Thrifty. We have a penchant for thrift shops, have our favorites, and recently got told off for not rating City Opera Thrift highly enough.
"Best for price and cool finds" and a "cozy shop," City Opera is a branch of THE City Opera and sells "a wide range of high quality, very affordable clothing, furniture, and household items."
Buried between the racks of priced-to-market blouses, one can occassionally find a solid piece, like an easy chair or dining table, at a reasonable price. There's a slightly precious, compressed feeling to the store, but it is not without class.
City Opera also accepts donations and will pick up large ones free. Taxi fare is reimbursed up to $10 for smaller donations dropped off at the shop.
If you're out thrifting, City Opera should make the cut. We recommend you start on West 17th Street -- Thrift Shop Alley -- and hit Housing Works and Angel Street on your way East and uptown.... (Thanks, Bill!) HOP&MGR
Know City Opera? Comment below...
One of my favorite thrift finds (a weird 70s style drawing of the brooklyn bride) is from Opera. I think becasue it is not in that 17th street zone, some people overlook it. And that's a good thing b/c it is not so picked over. The East Side Housing Works is near by, and there is a store, I believe called Vintage (great for old glassware) down the street from there, next to Janovic.
I'm not much interested in it, but Opera always have a large selection of velvety fabrics, left over from sets and costumes, I assume.
the intersection of 23rd Street and Third Avenue is a thrift/vintage mecca. There are two thrift stores just west of City Opera on 23rd, Housing Works on 23 between 3rd and Lex, and the awesome (furniture/book wise) vintage store on 3rd btween 22 and 23. I live nearby, so frequently make the rounds - - - and have found treasures at each of these stores.
If you're hitting vintage stores in that part of town, don't forget St. George's Thrift Shop (the furniture one, not the clothing one) on Park Ave. South between 21st and 22nd. Lots of their stuff is heavy and Victorian-ish, but they've got the occasional cool modern item. good luck.
i've not walked into the city opera thrift shop since a peeping tom watched me try on clothes in this shop.I filed a complaint with them to fire him, which eventually happened, but I still won't patronize this store even for the furniture.
as side note to beths' post, st. george-is great but the sales person i dealt with there was rude and not very knowledgable about the furniture. as a result, i did not buy anything.
i really love this little shop called marble hill thrift on 3rd and 27th. staff is friendly and they get a small but good selection of items.
Been here several times. I love this place for the little treasures I have found. But the one even better than this is the Vintage shop on 3rd btwn 23rd and 22nd next to Janovic. They have even cooler things from 30s and later...Overall City Opera is a cool shop where you may happen upon a lovely little treasure and I have.