Just because New York is synonymous with wealth and celeb culture doesn’t mean you need deep pockets to uncover stunning clothing, accessories and home accents while visiting. It makes sense that more affluent neighborhoods often yield nicer donations to charity thrift shops and higher-quality items at consignment and for-profit secondhand stores.
That’s one reason New York City boasts some of the finest thrift hunting in the nation. Not only are many discoveries upscale, they’re frequently more distinctive thanks to the city’s rich cultural blend.
Flea markets, too, present excellent finds that aren’t the mass-produced plastic fare you see elsewhere. Most stallholders are open to negotiating prices. Some vendors take only cash or will drop prices if they don’t have to cover a card-processing fee.
10 Top Thrift Stores and Flea Markets in New York City
The Grand Bazaar
This long-running flea market on the Upper West Side, operating every Sunday year-round, truly earns its name. More than 50 sellers showcase a broad assortment of mainly vintage items.
Vintage apparel ranges from $10 tees to $50-and-up couture frocks, and booths feature retro homewares like cocktail glasses and record players.
One seller at The Grand Bazaar displays a table of stone and wooden pendants for $4 apiece, boxes of vintage postcards, shells, matchbooks and other curious trinkets, while another offers iconic old cameras starting at $25.
Where to find The Grand Bazaar: 100 W. 77th St., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekly
Chelsea Flea
This bazaar supplies antiques, singular vintage pieces, architectural salvage and collectibles alongside some new goods. At Chelsea Flea, one vendor offers reproductions of movie posters and album artwork while another hawks hand-carved African wooden masks.
There’s a wide array of vintage apparel from embroidered dresses to boldly patterned ensembles from the ’60s and ’70s. Numerous booths also sell home decor, such as art-deco mirrors and decorative glass fruit.
Where to find Chelsea Flea: 29 W. 25th St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Housing Works
Housing Works is a NYC nonprofit combating homelessness and AIDS. It funds its mission through more than a dozen thrift shops across the city stocked with name-brand clothing and household items.
You’ll spot labels like Trina Turk, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Zara and Vineyard Vines, among others. Housing Works also carries men’s apparel and footwear. The stores are tidy and arranged to resemble traditional retail environments.
Some locations, such as the Gramercy shop on East 23rd Street and the Union Square outlet, carry a larger selection of furniture, art and home accents. Prices across the board are fair with attractive bargains, though they aren’t giveaway low and haggling isn’t typical.
Where to find Housing Works: Multiple locations — see Housingworks.org. Hours vary but usually run from about 11 a.m. or noon to 7 p.m. weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Mother of Junk
This warehouse packed with vintage furniture, architectural salvage and bric-a-brac feels as much like a museum as a shop. It’s worth the trek to Brooklyn to wander the crowded aisles even if you’re not actively hunting for an art-deco vanity, an old school desk with a flip-up seat or an ornate fireplace surround.
There are plenty of smaller curios to purchase, like a tabletop metal replica of London Bridge that plays “London Bridge Is Falling Down” for $30, a tavern-style wooden dartboard for $40 and manual typewriters beginning at $25.
Baskets overflow with swizzle sticks and cardboard coasters from bars and hotels across the country, marbles, baseball cards, buttons, corks, wooden spools, board game pieces, cookie cutters, poker chips, old photos and keychains priced from 25 cents up to a few dollars. Don’t expect to bargain.
Where to find Mother of Junk: 567 Driggs Ave., Brooklyn, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Note: Phone calls are rarely answered.
City Opera Thrift Shop
This shop supporting the opera offers high-quality contemporary and vintage clothing and home goods. You’ll uncover good bargains (but not rock-bottom markdowns) at City Opera Thrift Shop, from silk scarves and jean jackets to Gucci purses and Kate Spade wedges.
Where to find City Opera Thrift Shop: 513 W. 26th St.
Crossroads
This smaller national chain operates two Manhattan locations in Chelsea and one in Brooklyn. Prices at Crossroads are comparable to or slightly better than Buffalo Exchange, and on a recent stop the selection felt stronger. You’ll find many lesser-known low- to mid-tier brands alongside Zara, Banana Republic, Madewell and even a vintage Marimekko dress.
Where to find Crossroads: See three locations in Chelsea and Brooklyn; open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Buffalo Exchange
This national resale chain operates six shops in New York. Buffalo Exchange is less curated than Housing Works or City Opera, but it carries a larger assortment and typically lower price points.
Alongside designer labels, expect to see many items from Old Navy, H&M and Forever 21. On a recent find, we spotted elegant black Stuart Weitzman heels with mirrored heels for $30 and a vintage Champion sweatshirt for $12.
Where to find Buffalo Exchange: Multiple NYC stores — check locations. Most are open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Monk Vintage
This Williamsburg thrift shop in Brooklyn stocks a massive inventory with a broad variety of labels and price ranges. Recent standout bargains at Monk Vintage included Lululemon shorts for $15, a men’s J.Crew corduroy jacket for $15, an Electric Forest festival tee for $25 and assorted leather belts for $10.
Where to find Monk Vintage: 500 Driggs Ave., Brooklyn. Open 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Manhattan Vintage
If you’re passionate about vintage and scoring deals, schedule your NYC visit around one of the three weekends each year when Manhattan Vintage hosts its showcase with more than 90 dealers. The expo highlights jewelry, clothing and accessories spanning many fashion eras.
Since 1992, the two-day event has been a pilgrimage for vintage sellers, collectors and those simply curious.
Expect to encounter secondhand treasures such as original Levi jeans, Chanel suits and Gucci handbags, along with wilder pieces like translucent dresses, go-go boots, plaid berets, colorful plastic bangles and faux fur in every shade.
Upcoming shows include Oct. 14-15, 2022, and Feb. 3-4, April 14-15 and Oct. 20-21 in 2023. Register to purchase $20 admission tickets, which are released about a month before each event.
Where to find Manhattan Vintage: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St.
AuH20 Thriftique
AuH20 in the East Village offers a riot of colorful sweaters, dresses and tops alongside basic denim miniskirts, distinctive jewelry, playful sunglasses and even upcycled fanny packs. Their $5 rack often yields excellent steals.
Where to find AuH20 Thriftique: 84 E. Seventh St. Open noon to 7 p.m. daily in September; summer hours may be reduced. Call 917-261-7474 to verify.
For tips on saving more while shopping secondhand, consider learning how to thrift to save money—you’ll stretch your budget further and walk away with better finds.
