2025-05-11T17:08:13-04:00

W. 26th St. in Chelsea is Thrift Row, the place to be for buying and selling vintage.

May 11, 2025/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

When in Chelsea, I highly recommend that you go to W. 26th St. for an abundance (and I mean abundance) of thrift and vintage opportunities, both buying and selling.

Each one of these stores is fabulous and has loads of vintage t-shirts, clothing, shoes, sneakers, and accessories. They all have a broad range of clothes and shoes in New York City at appropriate prices. AND in each store, you will find unique vintage pieces. Also, all these stores carry on-trend clothing, and these pieces are priced appropriately. We all have different tastes. Our styles look very different. So, it is a personal choice as to which shop will be your favorite. You will definitely find merchandise you like. It will be in one of these stores. I found a few items that I could not leave without.

Here are some of the stores that I visited:

Crossroads Trading
@crossroadtrading
24 West 26th St
Crossroadtrading.com

If you want to sell clothes, Crossroads has an app that tells you the number of sellers ahead of you. If you do not have time to wait, they have a 48-hour drop-off selling service and a sell-by-mail service.

Buffalo Exchange
@buffaloexchange
114 West 26th St
Buffaloexchange.com

They also have a text notification system that alerts sellers about their place in line, so you can trade for store credit.

Garage Sale Vintage
@garagesale_vintage
122 West 26th St
Gargarsalevintage.com

I can only say this is one of the most fabulous vintage shops I’ve ever been in. Garage Sale Vintage has a great vibe and a fantastic selection( there is even a record section), and it is a great space that offers a great shopping experience. This is a must-see stop on Thrift Row. See their website for details on the store and the more fun events at the shop

Thrift NYC
@thriftnycchelsea
150 West 26th St.

Thrift NYC has an excellent reputation for having the friendliest and most helpful staff and an excellent selection. It is well worth the trip.

2nd Street Chelsea
@secondstreetusa
142 West 26th St
ec.2ndstreetusa.com

They have stores nationwide, and with 250K followers, they are very popula

Flamingos Vintage Pound
110 West 26th St

Flamingos Vintage Pound is incredible. You must stop in to feel the vibe and see all the clothes. The staff is chill and very helpful—a great way to shop.

Goodwill
103 West 25th St.
Goodwillnynj.org

Goodwill is also around the corner, and their prices and variety were great. How can you not stop at Goodwill if it is right there?

Do not forget, if you go on a Saturday or Sunday. Do not miss the Chelsea flea market at 29 W. 25th St. between Sixth Avenue and Broadway. I promise it is worth going, even to browse. They are open 8 AM to 5 PM year-round.

Please remember sustainability and the importance of REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE!

Visit my Facebook page for local sales in Westchester County.

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

The Habitat NYC and Westchester Restore in Yonkers just celebrated its first anniversary, and they have much to celebrate.

October 30, 2024October 30, 2024/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

After visiting the Habitat NYC and Westchester Restore in Yonkers, New York, I can see why. The store is jam-packed with furniture, appliances, building materials, kitchen cabinets, paint, home décor, and more. These are overstock and second-hand high-quality items donated to the Restore, all at 50 to 80% off original retail pricing. They have an additional store in Queens. The merchandise is quite impressive, with so many options. Join their Facebook page to see new items posted for sale: Their page is Habitat NYC and Westchester Restore.

If you or someone you know is getting their first home, first apartment, going back to school, or tragically, a victim of floods or fire, this is the place to get furniture and other home supplies at a fraction of what you would pay at a retailer. I saw beautiful couches, loveseats, and chairs: paint, some hardware, appliances, and lots of home décor. The staff is accommodating and kind. On. A recent weekend, I was in the store where families bought furniture and other items, and everything was seamless. It was busy, but each person/group received the staff’s undivided attention.

I spoke to Harris (pictured), the manager, who is equally passionate about Habitat for Humanity New York City, Westchester, and the ReStore. You can tell by going through the store how much Harris and everyone who works there cares about what they do and the people they do it for.

More about the Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester. Habitat NYC and Westchester create, preserve, and advocate for healthy, affordable homes and the generational equity-building opportunities homeownership provides.

Here are some great ways that you can get involved and help Habitat for Humanity:

Donate:

Whether you’re renovating your home, cleaning out your garage, downsizing or decluttering, Habitat NYC and Westchester’s ReStore will pick up and remove your gently used furniture, building materials, appliances, cabinetry, countertops, and household items. Pick-up is available!

Shop:

For your next DIY project, shop at the Habitat ReStore! You’ll be able to purchase necessary items at a steep discount, and your purchase will help Habitat NYC and Westchester build more homes.

Volunteer:

Join the team as a ReStore volunteer! It’s a perfect fit for community members interested in retail sales, interior design, or do-it-yourself projects and people simply interested in making a difference in the community. Volunteer opportunities include helping as a retail associate, doing donation pick-ups, refinishing furniture, and much more.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. I loved all the items on display and the store’s vibe and feel. I admire that the ReStore has diverted over 3,000 tons of waste from landfills. Do you need a better reason to shop the Restore than helping save the planet and help families in need? You can shop at either the Yonkers or Queens location. Both have outstanding merchandise.

Visit the website at http://www.habitatnycwc.org for more information and their hours of operation.

Westchester Restore NYC Restore

470 Nepperhan Ave 62-01 Northern Blvd

Yonkers, NY 10701 Queens, NY 11377

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

My trip to Fantastic Finds in Chappaqua and on my visit, I found something fantastic!

September 2, 2024/ToniOnThrifting.com/1 Comment

Once inside Fantastic Finds, it may have a familiar feel to it. In its past life, it was the Discovery Shop! Seven years ago, Fantastic Finds took over the property and has never looked back. This is not your regular thrift shop but an upscale resale boutique. Whenever I visit Fantastic Finds, I am amazed but not surprised at their inventory. They carry gently used and top-quality clothing for both men and women. There is a lot of turnover, which turns into constant fresh inventory, which is a plus. I was lucky to be shopping at one of their sales. The shop had a steady stream of customers, and I was impressed by the men visiting the suit section. One gentleman purchased not one but two suits. They carry new and gently used clothing, jewelry, handbags, artwork, home décor, serveware, and small furniture pieces. I hope the pictures show they have a superb selection of everything. On my trip, I found a stunning blazer that I immediately fell in love with, not to mention it was 25% off.

I spoke to Joanne Mortell, the Fantastic Finds manager for the past seven years. She is thrilled that all proceeds go to Support Connection. Support Connection is an independent 501c3 that depends on donations to fund its free, year-round services. Their mission is to help change fear to hope by providing free emotional, social, and educational support to people impacted by breast, ovarian, or gynecological cancer. Through one-on-one sessions with professional counselors, who are cancer survivors themselves, and group programs embracing mind, body, and spirit, their goal is to be a comforting and empowering resource for women and their families undergoing cancer treatment. Joanne stated that the most rewarding part of her volunteering is that Fantastic Finds raises money for women going through the most challenging times.

One of the most anticipated events at Fantastic Finds is the annual fashion show, where volunteers showcase the boutique’s merchandise. This event, which will be held on October 24th at Crabtree Kittle House in Chappaqua, is not just a showcase of style, but a significant fundraiser for the cause.

I eagerly look forward to attending this year’s fashion show and supporting this noble cause!

Fantastic Finds is also currently seeking volunteers with a passion for retail! The Store is open Monday – Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm. Volunteer Shifts are 3 hours long with the choice of morning or afternoon hours. If interested, please call the Support Connection Office at 914-962-6402 or email fantastic.finds@supportconnection.org.

You can sign up for Fantastic Finds News and Updates on Sales on their website, and you can check their website for donation information: https://supportconnection.org/fantastic-finds/. You can also Follow Fantastic Finds on Facebook and Instagram.

Fantastic Finds

400 King Street (in the Talbots Shopping Center)

Chappaqua, NY 10514

914-238-9200

Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day

August 17, 2024August 17, 2024/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day. We all know that I think it should be a national holiday. I love my thrift shopping – both shopping and writing about it. Why do people love thrift shopping? Why do I love thrift shopping? The thrill of the hunt is looking for that great find. The chance to create your style and make a fashion statement. The ability to save money by not shopping in expensive department stores. Secondhand and vintage clothes are better quality than today’s fast fashion. Even thrift stores have sales. Help your community by supporting local thrift shops that use their proceeds to help people in their communities. It gives you a chance to keep updating your wardrobe at reasonable prices. If you dislike a purchase, you can donate it right back.

Most importantly, by thrift shopping, you are saving the planet and keeping clothes out of landfills. These are just some of the reasons why we all love thrift shopping. I have been thrift shopping for over forty years, and it brings me great joy and is my passion. There is no better way to enjoy a few hours than by going to a thrift shop and just looking through all the racks hoping to find those unique pieces that I will buy and love for years to come.

Happy National Thrift Shop Day!!

Thank you for reading – if you like my blogs, please like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tonionthrifting/

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

St. Patrick’s Thrift Shop in Verplanck, New York – a popular stop on the Verplanck thrift crawl

March 2, 2024March 2, 2024/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

St. Patrick’s Thrift Shop in Verplanck was always a pleasure, but now that they have doubled their size, it is an even better thrifting experience. The newly expanded space has beautifully displayed linens, décor, and household items. Their best seller is still their wide selection of men’s and women’s clothing. They also carry shoes, accessories, small furniture, and more. The shop is better than ever. They have a wide selection of merchandise, and I have always left the thrift shop with something special. That is why they have a steady stream of repeat customers who continually support them. It is very easy to support the thrift shop because it has a great selection and is continuously updated.

Margaret McKeon, the shop manager, opened the shop in October 1993. St. Patrick’s recently celebrated their 30^th anniversary. Margaret, a lifelong resident, has been a parishioner since she was baptized at St. Patrick’s church. St Patrick’s is an integral part of the Verplanck community, and their customers come from near and far to shop there and support them.

St. Patrick’s welcomes all gently used donations, especially clothing if they are clean and usable. St. Patrick’s is also giving away free prom shoes on April 19^th. While there, you can also shop for prom accessories. The event is from 4 pm until 7 pm.

Check out St. Patrick’s Facebook page to see a sampling of their new merchandise. I couldn’t see Margaret on my last visit, but I did see Marlene and Becky, two of the many amazing volunteers at St. Patrick’s.

St Patrick’s Thrift Shop

240 11 St.

Verplanck, New York

Open Wednesdays and Saturdays – 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

stpatrickschurch@gmail.com

Website: http://www.chrispatparish.com/

When you are in the area, you can also visit:

L.I.S.A. “Let It Shine Again” Thrift Boutique
137 7th Street,
Verplanck, New York
Wednesdays 9 AM – 1 PM
Thursdays 9 AM – 1 PM
Fridays 11 A – 4 PM
Saturdays 9 AM – 1 P

Carriage House Thrift Shop
Church of Divine Love
80 Sunset Road Montrose
Thursday & Saturday 10 am – 2 pm September-June
10 am – 1 pm July and August.

The Mustard Seed
Reformed Church of Cortlandtown
Saturday 10-2, Sunday 11-2
2124 Albany Post Rd.
Montrose (914) 737-6482

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

Here are some of my favorite quotes about thrift shopping that I love!

January 7, 2024/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

Happy New Year! I wanted to share with you some of my favorite quotes on thrift shopping! I hope that you enjoy them!

Thrift shopping is all about going into the thrift shop and having no expectation of what you might find.

Macklemore

My mom passed on her obsession of all things antique or vintage. I love to go thrift store shopping or explore any sort of garage sale. Treasure hunting is a family passion.

Zoey Deutch

Thrift shopping is really just an extension of me being that same kid and going into a place that’s completely unconventional that has really endless possibilities in terms of outfits that you can put together and really just expressing yourself.

Macklemore

I love thrift shopping. You can get ten things because everything costs, like, three dollars.

Lorde

I might wear skinny pants one day; I might wear thrift shop pants the next day.

Post Malone

I am a theater girl, and a lot of theater girls dress however pleases them. I wear whatever looks good on me. I wear what I wear because I have been shopping at thrift stores since I was five.

Kirsten Vangsness

The whole thing of clothes is insane. You can spend a dollar on a jacket in a thrift store. And you can spend a thousand dollars on a jacket in a shop. And if you saw those two jackets walking down the street, you probably wouldn’t know which was which.

Helen Mirren

Thank you, Brainy Quote, for the above quotes!

And here are three more:

Natalie Joos
On her advice for new vintage shoppers: “Never shop for something specific. Just browse. Don’t expect to find what you were looking for. It never works. Either go for cool pieces that stand out and are unique (you will keep them longer) or go for the big designer pieces that will last you a lifetime. Don’t buy things you know you will dispose of. Try stuff on. Vintage was made for smaller people. But don’t be afraid to buy things too big. Alterations are common when buying vintage. You don’t want to miss a cool piece just because it’s too big. Too small is not recommended!” —Elle, February 2013

Winona Ryder
“Most of my wardrobe is vintage and I’ve worn dresses to the Oscars that I got for $10. At Sean Penn’s last Haiti gala I wore this vintage dress that I’d worn to a film premiere in 2005. I know that’s kind of a no-no in the fashion world, but why wear something just once if you love it?” —Red, April 2014

Tracee Ellis Ross
“I buy a lot of vintage because, well, it’s AMAZING! And truthfully you can get great stuff for not a lot of money. I have a passion for vintage clothing because of the quality and uniqueness of the pieces (you don’t really have to worry about showing up in the same outfit as someone else). To update some of my vintage finds or sometimes just to make them fit, I have the help of a fabulous seamstress and dressmaker, Daniela Kurrle. She really is stupendous and our collaborations have resulted in some of my favorite dresses in my closet.” —her site, February 2013

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day!! Celebrate by shopping at one of your favorite thrift shops.

August 17, 2023August 17, 2023/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day. We all know that I think it should be a national holiday. I love my thrift shopping – both shopping and writing about it.

When you shop The Ridgefield Thrift Shop, My Sister’s Place, St. Bart’s, The Back Door Thrift Shop (blog coming soon), Cauz For Pawz, New Canaan Thrift Shop, and countless others, you are supporting PHENOMENAL causes and helping change countless lives. Not to mention that we are helping save the planet by keeping clothes out of landfills. “Reduce, reuse, and recycle” is my motto.

In honor of National Thrift Shop Day, here are some quick tips for thrift shopping. Although this blog is a repeat, there are some new tips included.

Be friendly and ask the staff when the most new merchandise is put out.

Be kind when thrift shopping, most of the people who work at charitable thrift shops are volunteers, and they have already spent hours filling the racks. If you put items back, put them back on the right rack.

Know your labels and brands – know what to invest in for your basic wardrobe pieces and what to buy for fun.

Don’t buy something just because it is a name or designer brand; make sure you love the piece and will wear it. More often than not, you will not wear it if you are buying it by name.

Remember, if you buy an item and it needs alterations, the alterations can cost two to three times what you paid. Choose wisely when buying a piece that needs to be altered.

The smaller thrift shops sometimes have the best buys.

ENJOY the hunt, and know that you may not always find something. Just keep going back when you find a thrift shop you love.

Merchandise is also very geographical, so go out of your own area, and you will be surprised at how different (in a good way) the merchandise is.

I have recently heard from many thrift store managers that people are dropping off unusable merchandise. Please know that some smaller thrift shops have to pay to have garbage hauled off. Please only drop off clean and in good condition items.

I hope you find these tips helpful.

Thank you for reading – if you like my blogs, please like my Facebook page: TonionThrifting

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day

August 16, 2022August 16, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/1 Comment

Happy National Thrift Shop Day!!

Thank you for reading – if you like my blogs, please like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tonionthrifting/

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

The IFCA Thrift Shop in Ossining is delightful!

August 2, 2022August 17, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/1 Comment

The IFCA (Interfaith Council for Action) Thrift Shop in Ossining was a delightful surprise. They had a good selection, and the pricing was outstanding. $3.00 tee shirts and $4.00 for shirts/blouses, $5.00 for jeans and pants, $5.00 for handbags, $5 to $10 for jackets, $8 to $15 for dresses, baby, and children’s clothes, $1.50 to $3.00, shoes $2.50 and up. Household items can be found for anywhere between $1 to $35. The clothes and housewares were in excellent condition, and the selection was sizeable. I was impressed with the children’s section as they had a good selection and affordable pricing—the same for the jewelry, accessories, and linens.

The first IFCA thrift store opened approximately eight years ago on Spring Street in Ossining. The Thrift Shop moved to a larger space earlier this year at 95 Croton Avenue and is doing well. The store was busy while I was there. I spoke to Amy, the manager, and she said that there is a high turnover of merchandise, and I could see from the donations and sales that this is true. The store layout is open and easy to navigate, and the displays are appealing. They have an all-volunteer staff and are always looking for new volunteers to help with the shop and sorting donations.

Proceeds from the Thrift Shop fund IFCA’s community programs. IFCA was established in 1968 and provides a range of affordable housing development, property management, and supportive services to low and moderate-income people. IFCA owns and manages affordable apartments in Ossining and Tarrytown, NY. It is also a pioneer in developing transitional housing for the homeless, currently maintaining 16 units through Westchester County’s Emergency Housing Apartment Program (EHAP). Additionally, IFCA has adopted innovative community service programs to help hundreds of people beyond its tenant base, including financial literacy programs and job training. What better reasons do you need than to shop and help Ossining and the local communities? Bravo IFCA.

IFCA Thrift Shop

95 Croton Avenue
Ossining, NY 10562
Across the street from CTown

(914) 236-3000

thriftstore@ifcany.org

Store Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 11 am to 4 pm.

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

Katonah Thrift Shop is always a good choice when thrift shopping in Westchester!

June 26, 2022June 26, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

The Katonah Thrift Shop is an excellent Westchester thrift shop circuit stop. They have a good selection of clothes, and the inventory is continually updated. I have a blast walking around and looking at the other items—fabric, light fixtures, antiques, and much more. I bought a gorgeous silver picture frame there the last visit for the meager price of $2.00. It was in perfect condition and went with my décor well. I enjoy looking through the housewares, and I have previously purchased some unique serving pieces that I love.

I spent my visit poring through the racks for this blog. Their selection of clothing is good and the prices reasonable. Both men’s and women’s and all sizes. The women’s section is more extensive and has a nice selection of formal and informal dresses. Their accessory section has various bags, scarves, belts, etc. The displays are well done. I am always pleasantly surprised to find some vintage clothing, among many other treasures.

The Katonah Women’s Civic Club runs the Katonah Thrift Shop. The thrift shop is in the basement of the beautiful historic Memorial House on Bedford Road. Currently, the thrift store is managed by Joan Kachmarik, Ursula Martin, and Bobbi Stanton and is fully staffed by members of the Civic Club. All proceeds from the thrift shop go to the Katonah Women’s Civic Club, established in 1918, and are distributed to numerous community organizations – too many to mention. While there, they had so many donation drop-offs that I could not get all the volunteers together for a photo.

I spoke to Bobbi Stanton (pictured), one of the managers, and she told me that she loves when the oldies are playing and sees people dancing and bopping in the store – Bobbi said it makes her happy and the shopping more fun for customers. She said that all the members love working there, and the thrift shop has a very loyal following with many returning customers.

Well worth a stop and highly rated, the Katonah thrift Shop is worth a visit if you haven’t been and a return visit if you have. You can follow KTS on Facebook.

The Katonah Thrift Shop

71 Bedford Road (next to the Firehouse)

Katonah, NY 10536

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 am until 2 pm

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!!

ToniOnThrifting