New York City is undoubtedly known for its shopping scene, but while flagship stores and high-end designer boutiques (hello, Fifth Avenue) tend to take center stage, the City’s impressive secondhand offerings—flea markets, vintage stores, thrift shops—are not to be missed. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, here are the shops that should make your list.
Flea Markets
Artists & Fleas
88 Tenth Ave., Chelsea, Manhattan; daily, 11am–7pm
66 N. 7th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; Monday, Thursday and Friday, noon to 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 11am–7pm
70 N. 7th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; Saturday and Sunday, 11am–7pm
Good for: Prints and paintings, tiny trinkets and vintage and preloved fashion
Artists & Fleas is a must-visit for everything from handcrafted jewelry and records to hand-poured candles, throw blankets and prints and posters. The marketplace also has a store—Regeneration in Williamsburg, Brooklyn—dedicated to vintage, thrift and preloved fashion. If you find yourself at the Manhattan location, check out the abundance of shops and eateries inside Chelsea Market. You can also walk along the High Line, an elevated railway turned into an urban park.
Brooklyn Flea. Photo: Sam Hollenshead
Brooklyn Flea
80 Pearl St., Dumbo, Brooklyn; April through December, Saturday and Sunday, 10am–5pm
Good for: Furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles, antiques and one-of-a-kind artwork
Dubbed “one of the greatest urban experiences in New York” by The New York Times, the Brooklyn Flea has a little bit of everything. Locals and tourists alike flock to the outdoor market, located under the picturesque and historic Manhattan Bridge, for its eclectic assortment of vintage furniture, handmade jewelry, plants and other knickknacks. When you’ve finished shopping, walk over to the Time Out Market New York, situated in a former warehouse on the waterfront, with more than 20 of the City’s best eateries under one roof.
Chelsea Flea
29 W. 25th St., Chelsea, Manhattan; Saturday and Sunday, 8am–5pm
Good for: Antiques, vintage goods, costume jewelry and art from local makers
Each week 50 to 60 vintage and antique vendors set up at the Chelsea Flea, which has been operating on the same block for more than 40 years. Stop by for framed artwork, jewelry and vintage clothes and comic books, then grab a burger from Shake Shack in Madison Square Park (where the popular restaurant chain got its start).
Courtesy, Grand Bazaar NYC
Grand Bazaar NYC
100 W. 77th St., Upper West Side, Manhattan; Sunday, 10am–5pm
Good for: Rare and limited-edition goods from artists, designers and vintage and antique dealers
No two Sundays at the Grand Bazaar are the same—with different themed events taking place and various vendors coming and going throughout the year. On any given visit you might come across antique radios, upcycled denim, hand-poured candles or international treats. Afterward explore nearby Central Park or the American Museum of Natural History. In addition to providing space for local artisans and dealers, Grand Bazaar (which just so happens to be the biggest and oldest curated weekly market in the city) uses profits to support enrichment programs and provide classroom supplies to four local public schools.
Ludlow Flea Market
159 Ludlow St., Lower East Side, Manhattan; Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 8pm
Good for: ’90s and Y2K streetwear
This intimate outdoor market is best known for its art, fashion and fair prices. While there are vintage T-shirts, cozy crewneck sweatshirts and shoes aplenty at the Ludlow Flea, it’s not unheard of to uncover secondhand designer pieces. Bonus: Katz Delicatessen (as seen in When Harry Met Sally), Economy Candy (the City’s oldest retail candy shop) and the Tenement Museum (which preserves the stories of immigrants who lived in NYC between the 1860s and 1980s) are all within walking distance.
Vintage/Consignment Stores
10ft Single by Stella Dallas
285 N. 6th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; daily, noon to 7:15pm
Good for: Cool outerwear, Dr. Martens and deadstock vintage clothing
Located in the heart of Williamsburg, 10ft Single by Stella Dallas is filled to the brim with vintage clothes. Take your time digging through its vast inventory to discover varsity jackets, distressed denim, T-shirts in every color of the rainbow, sneakers and more. Celebrate your finds with a glass of red or white at Pinkerton Wine Bar, which is just down the street, or check out one of the popular Italian eateries in the neighborhood, like Lilia or Misi.
Courtesy, Awoke Vintage
Awoke Vintage
132 N. 5th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; daily, 10am–9pm
16 Bedford Ave., Greenpoint, Brooklyn; daily, 10am–9pm
107 Franklin St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn; daily, 10am–9pm
Good for: The perfect pair of vintage denim
Originally established in Perth, Australia, Awoke Vintage relocated to Brooklyn in 2012. Famous figures like Malia Obama, Olivia Rodrigo and Robert Pattinson have given the boutique (which specializes in vintage denim) their stamp of approval. You’ll also find vintage sweatshirts, T-shirts and jumpsuits among the clothing racks—not to mention funky sunglasses, hats and jewelry.
Courtesy, Beacon’s Closet
Beacon’s Closet
74 Guernsey St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn; daily, 11am–8pm
92 5th Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn; Monday through Friday, noon to 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 11am–8pm
10 W. 13th St., West Village, Manhattan; daily, 11am–8pm
23 Bogart St., Bushwick, Brooklyn; daily, 11am–8pm
Good for: In-season, name-brand clothes, shoes and bags
Beacon’s Closet is a female-founded company that buys, sells and trades lightly used vintage and modern clothes and accessories. It’s known for its impressive selection of shoes. Inventory at all four locations is constantly updated depending on the time of year and demand, so locals should pop in regularly to see what’s new.
L Train Vintage
106 Thames St., East Williamsburg, Brooklyn; daily, noon to 7pm
1377 Dekalb Ave., Bushwick, Brooklyn; Monday through Saturday, noon to 7pm
616 Classon Ave., Crown Heights, Brooklyn; daily, noon to 7pm
629 Grand St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 7pm
1 Saint Nicholas Ave., East Williamsburg, Brooklyn; daily, noon to 7pm
1325 Broadway, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn; daily, noon to 7pm
Good for: Fur coats, leather and denim jackets, and graphic tees
This New York City mainstay has multiple outposts in Brooklyn—from a two-story storefront in Bushwick to a smaller boutique in Williamsburg. At any given location, keep your eyes peeled for luxurious fur coats, designer pieces, leather handbags, stylish shoes and cheeky T-shirts.
Loveday 31. Photo: Rachael Roth
Loveday 31
33-06 31st Ave., Astoria, Queens; Thursday through Saturday, noon to 7pm, Sunday, noon to 6pm, and Monday through Wednesday by appointment
Good for: Vibrant, vintage clothing and silk scarves
Loveday 31 is a gold mine for high-quality vintage styles and fun accessories (like hats and headpieces, sunglasses, silk scarves and small handbags). The tiny Astoria gem has a reputation for excellent customer service and a kind staff.
Metropolis Vintage
803 Broadway, Greenwich Village, Manhattan; daily, noon to 7pm
Good for: Band tees, bomber jackets and the occasional celebrity sighting
Metropolis Vintage caters to celebrities like Drake, Rihanna and Bella Hadid. Inside the massive shop you’ll find cool T-shirts, Starter jackets for professional teams like the Knicks and Rangers, and Y2K and Carhartt denim. The Strand bookstore (which has more than 2.5 million books on its shelves) and Union Square are both within walking distance.
Courtesy, New York Vintage
New York Vintage
117 W. 25th St., Chelsea, Manhattan; Monday through Thursday, 11am–6pm, Friday, noon to 6pm, and Saturday, 11am–5pm
Good for: Vintage couture and extravagant hats and headpieces
Vintage couture, designer clothing and accessories are commonplace at New York Vintage, so it should come as no surprise that pieces from the store have been seen on awards show red carpets and blockbuster films like The Great Gatsby and The Wolf of Wall Street. You’ll find stunning gowns, statement-making shoes, bedazzled clutches and beyond inside the glitzy showroom.
Courtesy, Plus Bklyn
Plus Bklyn
490 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; daily, noon to 8pm
Good for: Bold, sustainable clothes for women size 12 and up and funky accessories
This playful, plus-size boutique offers new, vintage and resale clothing in sizes 0X through 6X—the bolder, the better (think vibrant colors, playful patterns and sparkly styles). There are also plenty of accessories, including jewelry and handbags.
The RealReal
80 Wooster St., Soho, Manhattan; Monday through Saturday, 10am–7pm, and Sunday, 11am–6pm
Good for: Designer jewelry, clothing and bags at discounted prices
Looking for luxury resale items? Try your luck at the RealReal’s flagship store in Soho, where you can shop for a wide range of authenticated handbags, shoes, clothes and accessories from top brands like Chanel, Rolex, Miu Miu and Cartier.
Courtesy, Screaming Mimis
Screaming Mimis
240 W. 14th St., West Village, Manhattan; Monday through Saturday, noon to 8pm, and Sunday, 1pm–7pm
Good for: Dresses from every decade, glamorous accessories or your next Halloween costume
Stepping inside Screaming Mimis is like traveling back in time—that’s why it’s been a trusted fashion resource for film, TV, theater and special events costumers since 1978. Whether you’re on the hunt for a Halloween costume, an authentic outfit for a Roaring Twenties party or some extravagant statement pieces, this is the place.
Stock
143 E. 13th St., East Village, Manhattan; Tuesday through Friday, noon to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5pm
Good for: American work and military clothing and accessories from the 1930s–1960s
History buffs and fashionistas alike will appreciate this niche shop that specializes in work and military clothing. We’re talking U.S. Navy crewneck sweatshirts, Harley-Davidson pullovers, Levi’s denim and leather boots. Accessories-wise, you’ll find leather belts with classic and distinctive buckles, fiddler caps and military-style bags and sacks.
Courtesy, What Goes Around Comes Around
What Goes Around Comes Around
351 West Broadway, Soho, Manhattan; Monday through Saturday, 11am–7pm, and Sunday, noon to 6pm
113 Wooster St., Soho, Manhattan; Monday through Saturday, 11am–7pm, and Sunday, noon to 6pm
Good for: Designer handbags and fine jewelry
Want to head home with a designer bag for less? Look no further than What Goes Around Comes Around, a purveyor of luxury vintage apparel and accessories. The Soho store has handbags, jewelry and clothes from high-end brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Prada, and each item goes through a thorough authentication process before hitting the shelves.
Thrift Shops
Cure Thrift
91 Third Ave., East Village, Manhattan; daily, noon to 9pm
Good for: Secondhand clothes, antique furniture, homewares and costume jewelry
The selection at this high-end thrift store includes vintage T-shirts, costume and fine jewelry, chic scarves and wraps, unique pins and brooches, funky shoes and home decor. There are also vintage kids’ clothes and stuffed animals to sift through. Proceeds go toward diabetes research and advocacy. While you’re in the area, swing by the Strand bookstore or enjoy authentic Ukrainian dishes at Veselka.
Housing Works
Nine thrift shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn
Good for: Furniture, clothing and accessories at bargain prices
Housing Works is on a mission to end homelessness and AIDS—and the nonprofit’s work is supported in part by its many thrift shops. You can shop for clothes, books, suitcases and furniture while simultaneously contributing to an important cause. The organization also runs a bookstore in Soho (126 Crosby St.) if you’re looking to boost your to-be-read pile.
Mother of Junk
567 Driggs Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; daily, 9am–9pm
Good for: Furniture, dishes, framed artwork, vintage beer cans and vinyl records
You can find vintage everything at Mother of Junk…and we mean everything. There’s antique furniture, rugs, framed artwork, glassware, vinyl records and decorative figurines—plus buckets and baskets of Playbills, old photographs, mismatched silverware and marbles.
Nothing New Thrift Shop
4885 Arthur Kill Rd., Pleasant Plains, Staten Island; Monday through Saturday, 11am–6pm, Sunday, 1pm–5pm
Good for: Furniture, home decor, books, dishes and holiday decorations
There are more than 1,100 square feet to explore at Nothing New Thrift Shop in Staten Island. Dainty jewelry, antique and modern furniture, seasonal decorations, action figures and shoes and clothes are among the treasures you might unearth. Did we mention that you can fill a bag with clothes for $25 and pick up anything else (except furniture) buy one, get one free?
Courtesy, Other People’s Clothes
Other People’s Clothes
333 Troutman St., Bushwick, Brooklyn; daily, 11am–9pm
885 Woodward Ave., Ridgewood, Queens; daily, 11am–7pm 150 Marcy Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; daily 11am—8pm
Good for: Designer, vintage and Y2K finds
The ever-changing inventory at Other People’s Clothes is worth writing home about. The two brick-and-mortar locations have designer pieces from brands like Miu Miu and The Row, vibrant going-out styles and distressed denim, but you can also shop the inventory online and via Instagram.
Out of the Closet
475 Atlantic Ave., Boerum Hill, Brooklyn; Monday through Saturday, 10am–7pm, Sunday, 10am–6pm
Good for: Secondhand clothing, books and housewares
Shopping at Out of the Closet is a great way to support HIV services in New York City and around the world. In addition to clothes and accessories, you’ll find books, furniture, artwork and vinyl records inside the Brooklyn store. It’s a few blocks from Barclays Center, so you can catch a concert or basketball game during the same trip.
