Shopping - New York City Free and Dirt Cheap - page 144

Clustered on the Upper West and Upper East sides are some of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
The big chains and department stores that cater to those lofty budgets dominate the local retail trade, though a
few exceptions exist for discerning shoppers. For high-end fashions at low-end prices, the consignment shops on
Madison and Amsterdam avenues are some of the best in the city.
Subway: 1/2/3 to 72nd St.; B/C to 72nd St.; 4/5/6 to 86th St.
2 Dirt Cheap Threads & More
Dirt Chic
Used clothing falls into two categories in New York, “thrift” and “vintage.” In a thrift shop you'll have to sort
through racks of junk to find that one perfect shirt, but it won't set you back more than a few bucks. A good
vintage proprietor will do the editing for you, but you'll pay for access to his or her good taste. For the trendiest
items—like a '70s rock concert T-shirt—a couple of holes in the sleeve may not lower the $90 price tag. Uptown
consignment shops will sell you a Chanel suit at a fraction of the original cost, but that's still going to be a several-
hundred-dollar commitment. My favorites are shops that split the difference between thrift and vintage, selling
used stuff that's still got some life left in it, but not at budget-busting prices. Many of the city's thrift shops are
charitable nonprofits, so not only will you be getting a bargain, you'll also be helping out a worthy cause.
Note: Clothing isn't the only reason we tightwads love thrift stores. Most of the shops listed below also stock
an impressive variety of used furniture, jewelry, electronics, books, records, and even art.
Lord Have Gramercy: Cheap Shopping On (& Just Off) 23rd Street
My favorite shopping cluster is 23rd Street, near Third Avenue. Gramercy is prosperous enough to ensure high
quality levels for hand-me-down goods, and a lack of hipster competition in these parts makes the racks less
pawed-through. In addition to the stores below, there are also a Salvation Army (208 E. 23rd St.) and a Cauz for
Pawz (212 E. 23rd St.) thrift shop, although I don't like either of them nearly as much as the places below.
City Opera Thrift Shop Locals sing the praises of this shop, with its balconies full of deals on art, books, and
bric-a-brac. Furniture prices are excellent. Costumey looks dominate the clothing selection, including pieces that
appear to have just left the stage. 222 E. 23rd St., btw. Second and Third aves. 212/684-5344. www.nycopera.com . Subway: 6 to 23rd St.
Goodwill The style quota in these stores tends to be pretty low, with racks full of the fashion miscues of the last
couple of decades. However, there's tons to look at, it's very well organized, and it's in a lot better shape than at
the Salvation Army. Plus, when you do find your diamond in the rough you won't pay much for it. (If it were easy
all the time, the big scores wouldn't be nearly as thrilling, right?) 220 E. 23rd St., btw. Second and Third aves. 212/447-7270.
www.goodwillny.org . Subway: 6 to 23rd St. Other Manhattan locations: WestVillage, 44 W. 8th St., btw. MacDougal St. and Sixth Ave. Subway: A/B/C/D/E/F/M
to W. 4th St./Washington Sq. Chelsea, 103 W. 25th St., near Sixth Ave. 646/638-1725. Subway: 1 or F/M to 23rd St. UpperWestSide, 217 W. 79th St., btw.
Broadway and Amsterdam Ave. 212/874-5050 . Subway: 1 to 79th St. WashingtonHeights, 512 W. 181st St., at Audubon St. 212/923-7910. Subway: 1 to
181st St. UpperEastSide, 1704 Second Ave., btw. 88th and 89th sts. 212/831-1830. Subway: 4/5/6 to 86th St. Harlem, 2196 Fifth Ave., at 135th St. 212/
862-0020. Subway: 2/3 to Lenox Ave. EastHarlem, 2231 Third Ave., btw. 121st and 122nd sts. 212/410-0973. Subway: 4/5/6 to 125th St. Other locations in
Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
Housing Works Thrift Shop Housing Works has the city's best thrift shops, with a constant stream of quality
donations. Designer names often pop up on the clothes racks, and the jewelry shelves are filled with intriguing
items. The real draw, however, is the furniture. Although the premium pieces end up in those gorgeously arrayed
store windows (they're up for grabs in silent auctions), many a well-preserved table or chair finds its way to the
sales floor. Housing Works is a nonprofit whose mission is to work with people with HIV/AIDS, and the home-
less. Proceeds from these stores pay for almost 25% of the group's operating budget. 157 E. 23rd St., btw. Third and Lex-
ington aves. 212/529-5955. www.housingworks.org . Subway: 6 to 23rd St. Other locations: Chelsea, 143 W. 17th St., btw. Sixth and Seventh aves. 212/
366-0820. Subway: 1 to 18th St.; F/M to 14th St.; L to Sixth Ave. UpperEastSide, 202 E. 77th St., btw. Second and Third aves. 212/772-8461. Subway: 6 to
77th St. UpperEastSide, 1730 Second Ave., at 90th St. 212/722-8306. Subway: 4/5/6 to 86th St. UpperWestSide, 306 Columbus Ave., btw. 74th and 75th
sts. 212/579-7566. Subway: B/C to 72nd St. UpperWestSide, 2569 Broadway, btw. 96th and 97th sts. 212/222-3550. Subway: 1/2/3 to 96th St. West