While some of us see vintage stores as glamorous recycle bins holding our next great find, others view them as smelly rubbish centers full of organized junk. We set out to distinguish the smelly from the spiffy, and on our way discovered a trio of stores (without offensive prices or SoHo pretension) on Brooklyn’s 5th avenue that neither the casual browser nor hardcore thrift shopper can miss.
Beacon’s Closet | 92 Fifth Avenue | 718.230.1630 | beaconscloset.com
After exiting the train at the Atlantic Center in Downtown Brooklyn, the hunt for quality clothes on the cheap started with Beacon’s Closet, whose original outlet is located in Williamsburg.
Pickings: 70s shirts, pencil skirts, cocktail dresses, cardigans, hole-punched jeans, funky boots, men’s blazers, plaid shirts, jeans.
Pluses: Five well-lit dressing rooms, guaranteed to leave happy-handed.
Odd Twin Trading Company | 164 Fifth Avenue | 718.633.8946 | oddtwin.com
As you exit Beacon’s, ease on down the road about two blocks past live joint Southpaw and Cuban restaurant Bogota to this newest vintage kid on the block. Here at the corner of Lincoln and Fifth, you’ll find a collective team headed by local owners Francesca and Adam, who are hosting a grand re-opening party tonight from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Pickings: Nifty accessories counter, leather coin purses, clutches, a crazy collection of affordable belts, denim cutoffs, back-bearing summer frocks, blouses, swimsuits, Doc Martens, jumpers, men’s jackets and pants.
Pluses: Friendly service, themed-tributes like Dreamgirls glam or Amy Winehouse, and Georgi, the bubbly Cuban assistant who lends honest opinions and helpful suggestions.
“I took my ex-boyfriend’s wig, borrowed a basket from Key Foods, got a truckload of liquor bottles from a nearby bar, and repainted the mannequins in flesh tone colors,” said Adam Lopez, Odd Twin’s window designer. “And for tonight’s event, expect a window display that will totally surprise you. Nearly all of the items are ready-to-wear and if they’re not, Francesca offers her tailoring and seamstress services for a small fee to make necessary adjustments.
Guvnor’s Thrift Shop | 176 Fifth Avenue | guvnorsnyc.com
From the folks who created the Monkey Whistles and Motor Bikes store, Guvnor’s is a new kind of vintage rummaging experience. This laid-back spot peddles bags, belts, boots, booze and beats during weekly events that feature acts like burlesque troops and rock concerts. (There’s even a summertime rooftop for post-shopping revelry.)
Pickings: Stellar ceiling-hung selection of bags, ruffled polka-dot pieces, silk cocktail dresses, walls of well-kept shoes like cowboy boots, cut-off jean shorts, men’s vests.
Pluses: Live music for a shopping soundtrack, travel accessories, monographs, magazines, quirky furniture, affordable prices.
When you’re next in need of a little retail therapy, explore a different side of the city while supporting the movement to recycle and reuse. V for Vintage.
How to get there: Each place is as easily accessible as A-B-C-1-2-3. Use the Hopstop link below for specific directions.
Photos: Courtesy of Chermelle Edwards
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram