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Thrift
Shops
Thrift shops are the urban
equivalent of the suburban yard sale --
places where households dispose of
unwanted stuff and bargain hunters find
treasures among other folks' trash. Those
making donations usually receive a tax
deduction in lieu of cold hard cash and
the shops' proceeds fund a charitable
organization (which is usually evident in
the thrift shop name). If you are the
type of shopper who appreciates the
thrill of finding a hidden pearl among
piles of castoffs, you'll probably enjoy
hunting through thrift shops. Most
Manhattan neighborhoods have a number of
thrift shops; here are The NYC
Insider's top picks:
Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Thrift Shop
1440 Third Avenue (at 82nd
Street)
212-535-1250
Not only does this shop have the
advantage of being in an affluent
neighborhood where Upper East Siders
contribute consistently high-end
furnishings, brick-a-brack, and designer
clothes, but it appears to have
arrangements with wholesalers or
retailers who occasionally contribute
masses of a single branded item (like the
plethora of Agatha jewelry we recently
saw selling like hotcakes at only $5 a
piece -- most pieces still had original
tags with prices from $29 to $179). Goods
are well organized and attractively
displayed. Don't miss the small designer
clothes room, where you'll find evening
gowns and suits by names like Bill Blass,
Ungaro, and Valentino. The downside?
Prices tend to be higher here then
elsewhere -- but given the general
quality of the merchandise, it is worth
your time to look around.
Cancer Care
l480 3rd Avenue (at 83rd
Street)
212-879-9868
Like Sloan-Kettering, this shop has an
Upper East Side advantage. It is smaller
with less furniture and more clothing.
Don't miss the front jewelry case or the
designer items.
Arthritis Foundation
121 East 77th Street
212-772-8116
Housing Works
Six locations:
West Village: 245 West 10th Street,
212-352-1618
Chelsea: l43 West 17th Street,
212-366-0820
Gramercy: 157 East 23rd Street,
212-529-5955
East Side: 202 East 77th Street,
212-772-8461
Upper East Side: 1730 2nd Avenue,
212-722-8306
Upper West Side: 306 Columbus Avenue,
212-579-7566
Good source for designer clothing (many
of the major NY designers come in to
donate). Don't be surprised to see
vintage clothing dealers here (so look
around carefully yourself rather than
paying their markup at one of the
swankier vintage shops). We're also told
big-name models are constant customers
(they are the only ones who can fit into
the size 2 Gucci's). You can also bid online on
items displayed in their shop windows.
City Opera Thrift Shop
222 East 23rd Street
212-684-5344
Insider Tips for Thrift
Store Shopping
So now that you know where
to go, here are a few tips to make your
shopping most successful:
- Know the retail
price, so you don't pay too much.
- Check carefully for
defects, because most sales are
final.
- Try on all clothes.
Sizes and styles vary.
- Sign up for a
store's mailing list for sales
and special discounts.
- Ask the store to
call you if a particular item
arrives.
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