I get that thrifting seems like a daunting task.
Arms aching from searching through rack after rack, it can be a real workout. So, I’ve decided to take the pressure off shopping secondhand by compiling a list of some of my favorite spots around Phoenix.
Some thrift and vintage stores have curated a particular vibe so that you know exactly what to expect when you get there.
If you’re looking for a specific item — from antique watches to a cool vintage shirt — there are places in Phoenix where you can find exactly what you’re looking for.
While some of these stores may be on the higher end price-wise, others make it their mission to keep thrifting affordable. Higher prices can come from how difficult it is to source these items or the inclusion of luxury brands.
All have the same goal: to give you a piece you will treasure.
Antique Sugar Vintage Clothing
Antique Sugar might be one of the most beautiful vintage stores I have ever been in.
The minute you walk in, there are tons and tons of racks of clothing, large mirrors, pennants, umbrellas being used as decoration, chandeliers and garments hanging from the ceiling or on the walls.
If you are looking for pieces from a specific decade or an outfit for the next costume party you’ get ‘reinvited to, you will find it here.
They have really cool necklaces, earrings and brooches. I particularly loved a specific 80s/90s pink, blue, orange and red ski jacket, but at $128.95, it was a little out of my price range. We’re also in Phoenix so I don’t know how many uses I would get out of it to justify the cost.
Prices at Antique Sugar are about mid-range.
Details: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays. Antique Sugar Vintage Clothing, 801 N. Second St., Phoenix. 602-277-5765, antiquesugar.com.
Ewie Vintage
“I would describe Ewie as fun, feminine pieces where you can find something for your everyday outfit or something special for a night out,” owner Avery Greey said. “We specialize in Y2K, but we love to carry a little bit of everything.”
Greey opened Ewie Vintage because she felt Phoenix needed a shop for girls looking for trendy, unique pieces you wouldn’t see anyone else wearing, for an affordable price.
The store has been open for four years now. While the location is tiny, it is mighty. There are tons of cropped tees, lace babydoll dresses and skirts to choose from. Their items are very cute and girly; the workers are super kind and accommodating. I left not only getting complimented, but knowing where I will be going for my next functioning vintage watch, which feels like a steal priced at $35.
Details: 12-6 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday. Ewie Vintage Clothes, 3630 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. @ewiedotcom.
King Pigeon Thrift & Vintage
King Pigeon Thrift & Vintage is the place to go if you are not looking to break the bank when trying to find a flannel, jacket or T-shirt.
The place is very community-oriented, with artwork made by Arizonans on sale and hanging on the walls. If you come in on a Friday or Saturday, you might also catch a local musician performing in their back room.
The store has the same set prices for most of its items. Hoodies are $7.95, jewelry is $4.95 and jackets are $13.95. They offer discounts to those in the service industry on Mondays and if you want to haggle, you can try your luck on Wednesdays. You can bring in clothes for their in-store trades as well.
“No shade on anybody trying to make a living,” owner E.P. Bradley said. “But we’re cool being part of a community as opposed to gouging our neighbors.”
Details: 12-8 p.m. daily. King Pigeon Thrift & Vintage, 4739 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 480-219-9452, @kingpigeonthriftandvintage.
Newell Vintage
Newell Vintage embodies the clean girl aesthetic. When you enter, everything has a specific place. Clothing racks neatly line the walls, shoes and bags are displayed on shelves and coffee table books sit on the furniture in the middle of the room.
You will also be met by the sweet owner herself, Madalyn Newell King.
King, who has a social media presence of nearly 54,000 followers, is effortlessly chic.
The store is curated with more staple and luxury pieces in neutral colors. This is where you can find that lavish fur coat you’ve been eyeing.
King said the vibe is classic, antique 90s; they have designer items, Levi’s denim, upscale Western pieces, anything beautiful.
“I love collecting beautiful things,” King said. “I grew up the oldest of six, and my mom thrifted everything for us, and so I fell in love with very old things. When I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, I felt like nothing fit, but I was so good at thrifting and I was like, ‘How can I turn this into a job?’ I figured I would try selling and see what happens and I’ve been doing that for almost five years now.”
Prices can range anywhere from $35 to $1200. This includes designer bags from Fendi, Chanel and Gucci.
Details: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday to Sunday. Newell Vintage, 3010 N. 24th St. #1, Phoenix. @newellvintage.
Wang’s Vintage
The vibe at Wang’s Vintage is retro streetwear.
There is a curated selection of 80s and 90s apparel, from band T-shirts to collectibles. The store has its pulse on pop culture and even the employees fit the vibe.
Posters and snapbacks are for sale, while old arcade games, box TVs and VHS tapes make up the decor.
Wang’s Vintage has been open since 2019, but the family has been in the secondhand business for more than 30 years, through The Blue Jean Buyer and Wang’s Closet.
If you are looking to add some cool and edgy pieces to your wardrobe, this is the place to shop at. Tees begin at about $30.
Details: 12-8 p.m. daily. Wang’s Vintage, 3508 N. Seventh St. #145, Phoenix. 602-346-0121, wangsvintage.com.
Reporting by Dina Kaur, Arizona Republic
