One of the joys of The Local Artisan Guide is to pound the pavement walking the neighborhoods of cities and observing what is new, what is still there and what exactly are the trends in small local retail fronts. After being away in the UK for a few months and coming back to my native NYC it was easier for me to observe something that I was becoming aware of for the last two years and that is the proliferation of coffee shops replacing what were small local businesses.

As I walk down some of what were my favorite shopping streets that I could easily locate a row of local artisans, small brands and much needed neighborhood services, I now cannot swing a dead cat without hitting a new coffee shop! Does NYC really need that much caffeine? There are even coffee shops opening up in retail shops and banks! What is sad is that the coffee is even more expensive than ever (probably why they are in business). It’s not just coffee shops that have been popping up like pimples. Vape shops and for some reason a multitude of barbers are also replacing what was once small local brands making the landscape of NYC neighborhoods a odd reflection of the economy which feels like a recession indicator.

There are a sprinkle of new brands opening up small stores, some are European brands trying to get a foothold in the American market. Many iconic stores that have been in their neighborhoods for decades are still surviving as they have developed a devoted following. What I did observe is that vintage shops are now the new retail shop for fashion, accessories and home decor.

New York has always been a Mecca for vintage. Just about every designer knows to come to NYC to shop vintage for inspiration. There are many vintage shops and areas of the city where high end vintage shops have been around for generations. New York City also hosts a plethora of vintage fairs that attract vendors from around the world for a very curative experience of vintage wear.

Now where there usually would be one vintage shop in a neighborhood, there are now an abundance of vintage shops on nearly every street. What is also exciting is that the owners of these stores range from Boomers to Gen Z. These new vintage shops are very curated and specialize in fashion genres. One shop could specialized in vintage denim, another disco wear from the 70’s, another vintage t-shirts, you get the picture. In one of my favorite streets in Soho Village “No Name Vintage” has recently opened and it offers a high quality vintage selection.

No Name Vintage on Thompson Street, SoHo Village, NYC.

One positive aspect of more vintage stores opening up is that it offers a more sustainable business model and encourages recycling of clothing, accessories, footwear and home decor. Maybe in these times of conspicuous consumption this is the new retail world. A world where vintage dominates in smaller neighborhoods. The streets of Broadway, Madison Ave. and Fifth Ave. which showcase the flagships stores of luxury brands and mass produced, fast fashion retail brands may dominate for the herd but discerning shoppers who are more conscious of the issues of mass production.

Some of my favorite destinations for great vintage is East 9th Street in the East Village where some of my favorite shops are Enz’s, Goldwater Thriftque, Studio duArte, Pourquoi Pas, Cobblestone and Cloak and Dagger are just some to name a few.

A special hidden gem of vintage shops that are so discreet is the second floor of 2 Bridge Mall in Chinatown (75 East Broadway), NYC. For those in the know it is considered the “speakeasies” of vintage shops as it from word of mouth or just happening upon this group of highly curated shops that focus mostly on vintage and jewelry. If you need an outfit for Coachella or high end Valentino to impress your clique of fashionistas, 2 Bridge Mall is for you. The sales assistants are very knowledgeable on their curated stock and double as seasoned stylists. You can’t go wrong with the vintage at 2 Bridge and even better are the deals that are available as sometimes (many times) vintage can be ridiculously expensive. Some of the highlights in this Crown Jewels of vintage shops are James Veloria, Bloda’s Choice, Edgar Mosa, Janky Vintage, Reservations Only Vintage, Smurk, Above Chinatown, NSFW, Chérir and many more shops in this Chinatown find.

Nolita, Chelsea, SoHo and the West Village have also had a vintage shop Renaissance. Williamsburg, DUMBO, Park Slope, Bushwick and Brooklyn Heights are also bountiful when it comes to vintage shopping. It is quite unfortunate that rents and production make it hard to have a Brick and Mortar experience as easy as it was just a decade ago. Starting a small business now is not for the light hearted and deserves much support. Maybe even a coffee shop.

By Natalie Rivera

Reservation Only Vintage

The Resilience of Vintage Stores Amongst Vanishing Retail in NYC