Thrifting is Thriving

In Bergen and across the country, buying secondhand goods has gone big-time. Here’s why—and how to get in on the fun.

My visit to Goodwill, a vast barn of a store off Route 4 in Elmwood Park, is purely for the purpose of research. Or so I keep telling myself as I admire my reflection in a floral velvet kimono, originally from Zara, and now bearing a tag with the come-hither price of $7.99. And really, wouldn’t it be research if I bought my daughter the fetching military-style jacket from Free People, also for $7.99? And since I’ve already got my wallet open, how about this pair of large, metal petfood bowls for $3.99?

I’m starting to understand why “thrifting”—buying from thrift shops—is booming. And by all metrics, it definitely is. According to Forbes, the U.S. secondhand market is projected to reach $74 billion by 2029, having grown from $28 billion in 2019 to $56 billion in 2025. (For comparison, that last figure is roughly equivalent to 15 percent of the 2025 U.S. apparel market, which saw sales of about $365 billion last year.) While some of this growth is happening online, on sites like The RealReal, Poshmark, ThredUp and Vinted, brick-and-mortar sellers report a 40 percent increase in foot traffic since 2019. And last year, Goodwill’s sales exceeded $7 billion, a record for the nonprofit and a 7 percent increase over 2024. Smaller resale operations are reporting similar upticks. “Business over the past year was better than the year before,” says Sara Henderson, owner of Mikayla’s Thriftique in Rutherford. It’s an experience shared by many in the resale sector, in Bergen and elsewhere.

BEHIND THE BOOM

Not surprisingly, economics is one factor fueling the expansion of thrifting. While the U.S. saw continuing economic growth in 2025, inflation has remained stubbornly high and unemployment is rising. Bergenites are continuing to spend, but many of us are growing cautious about how and where we’re spending. Ridgewood resident Diana Steffens, for instance, says that she only buys jeans at thrift stores. “Why pay $40 at The Gap,” she says, “when you can get the same jeans for 12 bucks or less at a thrift shop?” (Admittedly, jeans may be a special case, since custom dictates that they aren’t supposed to look new.)

On the other end of the spending spectrum, a stratospheric rise in the pricing of designer apparel and accessories is also driving the upsurge in thrifting. Simona Kornberg, who’s owned the high-end thrift boutique Mint in Tenafly for 25 years, notes that “a classic Chanel bag that was $3,500 10 years ago is now selling for $12,300. Designer prices are insane, and the quality is down. My customers would rather buy vintage at a much lower price and have an amazing bag for life.”

Beyond economics, many thrifters cite environmental concerns. In an age of fast fashion—cheaply manufactured apparel designed to reflect changing fashion trends and not intended to last more than a season or two—more and more of our cast-off clothing is ending up in landfills. Thrifting can help counter that trend. Steffens, for example, recently issued a family edict that all birthday gifts be thrifted—something her college-age kids were already doing more often than not. “It just feels like the responsible thing to do,” she says. Lynn Cilsick, founder of Westwood’s Caring About The Strays, a thrift shop that supports an animal rescue operation of the same name, has found that younger clients in particular “understand the importance of reusing and recycling items to help the planet stay healthy.”

Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that collecting— everything from coins to cameras to vintage video games—has risen in popularity alongside thrifting. Matthew Michaels of Midland Park says that for him thrifting is “genetic.” “My parents collected antiques, so they’d go to antique and thrift shops to find them, and I started getting into it as a kid.” Today, he collects sports memorabilia, musical instruments and pop-culture toys and games and admits, a little sheepishly, that he’s likely to visit his favorite thrift stores three or four times a week to satisfy his habit. “It’s the thrill of the hunt,” he says. “You might go to five stores and find nothing and then go to one store and find five things.” On a recent hunt, he bagged an electric guitar worth $2,000, for which he paid $100.

The joy of the quest, in fact, is what keeps many thrifters returning to their favorite shops again and again. “It’s almost like a treasure hunt,” says Bergen resident Raquel Bruno (who asked that her hometown not be named for reasons of privacy). She still remembers the joy she felt at finding a 1970s-vintage suede jacket in near-mint condition for five dollars at Goodwill, and she visits her favorite thrift shops at least once a week in an effort to replicate that high.

Whatever stigma the buying of used clothing or other items may once have had seems to have disappeared. “Thrifting is definitely a thing—it’s become a verb,” says Barb Tobin, who manages Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe in Oradell. Teens in particular, she says, are attracted by the prospect of finding something fun and funky—and dirt cheap—to boost their wardrobes. Henderson says that teens are among her regulars. “They’ll try on clothing and jewelry and hats—it’s like this camaraderie thing.” And the outfits they put together often end up on TikTok and YouTube, which, in turn, has helped to fuel the thrifting trend among Gen Zers and Millennials.

GETTING THE GOODS

It’s easier than ever for thrifters to find merchandise. But even in our throwaway society, hunting down inventory can be a challenge for those in the resale business. Henderson says she finds her goods “everywhere and anywhere—it could be from estate or garage sales, or it could be from acquaintances who have items they know I’d be interested in.” Other shops sell on consignment, accepting items from individuals with whom they split the profits from sales. And some shops, like Caring About The Strays, support nonprofits, so donations are tax-deductible. (Other thrift stores benefiting Bergen-based charities include Oakland’s REWAR Thrift Store, supporting REW Animal Rescue; The Wyckoff PTO Economy Shop, which aids the town’s parent-teacher organization; Habitat Bergen ReStore in Westwood, with profits going to Habitat for Humanity; and of course, the Goodwills in Elmwood Park and South Hackensack.)

BERGEN’S RESALE LANDSCAPE

Thrift shops in Bergen run the gamut from large and largely impersonal like the Goodwill locations to tiny holes in the wall chockablock with treasures like Midland Park’s Gingerbread (which used to be a small neighborhood bakery, as suggested by the gingerbread men that still decorate its façade). The larger shops offer inventory—lots of it— while smaller stores tend to curate their merchandise more carefully. Marie Purritano, who’s owned and operated Westwood’s Fabulous Finds for the past 27 years, describes her shop as “borderline high-end women’s clothing, shoes and accessories.” It’s a description that could also be applied to Gingerbread, where you’re likely to find women’s (and children’s) clothing bearing labels from quality brands like Loft, Banana Republic and J. Jill. On a recent trip, a vintage alligator bag, whose silk lining was marked “Saks Fifth Avenue,” was priced at $200—far less than a similar bag on Poshmark selling for $2,000.

Smaller shops tend to have more of a community feel, with loyal customers returning on a regular basis. “I’ve had some customers for 20 years,” says Purritano.

Then there’s Tobin, who says that “a lot of my customers are like family.” She calls her shop “the Cheers of thrift shopping. Here, everyone knows your name.”

HOW TO FIND THOSE FINDS: TIPS FOR SMART ‘THRIFTING

You can make mistakes in thrift shopping, just as you can in any activity—especially one that involves laying down cash. So BERGEN asked two experts for guidance on how shoppers can be savvy and avoid pitfalls. Maureen Wuerfel, owner of Midland Park’s Gingerbread, and longtime thrifter Diana Steffens share advice on how to score big while spending small:

• Carry cash. Many shops don’t accept credit cards.
• Call first to confirm that a store is open. Actual hours can differ from those posted online.
• If you don’t know the store’s typical inventory, ask before you shop. Some only carry women’s clothing, for instance; others may not sell home décor or small appliances.
• Schedule plenty of time. You’ll need it to tease out all those half-hidden treasures.
• Look for signs advertising discounts. Some stores use color-coded tags to alert customers to special sales.
• Make at least two rounds. Amid all that resale bounty, it’s easy to miss a potential score.
• Inspect the goods well. Many thrift stores don’t accept returns, so make sure that clothes fit and are in good condition. If you’re buying glassware, Steffens advises, run your finger around the rims to make sure there are no tiny chips. Before buying electronics or appliances, plug them in to make sure they work. (Most shops have outlets for that purpose.)
• Wear layers. Some stores lack dressing rooms, so you’ll have to create your own “privacy” with lightweight T-shirts and/or leggings under your clothes. “If you’ll be trying on pants,” says Wuerfel, “don’t wear boots.”
• Use Google Lens. It’s an object recognition tool that can help you determine the provenance and value of vintage and other items.
• Carry an item you’re considering. If you find something you like but aren’t convinced you’ll buy, pick it up anyway and take it with you in the shop. “More than once,” says Steffens, “I’ve gone back to grab something I liked and found it gone.”
• Hunt for sets. Sets of dish- and glassware are often broken up, so check all the shelves to find missing components. Steffens, for instance, found some vintage teacups she loved, but they were clearly missing saucers—which she subsequently found on a different shelf.
• Go often. Inventory is always coming in and can change from day to day.
• Don’t be turned off by tarnish. Thrifter Karen Hamilton of Rochelle Park notes that “I’ve found some really cool silver bowls—people don’t realize they’re just tarnished.” If silver is your quarry, carry a polishing cloth with you to discover what’s under the surface. (But bear in mind that silverplate can tarnish too.)
• Wash everything. Good thrifting doesn’t end when you get home. Wash (or dry-clean) clothes and carefully wash, wipe down, or vacuum home goods.

WHERE TO SCORE

Bergen County boasts an array of spots for “thrifting,” and each has its own special aura and variety of merchandise. Some favorites:

• Browse Consignment, 129 Queen Anne Rd., Bogota, 201.342.4455
• Caring About The Strays (CATS), 80 Kinderkamack Rd., Westwood; care4strays.org
• Community Thrift Shop, 85 Godwin Ave., Midland Park, 201.652.7661
• Fabulous Finds Consignment Boutique, 186 Center Ave., Westwood; fabulousfindsnj.com
• Gingerbread, 228 Godwin Ave., Midland Park, 201.652.2814
• Goodwill NYNJ Stores & Donation Centers, 30 Broadway, Elmwood Park; 400 Huyler St., South Hackensack; goodwillnynj.org
• Habitat Bergen ReStore, 121 Carver Ave., Westwood; bergenrestore.org
• Mikayla’s Thriftique, 155 Park Ave., Rutherford; mikaylasthriftique.com
• Mint, 15 West Railroad Ave., Tenafly; mintdesignernj.com
• REWAR Thrift Store, 350 Ramapo Valley Rd., Oakland; rewar.org/ thrift-store
• Shop of Hope Thrift Shop, 79 West Palisade Ave., Englewood; hopethriftshop.com
• The Wyckoff PTO Economy Shop, 399 Main St., Wyckoff; wyckoffptoeconomyshop.org