Move over, fast fashion—vintage is all the rage and Chicago’s shopping scene is making its mark in the secondhand world.
According to Yelp’s newly dropped list of the Most Saved Spots for Secondhand Shopping, the Windy City is a certified thrifting mecca. With searches for “thrift shop near me” skyrocketing by an absurd 2,200-percent year-over-year, three local heavyweights rose to the top of the list.
Leading the charge and making it into the national top ten at number seven is Pilsen’s iconic Knee Deep Vintage. This neighborhood staple is where you go when you want to look effortlessly cool without spending a fortune. Packed with everything from buttery ’90s band tees to breathtaking 1950s party dresses, it’s essentially a time machine with incredible taste.
Photograph: Jaclyn RivasKnee Deep Vintage
Making an appearance in the top 20 at number 16 is Kokorokoko, Wicker Park’s unhinged neon playground. Full of pure unadulterated ’80s and ’90s pop-culture nostalgia, this spot is overflowing with bold geometric windbreakers, retro street style and quirky collectibles. It’s vibrant, loud and the perfect place to find an outfit inspired by the background extras from Saved by the Bell.
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Rounding out Chicago’s vintage victory lap at number 23 is Shangri-La Vintage in Roscoe Village. True to its name, this cozy treasure trove is jam-packed with ultra-curated, affordable fits spanning the ’50s to the ’80s. It’s the ultimate “I found this in a hidden vintage shop, you wouldn’t know it” destination.
But Chicagoans and other thrifters aren’t just shopping vintage; they’re turning it into a lifestyle. The Yelp data reveals a massive surge in post-thrift upkeep, with searches for “tailoring” (+111-percent), “refinishing” (+82-percent) and “bag restoration” (+77-percent) going through the roof. Shoppers aren’t just impulse-buying secondhand treasures, but also nursing these vintage scores back to health for the stylish long-haul.