Thrifting is trending – from thredUP to Poshmark, second-hand shopping is having a moment, and for good reason. It’s an affordable way to create an individual style while keeping up with trends and reducing your carbon footprint. And in our area, we regularly find great-quality, high-end items (sometimes with the original tags) at our incredible shops.
So this year, you’ll find us in the various local vintage and consignment stores in search of previously loved fashion and home furnishings. For those wishing to hop on the second-hand bandwagon with us, here’s where we’ll be.
(We featured our local shops in our January/February 2023 issue, but here’s a longer list of stores throughout our region.)
Bedford Hills
Penny Pincher Boutique
Tuesday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
184 Harris Rd., 117 By-Pass, Bedford Hills
Upon entering Penny Pincher Boutique, you might do a double take – are you in a consignment store or a luxury boutique? The answer is both. This lavish, one-of-a-kind shop features a large collection of high-end designer jewelry, handbags, shoes, clothing and even home items (lamps, side tables, crystal, rugs, etc.). Everything in the shop, even the jewelry, is on consignment.
Throughout the store, you’ll find Chanel, Burberry, Cartier and others of such measure, along with more affordable, high-end brands. Of course, these designer goods come at a slightly higher price range than some of the other stores on our list, but if you’re looking for luxury on a budget, this is where to go.
Vintage
Wednesday – Saturday: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
297 Bedford Rd., Bedford Hills
Upon entering Vintage, you’ll be greeted by a life-sized Betty Boop, but turn slightly to your left and find a two-part store, separated by a beaded curtain of the Mona Lisa. On the left is T.J.’s side, filled with Keith Moon’s drum set (only joking…maybe), an array of guitars, baseball cards, and more. On the right, you’ll find Laura’s side (yes, they’re married), which is filled with prom dresses, one-of-a-kind jeans, vintage books and authentic cowboy boots lining the upper shelves with stuffed cats peeking out (yes, really).
Prior to owning Vintage, Laura was a celebrity stylist, and the majority of items in this shop are culled from movie sets, red carpet events and fashion shows. Vintage has a little bit of everything – head in out of curiosity and leave with a unique item and a memorable experience.
Brewster
Eagle Eye Thrift Shop
Fridays and Saturdays: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
65 Main St., Brewster
The Eagle Eye thrift shop makes Huguette Clark (famous for her collection of antique dolls) seem like an amateur collector.
“We love to collect really anything people bring in,” an employee explains. “We have lots of sales with lots of different things: dish sets that are 50 percent off, glasses that sell on Etsy for $140, we sell for $10; there’s great bedding for $10, brand new shoes for $3.50, stuff like that. We have great bargains here, and a lot of collectibles.”
Their collectibles, she says, tend to be their biggest attraction. And they seem to have a bit of everything. During a recent visit, they had an $8,000 wedding Kimono on sale for just $50. The store is run by the Putnam Hospital Auxiliary, and is staffed by volunteers. Unfortunately, while the shop was previously open five days a week, it is now open only two, due to a lack of volunteers.
Cross River
This & That Vintage
Monday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
792 Route 35, Cross River
Facing Route 35 on the first floor of an old farmhouse in Yellow Monkey Village, you’ll find This & That Vintage. Owner Nicole Mata opened her first retail space (previously selling online only) in November, and her new shop features a variety of vintage goods, catering to all ages and genders at a variety of price points.
“It’s very important to me that I have items obtainable for everybody,” says Mata. “I have a $3,000 Chinchilla coat, but I also have a $12 t-shirt — the same goes for jewelry, too.”
In addition to clothing, you’ll find shoes, handbags, hats, brooches, jewelry and ball gowns from brands like Emilio Pucci and Louis Vuitton right alongside brands like Calvin Klein and Levi’s.
Danbury
Once Upon A Child
Sunday – Wednesday,10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday – Saturday,10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
67 Newtown Rd. Suite #27, Danbury
Once Upon A Child is “honestly, just a happy place – for kids, parents, anyone,” says one employee. The store, which opened 30 years ago, has seen a huge growth in the popularity of resale and recycling over the years. They feature a large assortment of toys and clothes for babies and kids of all sizes and tastes (more realistically, an adult’s taste, but when you’re two, it’s the same thing).
“Families are constantly growing, and kids grow out of things so quickly,” explains Diana Maunseol, the store’s manager. “Here, they are able to do that exchange – it’s sort of like a dance with the clothes and toys; they can sell their size two and buy their size three.”
Fun fact: Once Upon A Child and Plato’s Closet (see below) are owned by the same parent company, so the transition from kids to teens is made easy. “When kids grow out of our clothes, they can head on over to our next-door neighbor: Plato’s,” says Maunseol.
Once Upon A Child is also an excellent resource for teachers, too. “We have a lot of local teachers – nursery, daycare, preschool and even elementary – that shop here,” Maunseol added. ”Instead of spending $20 on one wooden toy, they can get three or four.”
Plato’s Closet
Monday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sundays: 11:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
67 Newtown Rd., Danbury
After recently moving to a space three times bigger than their original, Plato’s Closet (located next door to Once Upon A Child) might just be the Amazing Hulk of all second-hand stores. The store has a massive collection of clothes, shoes and accessories that range in size and don’t tend to surpass $20. One worker described the place as “a trendy thrift store for students.”
The place certainly has a youthfulness to it with its focus on modern brands and styles, ranging from Forever 21 to Free People. To ensure an easy shop in the large store, Plato’s is organized by the type of item (i.e., jeans, sweaters, dresses, etc.) and then further sectioned by color and size.
Katonah
Bedford House
Tuesday — Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
182 Katonah Ave., Katonah
Walking into Bedford House feels like stepping into a high-end interior design magazine – the furniture and accessories are beautiful, no area is too cluttered and there are so many unique items. Owner Dennis Anderson, who first opened this home furnishings store in Bedford 11 years ago, offers a variety of vintage and antique furniture, textiles, area rugs, tabletop accessories, wall art and lighting.
“We offer a curated selection of one of a kind vintage and antique items that are rustic, sophisticated and approachable,” Anderson explains.
While the boutique is geared towards his Westchester clientele, we’ve met a number of interior designers and residents from Manhattan and Brooklyn who drive up just to shop at his store. So, if you’re looking for a beautiful and unique item for your home, this is the place to go.
Katonah Thrift Shop
Thursday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
71 Bedford Rd., Katonah
Katonah Thrift Shop has a little bit of everything, from China and furniture to ballgowns and board games. In the downstairs space of the almost century-old Katonah Memorial House, you’ll find a great selection of true vintage pieces, estate jewelry and scores of other items. What’s even better are the incredible prices and sales, with deals on clothing and items as low as just $1.
Run by the Women’s Civic Club, all proceeds fund scholarships for local high school students, subsidize programs for the women’s prison and more.
The Community Shop
Tuesday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
196 Katonah Ave., Katonah
The Community Shop is known for having a lot of designer brands at heavily discounted prices and for catering to a wide range of customers varying in age, gender, income level, etc. You’ll find everything from daily wear to special occasion pieces, as well as accessories (belts, hats, shoes, etc.) and even some children’s clothing.
“It’s nice to think that anybody who walks in here can find something,” says manager Ann Hardy. “People donate all kinds of things to The Community Center, and there’s a process to determine what items are offered to The Center’s clients and what comes to The Community Shop. We get new stuff everyday!”
Plus, all the shop’s proceeds benefit The Community Center of Northern Westchester – a win-win in our book.
Mount Kisco
Twigs Thriftree Thrift Shop
449 Lexington Ave., Mt Kisco
Tuesday — Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
What’s better than a thrift shop that’s almost 60 years old? One that saves people’s lives. Since 1964, Twigs Thriftree Thrift Shop has donated all proceeds (nearly $3.8 million) to Northern Westchester Hospital by selling an assortment of goods, ranging from clothing and bric- a-brac to books and small furniture.
“We change items on an almost daily basis, which means our shoppers are repeat shoppers because they know that every day, there’s something new for them to look at,” says Deb Coffino, Twigs president.
Plus, with brands like Christian Dior and Ralph Lauren, very low prices, music in the background and the playfulness of the volunteers, shopping at Twigs is an all-around enjoyable experience.
Pound Ridge
The Cottage Vintage Goods & Gifts
Sunday – Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
67 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge
The Cottage Vintage is true to its name. This two-and-a-half-year-old shop is a homey but upscale store with a smaller selection of apparel compared to others on our list. But what they lack in size, they make up for in variety.
The Cottage is filled with fun, intriguing items and gadgets, including aroma-enticing soaps, beautifully colored candles, a wide variety of old cameras, kids’ toys, art, vintage hats, records and even an old typewriter.
Manager Lisa Miller describes The Cottage as “an enchanted gathering place where you can find one-of-a-kind vintage items and new treasures – and make friends in the process.”
Ridgefield
Bring n’ Buy
Tuesday — Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
590 Danbury Rd., Ridgefield
Bring N’ Buy is the Coco Chanel of this list: Classic, powerful and wise.”Bring n Buy is the longest-established consignment store in Fairfield County, coming up on its 50th year, says manager Tina Hassenstein.
Bring N Buy offers items from recent seasons, focusing on boutique and contemporary pieces, but marking them at reasonable prices. The selection includes men’s and women’s apparel, and Hassenstein says that the clientele is “very diverse with people from all over and all ages.”
Consign Envy
Monday – Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
23 Catoonah St. #1, Ridgefield
Those who worry they’ll feel overwhelmed when second-hand shopping should highly consider Consign Envy. The store has a great selection of all brands, sizes and prices. Plus, it’s very nicely organized and is easy to sort through.
“Consign Envy has been open in this location for 12 years, but the lovely owner, Maura Sullivan, has been working in second-hand apparel for over 17 years,” an employee explains. “Consign Envy started out just with children’s clothes, but Maura grew it to women’s and men’s as well. The clientele is just wonderful, and we get people from all walks of life.”
Consign Envy also gives freedom to consignors by offering two options when an item of theirs doesn’t sell: they can come back and pick it up or Consign Envy will donate it to charity or voucher program.
Ridgefield Thrift Shop
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
21 Governor St., Ridgefield
Name anything: vinyl, books, fine China, a mini Toys R Us store within a thrift store, jewelry, a clock stand possibly bigger than Big Ben – anything at all, and the Ridgefield Thrift Shop probably has it.
“The Ridgefield Thrift Shop is really one of the very best thrift shops in the area,” notes one employee. “It draws from all over, especially since we have an online auction presence. Because of that, people come to pick up items from all over that they buy online. It’s fully run by volunteers, and there’s well more than 100 of us.”
The shop is giant and has a great mix of vintage and modern clothing/items. If you give yourself the time to look, you’re guaranteed to leave with something new.
“RTS is thrilled to be a contributing part of the community, staffed entirely by volunteers since 1937,” says Jennifer Mitchell, president. “All revenue is given to local charities, and all items not sold are repurposed.”
