If you tend to eschew “fast fashion” and big-box stores in favor of thrift and secondhand shops, you’re not alone. Or if you're wanting to lead an eco-conscious and sustainable lifestyle by upcycling, Denver has you covered. It was named the best city for thrifting by StorageCafe.
More and more shoppers are discovering the thrill of the hunt (that zing you get when you score a high-quality find for waaaay less than retail) and spending more sustainably by shopping at resale and vintage shops. In Denver, there are lots of places to find gently used treasures. Here are a few you won’t want to miss, by neighborhood.
Downtown Denver
Garage Sale Vintage
Calling all vintage and margarita lovers, Garage Sale Vintage is a hub for secondhand shopping, equipped with a bar. Located in Larimer Square, you'll discover curated items from a variety of vintage vendors from all eras, including the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and Y2K. Pro Tip: spend $100 and get a shot at the bar — the staff will ring a bell to celebrate.
River North Arts District (RiNo)
Meek Modern + Vintage
You’ll find one of the city’s most elegant secondhand shops in RiNo. In fact, so selective is Meek’s owner, you might not believe these are thrifted items. You’ll find a mix of clothing (Levi’s, earth-toned jackets and sweaters, super-soft flannel shirts) and home goods (rugs, wall hangings, indigo-dyed throws).
Empire Denver
Located in the heart of RiNo, Empire Denver is a retail collective home to several vendors, including Heart of Vintage, Homefill and Jewelius Boutique. In warmer months, massive garage doors will be open, welcoming customers to a haven for fashion, home décor and vintage.
Highland/Tennyson Street
SecondLove
This hip and homey resale boutique in the Berkeley neighborhood focuses on casual women’s clothing and home decor. Expect to find brands like Free People, Anthropologie, Michael Stars and Madewell, along with vintage treasures. Don’t be surprised if you’re tempted to move right in!
FERAL Denver
Visitors flock to Denver to embrace the outdoor adventure opportunities, and FERAL Denver equips those with secondhand gear to adventure sustainably. Located on Tennyson Street, the shop carries new outdoor gear but is known for their collection of used gear; including supplies for camping, backpacking and everything in between. Need to rent or wash your gear? The FERAL team can provide services from repair to eco-friendly washing and re-waterproofing too.
South Broadway/Washington Park/Platt Park
Show Pony Vintage
Located near the University of Denver, Show Pony Vintage is filled with one-of-a-kind pieces that will elevate any look. The store features 15 local vendors that rent out racks monthly and pay commissions to do so. You can also find Show Pony Vintage at various thrift markets throughout the year, including Tags N Tats and Thrift Pop, both located in RiNo.
Crossroads
Avid thrifters may turn to a surplus store environment to claim the best deals, but Crossroads is a similar setting with a curated environment. In addition to offering workout wear, clothing, shoes, accessories, jackets, bags and more, this location is a one-stop-shop for those looking to buy, sell or trade their used items.
2nd Street
2nd Street is the newest vintage store on South Broadway and is the first Colorado location for the global brand that started in Japan in 1996. The first U.S. location opened in 2018 in Los Angeles and the brand is rapidly expanding to cities across the nation. The Denver store features a collection of Japanese-inspired vintage, as well as luxury clothing and accessories at a competitive price.
Common Threads
Common Threads isn’t just one of the best consignment shops in town. It’s one of the best women’s clothing shops in town, period. Score Isabel Marant, Vince, Tory Burch and other normally stratospheric designer brands at down-to-earth prices. In a smartly organized and expertly curated place on South Pearl, you’ll be hard-pressed not to walk out with a new handbag, heels, blouse, jeans… or one of each.
Regal Vintage
A real-deal vintage shop with styles from every era, this colorful, bursting-at-the-seams South Broadway boutique has racks of 70s sequined jackets and 50s-era hourglass frocks. Plus, plenty of merchandise that’s less costume-y. If you need a perfectly broken-in vintage concert T-shirt, this is your go-to place.
Goldmine Vintage
Goldmine’s husband-and-wife owners travel the country seeking out perfect pieces for the store, which features a carefully curated collection of clothing and accessories from the Victorian era through the mid-90s. And while the focus is on vintage clothing and accessories, they also carry new lines from independent artists, vintage LPs and a large selection of affordable vintage and new costume items.
La Lovely Vintage
Since 2018, La Lovely Vintage has combined Denver’s Western roots with a modern take on Western fashion. Racks of 1940s-1990s vintage denim and T-shirts have been preserved and are thoughtfully on display, waiting for their new owner. Both the brick-and-mortar and the website also feature home goods, candles and more.
Boss Vintage
Boss Vintage has been dressing Denverites since 1989. For decades, the store has strived to offer true vintage to the community and has provided costumes for various films including Titanic, LA Confidential, Forrest Gump, Benjamin Button, Larimer Project, Down with Love, Pleasantville and more.
Mercer Place
Located on South Broadway, Mercer Place has been in business for more than 20 years. Shop a broad selection of women’s clothing and accessories, children’s clothing, men’s clothing and housewares. The store has also been called "a vintage shoe lover’s heaven," so if shoes are your thing, put Mercer Place on your must-shop list!
The Ten Penny Store
At The Ten Penny Store, you can find clothing and accessories from the 1900s to the 1990s in all styles and sizes. After walking in, shoppers will be transported to a vintage emporium. Each piece has a story that is just waiting to be told.
Sewn
Vintage and handmade clothing and collectible items are all housed under one roof at Sewn, the South Broadway spot dedicated to whimsical and sustainable fashion. The space features an entire room filled with vintage fabrics or patterns for those looking to create their own designs. You’ll find pieces from more than 10 local designers on the racks that are handmade with love and intention.
Vivid Vintage
Located in Denver’s University neighborhood, Vivid Vintage opened early 2023 and is equipped with vintage treasures. You may stumble upon an iconic vintage tee or even a dress straight from the 70s. The quaint shop is filled with denim, prints and more.
Decades
Looking to score vintage furniture or gifts? Decades is an emporium of new and vintage accessories and antique furniture. The store is organized into sections with specific themes to point shoppers in the right direction.
Cherry Creek
Rags
"It doesn’t have to be new to be perfect." That's the motto at this chic consignment shop in Cherry Creek, which carries an extensive selection of women’s clothing and accessories, all displayed on easy-to-search racks. Workout wear from Athleta and Lululemon? They’ve got it. Classic styles from Calvin Klein and Kate Spade? Check! Designer duds from Louis Vuitton and Stella McCartney? Oh yes. Stop by and see what's in stock.
Déjà Blue
A unique concept under the Goodwill umbrella, Déjà Blue gathers the non-profit’s best brand-name donations to create a higher-end (but still lower-priced) shopping experience in the Cherry Creek neighborhood. Instead of sifting through rack after rack, expect to zero in on current trends and coveted brands.
Art District on Santa Fe
Strawberry Mountain
Vintage shopping in Denver is not complete without a stop at Strawberry Mountain, a second-hand emporium located on Santa Fe Drive. This spot is also perfect for trading or selling your own pieces, contributing to prioritizing sustainability by giving the clothes you no longer wear a second home.
ReCreative
Creatives and artists of all mediums unite at ReCreative, the one-stop shop for secondhand materials including fabric, paints, brushes, trinkets and much more. The nonprofit takes a variety of donated items including art and scrapbooking supplies, yarns and fabric, paper and more, offering supplies at a reasonable price while eliminating waste through reusing and recycling donated items.
Capitol Hill & Golden Triangle
Modern Nomad
Nestled in the Golden Triangle neighborhood, Modern Nomad is an oasis for home décor, decorations and vintage clothing and accessories. The space features curated goods from Modern Nomad Home, as well as two boutiques; Two Kisses Jewelry and Relic Vintage. This female-owned and operated collective encourages shoppers to embrace modernity, functionality and beauty in curating their home and wardrobe.
The Common Collective
The Common Collective is a Black and woman-owned store focused on sustainable fashion. You can expect to find colorful, unique and gender-neutral clothing and accessories that are carefully curated. Owners Tristan Bego and Jenny Neal are heavily involved in the community, and the two are often hosting after-hours events at the store or can be seen at local pop-ups and events including the annual Thrift Con.
Atomic Salvage
Finding vintage in pristine condition is like uncovering treasure, and Atomic Salvage is filled with treasured pieces. The beautifully curated collection features dresses, shoes, denim, jackets, sweaters and much more. You are destined to find true vintage pieces that will elevate any wardrobe.