nyc's best vintage furniture stores
a guide for shopping irl
I was raised by shoppers. A girls’ day with my grandma, aunt, and stepmom was a marathon that might include a detour to an estate sale on the way to the mall followed by a pit stop at TJ Maxx. I’m lucky that they all have very good taste, and on those shopping trips, they taught me what was worth splurging on (cashmere) and what I should wait to buy on sale (Anthropologie). They taught me to walk through an overstuffed furniture consignment store one way and then backtrack to see what you else you might spot from a different angle. And they taught me that shopping is not the same as buying.
When everything you could possibly want is just a few clicks away, it’s easy to forget that there’s more to shopping than instant gratification. Shopping IRL is an experience, an event. You can touch and feel and try on. You can stop for a little lunch or an ice cream while you’re out. And when you’re not beholden to the algorithm and SEO terms, there’s the scintillating possibility of finding a treasure you didn’t know you were looking for.
I had last Friday off work, so I decided to have a good, old-fashioned shopping day. I had an agenda: outdoor furniture. And I had two places in mind where I might find it: The Big Reuse and Yesterdays News. I’ve recounted my route below, and keep reading for a list of my favorite spots I didn’t hit.
I took two trains to a corner of Gowanus I’d never explored before to start my journey at The Big Reuse. This non-profit, secondhand warehouse has been at the top of my want-to-go list for a long time. It has everything: furniture, home goods, clothes, books, appliances, building materials, etc. It’s not the most organized, but it has the best variety of secondhand furniture in different styles—and at the best prices—I’ve seen in the city. Anyone trying to furnish an apartment in New York, should go here before they even think about setting foot in the nearby IKEA. They didn’t have outdoor furniture on the day I went, so it was on to the next.
On the way to my next stop in Carroll Gardens, I happened upon an absolutely massive trove of iron fencing, fireplace facades, old doors, radiators, tin ceiling panels, and everything else you’d need to renovate a Brooklyn brownstone. And when I thought I’d gotten to the end of it, it kept going. Besides the salvage material, they also had a decent amount of antique chairs, tables, and other pieces in need of a little love. I didn’t see a sign anywhere, but later research identified it as Old Iron Architectural Salvage. Technically, everything here was outdoors, but they didn’t have exactly what I had in mind. It was a fun place to get lost in for a while though—and I never would have found out about it online.
I took a lunch break at Court Street Grocers, my favorite sandwich place in New York. I got the Yasha—tuna with green goddess dressing and radishes. Freshly fueled, I walked four blocks to Yesterday’s News. They’d posted some outdoor sets on Instagram, but they didn’t have any that day. They did have a huge collection of chairs outside and a nice assortment of mid-century cabinets and tables inside. Everything seemed curated with small NYC apartments in mind, and the prices seemed fair ($100-$500ish).
I thought about going home after that, but when in Brooklyn! I continued down Court Street and tried on a crochet swimsuit coverup at Su’juk, a vintage clothing store/shoppy shop. I decided I didn’t need it and kept on to Humble House in Boerum Hill. This is probably the most expensive spot I’ll mention in this post, but prices are comparable to West Elm or Crate & Barrel—and you’re getting something more unique and better quality IMO. I didn’t expect them to have outdoor furniture, and I was correct. But they always have new, interesting things to ogle and dream about. If I needed a massive antique cabinet and wanted to splurge a little, this would be my first stop.
Because I was right there, I popped into Outline across the street (clothes, not furniture). I couldn’t afford anything, even though half the store was on sale. But the owners have exquisite taste, and it’s fun place to get inspired. And, finally, I stopped for an iced tea at Anaïs before I began the 45-minute train journey home. I didn’t find the outdoor furniture I was looking for, but the chase was fun. And I did come home with a new book.
The rest of the best…
My favorite vintage furniture stores in NYC cover three boroughs and whole gamut of tastes. As far as price, they range from cheaper than IKEA to comparable to West Elm.
Furnish Green, Chelsea. I had a terrible job a few blocks away from here, and used to escape here for short breaks. The style here leans mid-century, but it’s a nice mix. And their prices are fair. They put most, if not all, of their stock on their website—adding 25-30 new styles every day—so you can peruse before you go in. I love these chairs and this desk.
Remix Market, Long Island City. This is a warehouse similar to the Big Reuse, but it’s only furniture. It’s hit or miss and can be heavy on the West Elm castoffs, but you’ll find some gems at prices comparable to IKEA. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can eat least grab lunch at Casa Enrique a few blocks away.
City Opera, Chelsea. Since 100% of proceeds benefit the New York City Opera (AKA “the people’s opera”), the donated inventory at this nonprofit thrift stire reads as the rejects of a rich, uptown lady’s recent redecoration—but thats not necessarily a bad thing! This is fun, for example. You’re as likely to find an ornate, French-inspired dresser as you are to find a Knoll Barcelona chair. Prices are on the high end of this list but not exorbitant.
Vintage Thrift, Gramercy. I go here mostly for their vintage clothes, but they also have a small-but-well-curated collection of vintage furniture. It doesn’t lean towards any particular style, but everything feels like something you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Obsessed with these chairs. Prices are similar to City Opera—not the cheapest, but also not eye-popping. Note, it’s closed on Saturdays.
Housing Works, various locations. There is a Housing Works in nearly every neighborhood of Manhattan, but IMO the best locations for furniture are Chelsea and the Upper West Side on Columbus. It’s very hit or miss, and the best things go fast, but the prices are some of the best deals in the city. This is more a place for stumbling upon something you didn’t know you needed than shopping for something specific.
Good Behavior, Greenpoint. I have to admit that I have not actually been to their showroom, open to the public a few days per week, but I am an avid fan from Instagram. Their selection is most similar to my style—heavy on the wood, a little old fashioned. It can be on the pricey side, but I’ve spotted some deals and they have sporadic sales. I’d love to have a place for this birdseye maple dresser.
Because I WFH full time, comfy-cute pants are always top of mind. Donni makes some of the best. These white linen pants were my best purchase last summer, and the rib kick flares are worth the hype.
If I had a reason to get dressed up, I’d get this vintage silk Calvin Klein number.
And even though I don’t have a reason to get dressed up, I might buy this under-$100 Baserange halter dress in a compelling shade of green anyway.
I’ve been keeping an eye out for an offbeat silver necklace, and this one from new-to-me brand Ayllón might be the winner.
Their leather pouch is also tempting and would make a perfect wedding-guest bag.
Finally, the algorithm served me a new brand that’s making a tomato purse verrry similar to mine for $655. You can get on the waitlist.
Lily King writes my favorite kind of books: smart and stimulating and readable. (Other authors that nail this for me are Ann Patchett, Laurie Colwin, and Lauren Groff.) And ever since I read both Writers & Lovers and Five Tuesdays In Winter a few years ago, I’ve been meaning to make the way through the rest of her oeuvre. I was actually in seach of her novel The English Teacher, but Three Lives & Company didn’t have it. They did have Euphoria, which is loosely inspired by the life of Margaret Mead. It starts off with buzzy young anthropologist Nell Stone and her husband leaving the cannibalistic tribe they’ve been studying in New Guinea. They soon meet another lonely anthropologist, and a spicy love triangle emerges. I’m not quite done with it, but I already know it’s going to leave me wanting more. Luckily King has three more books and one on the way.
Ok love thisssss. Taking notes
Euphoria is soooo good. If you’re enjoying it I hope you have also read State of Wonder! Also, I think Penelope Lively fits into the Lily King/Laurie Colwin/Ann Patchett matrix. You might like Cleopatra’s Sister if you haven’t tried Lively yet!