A vintage clothing and furniture flea market imported from Brooklyn recently failed in D.C. Why? A lack of vendors and subsequently customers. Does this town not appreciate vintage furniture and clothing? Maybe not as much as we should, but there are a few great spots in D.C. Here are DCist’s favorites.
Photo courtesy Hunted House.
HUNTED HOUSE: Here’s a big disclosure: I worked at this H Street NE spot for a few months. But for reasonably priced, midcentury furniture on a corridor that’s badly hurting for retail, Hunted House is the place to go. The store’s two levels feature dining sets, sofas, armchairs, lamps, credenzas, desks, a small selection of vintage clothing and smaller pieces. —Sarah Anne Hughes
MODERN MOBLER: If you’re ready and willing to invest in midcentury furniture, head to Modern Mobler. Their pieces regularly run over $1,000, but boy are they fabulous and, in many cases, rare finds. Doug the owner is extremely knowledgable and can point you in the right direction. —Sarah Anne Hughes
Modern Mobler is located at 7313 Georgia Avenue NW.
DR. K’S VINTAGE: Dr. K’s is basically my favorite vintage clothing store that I rarely ever buy anything at. In fact, I think I’ve ever only bought one shirt from there (and maybe a hat, or something), but I really love to visit it when I’m strolling along U Street. It isn’t that Dr. K’s is overly priced (for a legit vintage store, it’s moderately priced), it’s just that I could never pull off wearing anything they sell. Specializing in threads from the ’20s to ’80s (but none of the lame stuff), Dr. K’s is one of the best collections of vintage clothing in the city, I’m just too lame to pull off wearing of it. You probably aren’t, though. — Matt Cohen
Dr. K’s is located at 1534 U Street NW (Unit #1).
Courtesy Miss Pixie’s.
MISS PIXIE’S: Perhaps the most well-known vintage shop in town, Miss Pixie’s has been in D.C. since 1997, first in Adams Morgan and now on 14th Street NW. Packed with everything vintage from solid-wood dressers to shabby chi chairs to to old campaign buttons, there’s something at every price point. I recently walked away with a commemorative Harper’s Ferry plate and a South Pacific record. —Sarah Anne Hughes
Miss Pixie’s is located at 1626 14th Street NW.
MOM N’ POP ANTIQUES: Mom N’ Pop Antiques is more of a funky vintage shop than a fancy place your mom would go. Their hours vary but it’s full of interesting stuff from old record players and funky art to furniture and tchotchkes. It’s also right on the budding Georgia Avenue bar strip, so it can be a fun visit before or after a few weekend daytime drinks. Odds are you’ll find something reasonably priced too.—Andrew Wiseman
Mom N’ Pop Antiques is located at 3534 Georgia Avenue NW.
BENTLEY’S VINTAGE: Packed to the brim with items, Bentley’s Vintage is a little more upscale than Mom & Pop, but it’s a lot of fun to visit even if you aren’t buying. Everywhere you’ll look you’ll find something interesting. There’s also a fair amount of art from local artists, plus some fancy vintage clothes. —Andrew Wiseman
Bentley’s is located at 810 Upshur Street NW.
Photo by ekelly80.
THE FLEA AT EASTERN MARKET: With just one brick-and-mortar antique furniture store on Capitol Hill, the Sunday flea at Eastern Market is the best option for people searching for vintage furnishings and clothing. For the latter, there’s Buy My Tie, It’s Vintage Darling and Rock It Again. There are several options for furniture, including Neighborhood Furniture & Antiques, where I recently scored a beautiful midcentury credenza for a reasonable price. For smaller pieces and collectables, my favorite is Chez Marianne. —Sarah Anne Hughes
The Flea Market at Eastern Market takes place Sunday.
TREASURY: I have a complicated relationship with vintage clothing in D.C. (Please note that I’m not talking about consignment. That’s a whole different story.) I prefer a packed, musty vintage store to a curated boutique, which is what D.C. has. But if I had to pick one I’d go with Treasury. It’s a nice selection, the prices aren’t outrageous and the staff is super friendly. —Sarah Anne Hughes
Treasury is located at 1843 14th Street NW.
