Hell’s Kitchen thrift shops hide vintage deals for intrepid shoppers

Allergy sufferers beware—bargain hunting in Hell’s Kitchen isn’t for students with sensitive noses.

Incense and dust mites saturate the air at Outcasts Resurrectible Goods on Tenth Avenue between 46th and 47th streets. The store is eclectic and crowded—it isn’t uncommon to find a pair of old black patent tap shoes resting on a coffee table, or a hardcover copy of “Angels & Demons” placed unapologetically next to a leather-bound “House of the Seven Gables.”

Outcasts doesn’t boast a lot of square footage, but the unbelievably packed shelves and racks make up for its small size. The store offers an abundant and diverse selection of used books, tapes, and CDs for reasonable prices. Antique lamps and other pieces of furniture are sprinkled throughout the store, along with little piles of trinkets.

Although there are some clothing items for sale, the store’s selection is sparse and unimpressive. Prices are generally low and there are some high quality coats and dresses, but brand names are rare. The clothing also lacks variety in terms of style and size due to the store’s limited space.
Outcasts is dusty and chaotic, like any good thrift shop, and there is plenty of sorting and searching to be done. Despite its shortcomings, it is a neighborhood store that offers a lot of potentially great finds.

For the less seasoned thrifter, a great Salvation Army awaits just a few blocks away, on 46th Street between Tenth and Eleventh avenues. Up a few flights of stairs, the store is roomy and filled with long racks of gently-worn clothing. The racks are organized by the type of garment, making the process of sifting through pieces exponentially easier.

For men, the store offers a large variety of dress shirts, all in fairly good condition considering the low prices. The flannel shirts leave much to be desired, but most of the jeans and pants are in great condition. Unlike Outcasts, the large quantity of items helps assure availability of several different sizes. The jeans are generally priced between $7.99 and $10, and on select days customers can get most clothing half-price—that’s $5 or less for a pair of jeans. The store has a number of jackets and coats, but the latter are mostly overly long, bulky, and altogether unattractive.

The Salvation Army is so big that it would be difficult not to find at least one great item there. It seems that inventory moves in and out of the store quickly, so an unsuccessful visit one day does not mean another day’s attempt won’t succeed.

Altogether, both Outcasts and the Salvation Army make for some fun thrifting, and have the cozy neighborhood feel of stores frequented by locals.