Getting Started: 5 Thrifting and Vintage Accounts to Check Out in the Twin Cities
Minneapolis is one of the best thrifting and vintage communities in the United States because here we care about the environment, and we love to elevate our fashion and expression through unique pieces only thrifting can provide. The other thing to note about Minneapolis’s thrifting community is the strong comradery among vendors and shops. We are all here to support each other and share our passions for fashion and thrifting. Minneapolis Vintage Market is an excellent example of that. They host vintage clothing, accessories, and home goods vendors from across the state monthly at venues across the metro area. Visit their website to see their upcoming events. As an avid Minneapolis thrifter, I want to share some of my favorite places to thrift. Note that these are not in a specific order because I am entirely incapable of choosing a favorite.
Bro Bros Closet
Bro Bros Closet is a vintage and streetwear shop that I came across early on in my journey, and they provided me with a lot of staples in my everyday wear. They are a family operation that has a physical location at 118 East 26th Street, Minneapolis, MN. They bring a unique perspective and provide fun outfit inspirations on their Instagram. Their shop helps customers marry nostalgia with contemporary fashion trends by providing a highly curated selection of affordable vintage clothing. I love their collection of sports memorabilia, denim, polos, sweaters, and jackets. If I am ever looking for an oversized button-down, this is the first place I look.
Fieldhouse
Fieldhouse came together when a group of childhood thrifters wanted to make their hobby a business, which is what is at the heart of their shop. They showcase their collection of hobbies through not just their selection of clothing but also through every detail of their shop. Their shop is at 2213 NE Central Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55418, and they also have an Etsy shop full of unique pieces in addition to that location. My favorite thing about Fieldhouse is their selection of T-shirts as they try their hardest to find unique local-oriented clothing from restaurants, local artists, or local businesses. It’s always cool to see local history, especially in a wearable form.
Olio
Located in Northeast Minneapolis, Olio is undeniably one of my favorite places to thrift for many reasons. Olio has four core vendors (Olio, SALTY, Black Nvni, and Roselia Vintage) with very different esthetics that curate and play well with each other. They love being able to feature local products in the front of the shop as well because supporting local makers and communities is a priority for them. Olio has a great range of price points and is definitely the most unique shop on this list. Almost all of my favorite pieces of clothing are from these vendors, including my favorite piece which is an 80s Vintage Burberry oversized button-down. Their shop is located at 21 5th St NE, Minneapolis, MN.
Smile Back Vintage
Smile Back Vintage was another shop I came across towards the beginning of my thrifting journey. They’re a great exemplification of what thrifting is at its core: sustainable, affordable, and stylish. They even lean into the individuality that vintage shopping can bring customers because most items are previously loved and have signs of wear that are special to every piece. I have loved watching them grow as a business and expand into a physical space in Stadium Village at 718 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414. Smile Back has an extensive collection at their store, but my favorite items to look for there are heavier pieces like coats, denim, and sweaters.
Green Threads
Green Threads began as a COVID-19 passion project after losing their jobs in the live entertainment industry, and now it is a business with a following called the Thread Heads, and I would definitely consider myself a Thread Head. My favorite thing about Green Threads is how much you can see their love and passion in their vintage materials collection. They offer weekly LIVE sales on their TikTok and Instagram as well as an online store and a physical location at 1101 Stinson Blvd Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55413. This store helps me bring quirky and bright items to my wardrobe, which is definitely what I say is their most memorable quality.
Hopefully, that is an exhaustive list, but in case it isn’t here are a couple of honorable mentions that do not have physical stores in case you want to just do some Instagram shopping: Blue Tuesday Thrift, Buffalo Thrifted, and Teti.