What makes these thrift shops so fascinating is that they strongly resemble the thrift shops of the 1980s and early 1990s. Stepping into these places is like stepping back into a time filled with second-hand Doc Martens and Elvis wall hangings. They remind me of Domsey's. (Does Domsey's still exist?)
Huge and jam-packed, these shops offer a plentiful amount of affordable stuff. This is not the questionably named Cheap Jack's or Andy's Chee-Pees. Here, everything really is cheap. While there are a few (well-behaved) hipsters here, most of the customers are low-income locals. These are real thrift stores, meant for people with not a lot of money to spend.
You don't get that "too cool for school" feeling here, yet you will find cool stuff. Kind of a perfect balance. Maybe, out in Bushwick, it really is 1990.
Domsey's (as you knew it) no longer exists. They might still be using it as a shipping point to send used clothing overseas (or wherever), but they haven't had a thrift in many years.
ReplyDeleteman, first thing i thought of was Domsey's. Talk about old skool Williamsburg(?). It's been 20 years.
ReplyDeleteWent there a few times and spent hours picking through the goodies.
WRONG! Both of you! Though the Domsey's warehouse is no longer they still run a thrift store by the Hewes stop on the J train on broadway.
ReplyDeletemy heart truely stopped when i heard you mention domsey's. that place was an important part of my teen years!
ReplyDeleteDomsey's was great! Especially the somewhat smelly and disgusting clothes-by-the-pound area.
ReplyDeleteI love me some good old-fashioned thrift stores. I'm not familiar with Bushwick. Are these shops right near the L train stop or on another block? Can someone give me a more solid location? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes Domseys does still exist. They have a few stores in Brooklyn.
ReplyDeleteThey are by Knickerbocker and Flushing Ave.
ReplyDelete