Christene Barberich is the maker of A Tiny Apartment, and an avid thrifter in Brooklyn.
286 Third Avenue
I have written about Vintage Thrift more than any other thrift store in my personal LBB of the best spots (it’s absolutely a place of worship for me and other hardcore collectors/thrifters:). It’s always exceptional and except for Saturdays, it’s always open. Located in the Gramercy Park neighborhood, it’s a tried-and-true treasure trove of mid-century modern furniture, always collectible designers like Armani, Schiaparelli, Prada, Comme des Garçons, etc., and the best artworks, vintage jewelry, and housewares anywhere in the city. Oh yeah…and the prices are super reasonable, too. The stock changes regularly so go often. And bring your own bag, too.
Me and Kyle, my favorite person/curator at Vintage Thrift as well as a pink chandelier I spotted there recently that I really wanted (it was already sold!).
Specifically the Brooklyn Heights, Chelsea, and 23rd Street/3rd Avenue locations
Thanks to Housing Works—which began in 1990 to fight the dual crises of HIV/AIDS and homelessness—there is always a reliable, loving community thrift-store within walking distance, no matter where U R. They operate nine shops now, and while they’re all very good and feature a rotating cast of incredible donations, I tend to drop in at Brooklyn Heights, Chelsea, and Gramercy Park locations the most, since they’re close to my weekly circuit around the city. My advice is to take note of all the locations and keep them in mind when you have an extra hour to kill before a meeting or a lunch date. I love hitting Vintage Thrift, the Gramercy shop, and the Salvation Army on 23rd Street all at once (it’s a regular circuit.) Oh! And DO NOT SLEEP on their online auctions, too, which regularly feature GEMS like Loewe loafers, Herman Miller side table, vintage Louis Vuitton pochettes, and an Henri Matisse lithograph (!!!).
I don’t go to Bushwick often, but when I do, I am always diligent about locking in an hour at Harmony. Technically, it’s more curated vintage than thrifting, but the prices are so accessible/thrifty, I want you to know about it, specifically if you’re furnishing a new apartment. I recently bought this vintage dresser on casters for about $300 and I can’t wait to integrate it into our upstate project. They also have an abundance of mint suede jackets and menswear, too.
Holy hell, if you make only one stop on this list, make it St. Luke’s in the West Village. Descending the teeny stairs into this subterranean slip of a shop is other-worldly and you will feel like you’ve been transported by each tiny roomful of ceramics, clothing, rare books, and incredible small artworks, too. On my drop-in last week, I got three vintage oversized visual aid posters printed in Japan and a first edition of Conversations with Artists from the late 1960s. This vintage dress above was pretty spectacular, too.
I’ve been coming to Tokio7 since I moved to NYC in the 1990s (and even sold some vintage Chanel I’ve thrifted over the years here, too). It is an absolute second-hand/consignment/designer vintage institution, originally founded by Makoto Watanabe, and just as much a place to learn more about historical, collectible clothing and designer pieces as it is a place to shop/add to your collection. Noteworthy for their regularly rotating roster of Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Thom Browne, Margiela, and other avant garde designers that get better w/age. Be sure to browse the back room for extra-discount deals.
There’s no denying the regular jackpot of incredible vintage T-shirts and midcentury furniture and housewares here. I love their refined curation, like a mini theater set, and it’s a great place to pop in if you need an exceptionally unique housewarming or birthday gift.
One of my favorite things to do on a Sunday is head to the magical French bakery L’Appartment 4f on Montague Street, stroll the Brooklyn Heights promenade, and then hit Underground Thrift Shop right when it opens at noon. Mostly clothing, childrenswear, and a rotating cast of housewares, but occasionally, you’ll find a mint designer bag or a standout piece of art. Seriously church thrift store prices, too (like $5 for a dress). Don’t miss it.
Reopens on September 13, only open on Sundays from noon to 4 so mark your calendar.
To be fair, I don’t frequent these shops as much as I’d like to, but when I had a meeting uptown last week, I added a stop at the 1st Avenue location before heading home on the Q train (note: the newish Q train stop at 86th/2nd makes this pair of thrift shops a good choice if you need a fix). They are both packed with all manner of tchotchkes, kitchen things, and second-hand clothing. It’s not fancy and that’s the point…you’ve gotta dig. I found this adorable pink teapot and some sweet ceramics for just a few dollars each.
These are just the places I like to thrift lately. NYC/Brooklyn/Queens are full of wonderful places to find remarkable things every day, so the next time you’re planning a day trip to the museum or a park, add on a nearby thrift shop…it’s likely you’ll be supporting a good cause while finding something that utterly enchants you. Here are a few more to add to your list (and if you have a car, plotting a circuit of Savers on Long Island is always fun, too).
Read A Tiny Apartment on Substack
A Tiny Apt. x coolstuff.nyc guide to Thrifting in Gramercy Park