On the days I drop The Husband off at work in Greenpoint, I head down Driggs to Bed Stuy. It’s usually about 6:30am and I have the dogs in the back so stopping isn’t an option, but there’s an entire block of vintage shops that I always say I’m going to check out.
Well, I finally did! I really went back for clothes shopping at Buffalo Exchange. Two dresses, a cardigan and a blouse for $60. Not drop dead fantastic prices, but it was better than Salvation Army pickins.
Junk on the corner of Driggs and N.9th had big old dolls in the window so I had to go inside. They have an eclectic mix of stuff taking over the cavernous space. There were antique church saints, vintage arcade games and tons of furniture and housewares.
The prices are decent for retail. It’s about what you’d expect to pay at a flea market. More than a stoop sale, but less than a store.
There’s also a CD section, which is almost as nostalgic as vinyl at this point. It’s worth the visit!
Join the mailing list for updates!
Sometimes in life you think you’re the only one, and other times you realize too late that, OMG, you are not alone . . .
I wish I had read all the negative comments about the owner of this store before being subjected to her idiocy, rudeness, sarcasm, and generally bitchiness. Oh, and BTW, I have NEVER felt compelled to write an online negative review for anyone, that is until now . . .
My partner collects sheet music (and by that I mean he has over 6,000 library-quality, mint-condition pieces, kind of an expert I’d say).
I get the no-haggling policy, kind of an interesting business model in the category, that is if most of what you sell is highly collectible, in excellent condition, and rare. But like the store name clearly states, the place sells JUNK. The mid-century modern stuff is the JUNK from the era. And, the older 20th century is the JUNK from that era too. The pre-fifties stuff is not even worth commenting on, except to say that it’s . . . you guessed it. The owner preys on the twenty-somethings of the area who may think they are getting a great deal.
Back to this owner’s business savvy. So, when we remarked that most sheet music around the US sells for around $2 (hers were $3), she said, “That’s not the price in my stores.” My partner explained $3 would only be for rare, mint-condition pieces and that the rack she kept the music in was allowing the pieces to become tattered, bent, and not worthwhile to serious collectors like him. In her most sarcastic tone, the owner thanked him for his business advice and said that her prices nor her storage method had hurt sales (Really? and just how many sheet music collectors do you get in here?)
Ready for more anti-customer service punishment, I actually wanted to buy something. When she saw it had no price, back with the sarcasm, “Did you get this from the table in the farthest back corner with the like 7 signs around it that say ‘not for sale’ ?” I said, “No, I can show you exactly where I got it from.” She said, “It doesn’t matter, it’s not for sale.” Fighting the feeling to accidentally drop the object, we left the store. Oh, believe me, there’s more, but haven’t I wasted enough time on this already?
So, here’s a toast to all those failed small business owners out there wishing they could succeed except for all of those damn customers.
Comment by James M — June 6, 2010 @ 9:18 pm