• Beacon's Closet

  220 Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn, 718-230-1630; 88 North 11th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 718-486-0816

  In the nineties, Domsey’s Warehouse was a de facto town square for Williamsburg hipsters; when it closed in 2002, Beacon’s Closet assumed the mantle. Exchange buyers at both locations tend to a steady stream of cash-strapped sellers lining up to trade last week’s Sevens for this week’s grocery money. And unlike in Manhattan shops, where thrift-shop items rarely come with thrift-shop prices, everything is priced to move: Diesel jeans and vintage dresses are $14.95 to $19.95; a pair of seventies Gucci pumps was $24.95. Celebrity sightings are frequent—so be prepared to battle for that Heatherette skirt with drop-ins like Anna Sui and Hilary Swank.

From the 2004 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine