My first introduction to thrift, consignment and vintage clothing shops was one on Main Street in Gardner, according to a quick check of Google maps, in approximately the current location of Main Street Tattoo. My grandmother, Violet Rose Turgiss Andrews, or to us ‘Ma’ frequented this thrift shop (which may have been called Ann’s) and others for her general shopping and holiday shopping convenience. It didn’t matter to Ma if what she picked out didn’t fit you, wasn’t your style or you already had enough of that particular type of item. When we would sit around at Christmas, she would just underhand-fling items at me, my brother and an assortment of cousins. “Picked this up at the thrift shop for you.” I don’t remember anything specifically I would get – – but my brother and my cousin Brian had particularly large feet so if she found a shoe in their size, that’s their gift, regardless of style. Being young and having no money, I pretty much remember hanging out under the tables at the thrift shop, waiting as Ma picked through everything.
When Jay lived in New York City for a while, I loved the thrift shops. It was really cool there were specific thrift shops – – not in what they had for merchandise, but for specific supporters. There were religious organizations, health topics – – like the Arthritis Foundation thrift shop. Thrift shops were everywhere.
My youngest goes to college in Worcester and told me about his favorite vintage clothing shop, Jerry’s Warehouse (interior pictured above) at 123 Highland Street in Worcester. I stopped in at Jerry’s to get a gift card for Adam’s birthday and I could not believe I found these Carhartt overalls, in fantastic condition, for a pretty sweet price.
I guess if I gave any thought to the difference of a thrift shop compared to a consignment shop, I think of a consignment shop as having stylishly merchandised items with accessory suggestions – – where a thrift shop, just based on my childhood experience, would have piles of clothing on a table without much regard for size, type or color.
I was very pleasantly surprised when I went to the new women’s thrift shop called Holy Threads in Princeton, at the invitation of a friend who volunteers there. I’m not much of a shopper, but I’m happy to help a good cause and Pastor Joelle Johns is very community involved, so it just made sense that I go and check it out so that I would know what I could donate there. Oh my goodness, it’s small but the quality of items was amazing–I almost didn’t want to write this to recommend the place before I had a few more visits to myself, but that wouldn’t be very nice of me. Holy Threads is located in the lower level of First Congregational Church of Princeton at 14 Mountain Road. It’s open Thursdays and Fridays 10am – 1pm.
I’ve put together a list of thrift, clothing consignment and vintage clothing shops in Central Massachusetts below. Am I missing anything in this RESOURCE STORY? Please message me with any info you have, so I can always keep my CENTRAL MASS RESOURCE STORIES as current and relevant as possible!
Adams
Lynda’s Antique Clothing Loft
(413) 884-2064
126 Columbia Street, Adams
Instagram Page
Allston
Vivant Vintage
(617) 375-0100
318 Lincoln Street, Allston
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Ashby
Consignments by Kelly
10 Common Road, 2nd Floor, Ashby
Athol
Deja Vu
(978) 249-6901
479 Main Street, Athol
Cambridge
Chartreuse Microbus Collective
(617) 497-9464
Porter Square Shopping Center
25 White Street, Cambridge
Great Eastern Trading Co
(617) 354-5279
49 River Street, Cambridge
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
We Thieves
(857) 997-8907
1307 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Clinton
Six 20 Six Consignment Boutique
(978) 368-6262
626 Main Street, Clinton
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Easthampton
WONDERLAND
(774) 563-0395
56 Cottage Street, Easthampton
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Fitchburg
The Salvation Army
(800) 728-7825
1422 Water Street, Fitchburg
Gardner
The Salvation Army
(800) 728-7825
8 Union Square, Gardner
Holden
Corner Shop At The First Congregational Church
508-829-9270
1180 Main Street, Holden
Holliston
Vintage Clothes
(508) 429-2433
95 Washington Street, Holliston
Lancaster
The Pro.Found Market
318 Seven Bridge Road, Lancaster
Facebook Page
Leominster
Bella Donna Consignment Boutique
(978) 874-0900
5 Park Street, Leominster
Mass Value
300 Hamilton Street, Leominster
Upscale Consignmint
(978) 534-3322
875 Merriam Ave, Leominster
Littleton
Vintage on the Common
(978) 621-0999
320 Great Road, Littleton
Lowell
Holy Grail Vintage
(978) 799-9705
17 Shattuck Street, Lowell
Northampton
Retro Genie Vintage
(413) 584-4364
11 Bridge Street, Northampton
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Sassy Pants Vintage and Used Clothing
(413) 210-3667
2 Conz St # 42, Northampton
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Norwood
Mom Said Have Fun
(617) 800-3413
Winsmith Mill Market
61 Endicott Street, Building 23 Store #111, Norwood
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Peabody
Eleventh House Vintage
58 Pulaski Street Suite C3-1, Peabody
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Petersham
Kaitlynne’s Consignment
(603) 851-1791
Princeton
Holy Threads
14 Mountain Road, Princeton
Open Thursdays/Fridays 10am – 1pm
Shrewsbury
Concrete Collection
16 Harrington Ave, Shrewsbury
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Sterling
Oh My Gosh Antiques and Collectibles
(978) 422-8675
15 Waushacum Ave, Sterling
Sturbridge
Vintage and Swoon
(774) 241-0121
425 Main Street, Sturbridge
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Somerville
High Energy Vintage
429 Somerville Avenue, Somerville
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Turners Falls
Great Hauls
125a Avenue A, Turners Falls
West Boylston
Consignment Chic
(508) 835-5858
244 W Boylston Street, West Boylston
Facebook Page
Worcester
Abby’s House
(508) 756-5486
Basement Level, 52 High Street, Worcester
Facebook Page
A Piece of Heaven Ltd.
(617) 930-4363
1100B Pleasant Street, Worcester
Clark Community Thrift Store
(508) 421-3730
930 Main Street, Worcester
Grime
356 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester
Instagram Page
Jerry’s Warehouse
123 Highland Street, Worcester
The Little Store and Just New!
(508) 831-7455
242 Canterbury Street, Worcester
Lola’s Chic Fashion & Decor
(774) 418-2693
566 W Boylston Street, Worcester
The Salvation Army Thrift Store & Donation Center
(800) 728-7825
72 Cambridge Street, Worcester
Savers
(508) 853-3653
490 Lincoln Street, Worcester
Sweet Jane’s Designer Consignment
(774) 243-6000
120 Main Street, Worcester
