at my rather spectacular find. 🙂

Now I will get to Goodwill. I love Goodwill, who doesn’t. Goodwill even has a rewards program so make sure you sign up for it. My most favorite Goodwill of all time is in Connecticut but I am not ready to divulge my best kept secret yet. 🙂

The best part of Goodwill is that they help people in need go forward with their lives. They also have an outstanding array of services for veterans. They help people with all types of disabilities gain employment through specialized programs. And if you know me, any organization that helps individuals with developmental, intellectual and other disabilities have a better quality of life, they will hold a special place in my heart now and always.

I will treat each Goodwill store separately as they each have their own distinct personality and specialties in my opinion. And now….drumroll….today, I will tell you all about a particular Goodwill; this one is in New Rochelle.

Goodwill Store and Attended Donation Center

Shoprite Plaza

8 Joyce Road

New Rochelle, NY

914-633-0964

Monday-Wednesday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Thursday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Sunday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

http://goodwillnynj.org

Every week this Goodwill posts a “color” of the week and all items with that color are 50% off. The best thing about this Goodwill is SUNDAY because Sunday is a two color day. They let you purchase items from the previous week’s color AND the new color that is posted on Sunday morning. So on Sunday, you have a greater chance of scoring some great items at an even lower price. Not all Goodwill stores use the color policy.

If I go on Sunday, I usually start in the dress section because this Goodwill fluctuates quite a bit on dress prices leaning to a bit higher than other Goodwill stores – so Sunday is the day I buy dresses. They have men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and quite a selection with most reasonably priced. Their housewares section is very good although occasionally there are some broken items on the shelves so buyers beware – I don’t want anyone getting hurt. They have some good home décor as well and some furniture. Always check the front window display and near the cash register for they tend to “show off” the better quality buys. I like this Goodwill and you will see the resellers there especially in the housewares section.

And don’t forget it is a donation center as well (side door) so clean that closet out with the old so you can bring in the new — you will be helping a worthy cause! 🙂

PSA – you will love me for this one!

I must, must tell you about a sale that will be coming up in September. I know that it is early but it is probably by far the best attic/rummage sale that I have ever been to EVER!

The Irvington Presbyterian Church in Irvington, New York (Westchester County) will have their annual ATTIC SALE OUTREACH on Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12. I believe that it begins at 10 am each day but I will of course confirm all the details as it gets closer. It is not a far drive from the city and Irvington is quite a lovely town to visit with lots of history and great restaurants.

The best part of this sale is that since 2000, over $200,00 has been donated to local, regional, national and global organizations, way too many to mention but when I get the flyer, I will post.

This sale is for anyone who loves rummage sales. They have rooms and rooms of clothing, household, antiques, costume jewelry, books, holiday decorations, you name it — It is so unbelievable, they have rooms designated just for women’s, men’s and kid’s clothes. They use the outside with tents for furniture and larger household items.

This sale is so popular that they use the school across the street for parking. I don’t ever remember going to a rummage sale and thinking, I may not get to see everything in a couple of hours. You go from room to room and just keeping finding bargain after bargain. Last year I found a Max Studio dress for $8, a gorgeous vase for $4, a cardigan for $3, too many books to mention. The book selection is the BEST I have ever seen at a sale like this. The pictures do not do the cardigan or dress justice.

I am sure that they have the best SELECTION on Friday but the best prices are on SATURDAY. I went on Saturday afternoon and they were anxious to sell, sell, sell and I was anxious to buy, buy, buy.

So until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!

More thoughts and thrift stores on City Island

April 6, 2015September 16, 2019/ToniOnThrifting.com/4 Comments

Hello and welcome back! Thank you for the positive comments, I sincerely appreciate it.

I will start today with some tidbits and then on to my two of my favorite thrift stores (although small) in the Bronx. The best part is that they are on scenic City Island. More on that later.

I also enjoy running and whenever I am at a run/race in Central Park, I always try to follow the “unwritten” rules of the run. Practical sense things like don’t run with your elbows out, if you take cup of water from a volunteer – be careful where you discard it so another runner does not slip on it or get doused. I will share with you what I feel are the “unwritten” rules/guidelines of thrift shopping. And of course, these are just my opinions but they have always led to better shopping experiences for me.

If you take something off a rack, please put it back if you are not interested in it. Most thrift stores that I have been in really do appreciate things like that. Please have patience on the checkout line, it is not the grocery store and they do not have numerous cashiers to keep things moving. I have gotten some very good advice about thrift stores off the beaten path from chit chatting on the checkout line. Be kind and courteous to everyone around you (we should be doing that anyway) because what I consider enjoyment (and also financially sound) may be an absolute necessity for someone who is in dire need of getting clothes for their kids or for someone who may need a suit/dress for a job interview. You just never know. And of course, please use your “indoor” voice if you must use your cell phone. 🙂

Don’t forget to check the racks outside the dressing rooms too. They sometimes hold gems that were not on the rack when you were looking.

One thing that I would like to mention in the smaller thrift shops that are independently operated, there may be room for bargaining at times but not always. My suggestion is that you should always be polite if you ask for a couple of dollars off on an item but please don’t try and get an item that may be worth $10 (thrift store price) for $2. It is a pet peeve I have been told on numerous occasions from staff. After a while, you will know where and when prices are negotiable.

Don’t be afraid to ask when the “fill a bag” sale is (at the smaller thrift shops). These types of sales are awesome. The Humane Society of New Rochelle (more on this shop in a later blog) had one offsite last year and I was able to fill a bag with Lands End pants, three brand new Eddie Bauer shirts and a couple of other great items for $5. You can never go wrong with one of these sales, at least in my opinion. That was my all time best fill a bag day.

The same rule goes for thrift shopping as for typical shopping. You have to ask yourself, are you going to wear it/use it? I have purchased a couple of items that were unbelievable buys but never ended up using them. No harm, no foul but why waste money, especially nowadays.

And now….drumroll… two of my favorite thrift shops in the Bronx:

St. Mary’s Star of the Sea (go through the side to the rear, door has sign on it)

590 City Island Ave.

Bronx, NY 10464

718-885-1440

Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am until 3 pm

This is a smaller thrift shop but I love it for the prices and especially for the staff. They are amazing, kind and helpful. The prices are incredibly reasonable, the selection most days is good and the housewares section is very small but I found two great extra-large glasses that I can use for desserts for $2 each. They have a decent men’s selection too. There is always a steady crowd and when inventory is at max, good selections. You can even grab a cup of coffee and donate to the coffee fund jar which is neat. What they do have is a great fill a bag sale occasionally – and they do let you fill the bag — I will always post when I know the dates.

Budget Corner at Trinity United Methodist City Island

(side entrance, you will see the signs)

116 City Island Ave.

Bronx, New York 10464

718-885-1080

1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of the month and some Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm

(I would call first just in case for Saturdays and when you go there you can grab a Saturday schedule. I will also post one when I get it.)

This is another small thrift shop that is good because there seems to be a lot of turnover with the clothes and they seem to have new inventory almost every trip. There is a lot of foot traffic in this store. The housewares section is okay at best. They have a decent men’s section with casual clothes. The women’s section is a bit more extensive (dresses, skirts, blouses) and they have some kids clothes. There are a lot of shirts and jeans on the shelves so don’t pass them up. They occasionally have the fill a bag sale but very far and few between. Just a PSA for my peeps — this is one of those places were negotiating prices might be a bit tough. 🙂

So until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Toni’s Thoughts on Thrift Shopping (And The Beginning of Her Dream Blog)

March 29, 2015September 20, 2015/ToniOnThrifting.com/5 Comments

Welcome to my blog on thrift shopping. I have been dreaming about writing this blog for a very, very long time and I am excited to finally be starting it. Please bear with me as I am new to blogging so this will be a learning experiece. Thanks in advance.

I thoroughly enjoy shopping in thrift stores. I have spent countless hours in numerous Goodwill, Salvation Army, and many, many other various thrift shops and consignment shops (although I do favor the thrift shop over the consignment shop).

The thrill of finding that little black dress that I otherwise would never have been able to afford and those occasional trendy pieces that I normally would never even think of purchasing are pure enjoyment to me (yes, one of life’s pleasures for me). There are so many things that I have learned from my countless excursions and from talking to other “thrifters”. I will never claim to be an expert; just an overenthusiastic thrift shopper who loves learning how to get the best buys. I hope that you enjoy my blog and find some interesting bits of information that you can use.

In later blogs, I will share my favorite thrift shops with you but for now, I hope to share some useful information with you.

Thrift shopping has changed over the last few years due to the recession. More and more people are using consignment shops for their designer clothing and accessories so that has cut into thrift shopping quite a bit. Also, websites like Tradesy (www.tradesy.com) are making it easy to buy and sell designer clothes and handbags at competitive consignment prices. Not to mention Facebook has many groups in your area where you can buy and sell clothes, accessories, household and many other items online. Times are tough for many and people are looking to make some extra money to help with the bills, that is totally understandable. But don’t worry; there are still plenty of bargains to find and plenty of places to find them.

I have visited countless places in Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester County and lower Connecticut. I will try and include websites and addresses/phone numbers wherever possible.

The first thing that I must emphasize is that you cannot go thrift shopping in a rush. Patience is the key and the most important factor when thrift shopping. You must take the time to look and most importantly, inspect, inspect and inspect again. You can find an amazing piece of clothing but if it has a stain that won’t come out or a tear that can’t be repaired, it is just wasted money and then you are defeating the purpose. The same goes for household, what might look good from far away may have chips or cracks that can’t be repaired and wont look good on that shelf/furniture in your home. The dish set in the box may say eight dishes but upon inspecting the contents, you find mismatched pieces. I have found some pretty spectacular home furnishings and décor in my travels and the best part is that most of them are unusual and end up being conversation pieces.

While in a thrift store in Connecticut, I learned the best piece of advice from another shopper. She and her husband went through the departments/racks that they were interested in and then pulled the clothes that they were considering and put them in a shopping cart. They then went to the back of the store in a quiet corner and inspected and I mean thoroughly inspected each piece of clothing to make sure that it was in good shape and worth the asking price. What impressed me most was the fact that her husband helped and really seemed to be into it. They were both happy and animated when they were talking to me and eager to share their thoughts. I wish that I got their names; they definitely deserve a shout out and lots of thanks.

You must also be open-minded. You are not going to find items that you like every time but you can use the time to find out which stores are carrying things that are in “tune” with your life and style. You pretty much know what name brands fit you well and look good and that also makes it easier when thrift shopping.

Much more to share so until next time!

ToniOnThrifting