People who know me personally know that I am an avid thrifter. Some may call it an addiction, but I call it a creative passion.
Not having a car or a clue on where to thrift in Rochester, I’ve often resorted to Depop. Don’t get me wrong, I love Depop, but it gets expensive quickly. Scrolling online will never hit the same as perusing the racks.
In order to scratch the itch that only a good thrift trip can remedy, I’ve challenged myself to go to all the best thrift and vintage stores in Rochester. Every week, I’ll be going to a new thrift store and giving you my honest opinion. Whether you’re new to thrifting or a vintage shopping connoisseur, this series will be perfect for you!
According to a Democrat and Chronicle article written in 2023, Rochester ranked fourth in New York State for thrift stores and vintage shopping. Yelp and Google provide long lists of the “Best Thrift Stores in Rochester.” One name that appeared on many lists was Staple Vintage.
For my inaugural Thrifting with Jane, I headed over to Staple Vintage, located at 664 University Ave.
A look inside Rochester’s Staple Vintage
Staple Vintage is only a four-minute walk from the Memorial Art Gallery. On Saturdays and Sundays, the University Shuttle Service offers the Orange Line, which stops near the store. The store is located next to Melo Coffee & Kitchen and is a short walk from Park Avenue.
Staple is easy to miss, as its exterior is a simple brick building with barely any signage. The only indication of what’s inside is a small, easy-to-overlook window decal. From the outside, it blends into the surroundings, giving no hint of the vibrant space within. But once you step inside, it’s the exact opposite — bright, colorful, and inviting. Some vintage stores can feel overwhelming, but this was not the case at Staple Vintage. The store had an open floor plan with separate racks dispersed around the store. Everything was organized meticulously by type of clothing and by size, so it was easy to find exactly what you were looking for.
Staple Vintage’s jewelry assortment, featuring a selection of rings, necklaces, and bracelets
Staple prides itself on its size and gender inclusive vintage fashion, which the store from XXXS to XXXL, Staple Vintage has something cool for everyone.
The store was thoughtfully curated, with a selection of high-quality pieces spanning a range of aesthetics. Every item felt intentionally chosen, from the clothing to the wide variety of modern accessories, including an impressive assortment of Baggu bags. Despite the well-curated selection, I ultimately didn’t purchase anything.
An arrangement of sunglasses, hats, and varying accessories in the shop window
Despite its pros, one major con for Staple Vintage was the prices.
This is a vintage store, so I was not expecting thrift store prices. Unlike thrift stores, which resell donated items, vintage stores curate higher quality items and price items based on age, rarity, and brand. In a thrift store, you have to comb through (oftentimes unorganized) racks to find something good, whereas vintage stores do the hard work for you. Because of this, vintage stores tend to be more expensive than thrift.
Still, I found many items that felt extremely overpriced. I found a top by the brand Esprit for $30. On ThredUp (an online thrift store), you can find Esprit clothing items from $5-$9. With that kind of up-charging, I would rather order from Depop.
A selection of Esprit tops from a quick Google search
When thrifting and vintage shopping, I recommend price checking. If you think something is too expensive, 90% of the time it is. To price check, I look for the tag and Google the brand name. Usually, online thrifting platforms like ThredUp, Depop, Poshmark, etc. will show similar items to give you a price comparison.
Overall, I would rate Staple Vintage a 3.5/5. The store offered a great curated selection that was inclusive, accessible through the University Shuttle Service, and was in a great location. Although it is on the pricier side, I still recommend checking out Staple Vintage.
