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If you are coming to Cleveland and looking for some vintage fun there are two areas you have to check out. The first is Lakewood on the west side. No trip to Lakewood is complete without a trip to Flower Child (http://www.flowerchildretro.com/). Their prices range from very reasonable to a little on the high side but I am sure they are lower then the prices in New York. They have everything from clothing to furniture. There are also some other thrift stores in the area (Unique Thrift) but Flower Child is the best.

On the east side you'll want to head over to the Waterloo Arts District. There is a vintage store in the basement of the Beachland Ballroom concert club called This Way Out (http://www.beachlandballroom.com/two3.htm). They have plenty of vintage clothing, records and knick-knacks. There is another store that just opened a short walk up there street. There is also the indie record store Music Saves and reasonable used vinyl at Blue Arrow.

Enjoy your stay in the 216.

Check out the auctions in Middlefield in Amish country. Sometimes they have cool stuff....I think they might be Monday afternoons. Also, there is an crafts and antique co-op in Painsville that is basically like one giant garage sale that's open Thurs. through Sun. Those are the two places that I have seen the best stuff!

I love Akron for vintage and thrifting!

http://www.revivalresale.com/
Also, a cool record shop next door.

All the Village Thrifts are great for real thrifting!
http://www.villagediscount.com/store/2930/2930.htm

I live in LA now, and just go back home to find stuff for a good price.

I second the Flower Child notion...It's lovely!

I would also try Suite Lorain on Lorain in Lakewood. They have tons of awesome furniture and clothing...a bit pricey, but well worth a trip.

There's a costume shop in Lakewood too that has reasonably-priced vintage clothing. It's called Chelsea's and is on Detroit Avenue at 117th street.

I've never been to The Cleveland Shop, but as far as I know they sell costumes and vintage clothing as well.

If you're up to a hunt, I would recommend the Unique Thrift stores. I think there's one on Memphis Avenue and Lorain Avenue. Every Monday, the entire store is 50% off. There are often great finds, but it will require more sifting.

Have fun in Cleveland!
♥

I just remembered....Design Sponge puts out these City Design Guides...there is a Cleveland one...

Copy and Paste:

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2008/07/cleveland-design-guide.html

They have great recommendations for food and shopping as well as other activities!

I third the Flower Child suggestion!! I recently moved to Lakewood and popped in there and almost passed out from sheer delight. Make sure to wind your way ALL the way through the store. It's quite a maze in there!

And thanks for the link janek! It's a good one. :)

and stop in to Melt Bar and Grilled for lunch (a few miles west from Flower Child). Yum!

@JENK968 - um, where? I'm basically from there and NEED to know where this is for next time I'm home. tks in advance.

one point to remember, too, is things are generally overpriced in vintage stores so... talk them down! but be reasonable, and also expect that you might get shut down. cleveland is hands-down the best city in the US for retro/vintage/kitschy stuff. i really miss it sometimes.

but yes, all recs pointing to lakewood are correct. just drive along the main drags (detroit, lorain) and stop anywhere that looks good.

also if you go to melt, try and go on a weekday and be prepared to wait. i don't think the second location is open yet.

In my mind, Unique thrift store is the best place. (I grew up in Cleveland but live in NYC, and am always at the thrift store when I'm back in the area.)

There are two locations worth checking out. There is one on Lorain Rd. in Ohio City, which is not too far from the recommendations in Lakewood. The other is on the east side of town on Northfield in Warrensville Hts; I find the prices to be better with better finds, but it requires a lot more digging. Also on Northfield is a Salvation Army, which very occasionally has some good things.

Also check out Big Fun! http://bigfunbigfun.com/

It's been a few years since my visit but I seem to recall the city's "Little Italy" (Murray Hill?) having lots of fun boutiques and antique stores. I'm not sure about pricing, but the area is at least nice for a charming stroll and window shopping (and of course dinner).

Flower Child is the best. And Big Fun is right next door. There is also Suite Lorain, which is totally fab. Also, there is the Tremont Arts Fest which is every Saturday in July.

If you're going to try bargaining with a shop owner, don't start way lower than the marked price. That can be insulting. Most dealers in my area (Baltimore) price their items to accommodate a 10% discount if asked. I wouldn't offer lower than 15% off the asking price, that way they can counter with 10% and still feel ok. If you are buying a big ticket item or many smaller items, then maybe a 15 or even 20 per cent would be acceptable.

Oo this is sort of eerie.
I sent this to my boyfriend & he wasn't convinced this wasn't posted by me.

I also have a boyfriend from Cleveland. Who recently went home for a visit & I tried to convince him to visit some thrift stores for me. Also, I recently moved to Murray Hill & have been collecting mid-century modern furniture for my new place.

I haven't been able to find affordable thrift stores in NYC. But I did manage to snag a nice 5 drawer dresser for $20 on CL!

@ peggy Big Fun is not next to Flower Child (Lakewood) -- it's in Coventry (Cleveland Heights).

Don't forget to check out TheThriftShopper.com for their National Thrift Store Directory (http://www.thethriftshopper.com. ). It's a great database of non-profit thrift shops, searchable by zip code or city.

@any such name
there are two locations. one now being next to Flower Child. In central Lakewood there's a great shop called Cosmic Collectibles. Also, cool resale shop called Reincarnation that I've been meaning to get to... apparently they sell both original condition and refinished pieces plus accessories. The east side also has the Larchmere arts district http://www.larchmere.com/

I agree with everyone who posted 'Flower Child' in Lakewood.

If you do venture down to Akron, I would try Stagecoach Antiques on W. Market St. http://www.stagecoach-antiques.com/

Hope you have a ball!

You must go to Room Service! It's a fantastic little shop on Detroit Rd (http://www.roomservicecleveland.com). Cosmic Collectibles is also really cool, and be sure to check out Shoparooni on the East side. (http://www.shoparooni.com/) Waterloo is becoming a pretty neat artsy community. While you're over there, the Beachland Ballroom vintage shop, 'This Way Out,' is fun too.
As far as restaurants go, El Tango Taqueria in Lakewood is one of my all-time favorites (14224 Madison Ave).
And Melt, of course!

Well, do go to Coventry and consider hitting Tommy's for lunch, then City Buddha (for incense, if you're not into import-store housewares) and Big Fun, and possibly the bookshop that connects to Tommy's (Mac's Backs?). Hit the art museum if you can, depending on how much of it is open now. They've been in the middle of major renovations for years.

Not vintage and thrift, except for Big Fun, but worth seeing in terms of "fun stuff in Cleveland."

There are some antique malls all around in the 'burbs that one can find some great prices. I have found some cool stuff at one near Medina in what used to be supermarket. It is just east of RT 71 I believe...
Heading way east on Rt. 422 is one called Aunties Antiques that can be interesting.
If you are willing to go back to the area a weekend or two After Labor day you can hit up the Burton Flea Market and Antique Show at the Geauga County Fair grounds. I have not been for years (as I now live in the Chicago area) but I went growing up and feel that contributed to my fabulous taste in all things old...

http://www.geaugaantiquesmarket.com/

I also support Lakewood, Ohio City, Coventry, Larchmere, and Little Italy. Cleveland is a small enough city where you could marathon shop all of these areas in one or two days.
Have Fun!