Not much to look at, but Green Village Junk Shop gets the job done. — Photo by Diego Cupolo
Come thrifty shoppers, young and old,
Scour one man’s junk and find your gold!
As Summer turns to Spring, and the sun reaffirms its annual presence in our northeastern sky, who among us wouldn’t benefit from new summer clothes? The coats are being tossed in the closet, but what do you have to show for yourself underneath? Or maybe the apartment you just moved into (which you no doubt found on BushwickBK’s invaluable real estate section) is a bit scanty in regard to decorations, and could use some art work? How about cheap dishes, or used books? Oh, you’ve got all that. Can we interest you in a phonograph?
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For those who take part in the timeless poor man’s ritual of thrifting, there is no more paradisiacal a destination than Green Village Junk Shop on Starr Street (formerly in Williamsburg, before they were kicked out in 2004). Two sprawling rooms sit side-by-side (one for furniture, one for everything else) in a warehouse of more than 10,000 square feet, rows of seemingly endless aisles, stacked to the heavens with such an arraying variety of items that it would take days to sort through it all. That being said, there is an unusual level of organization to this layout, making it convenient for both the specific shopper and the general browser.
Open six days a week (all but Saturday), there is a surprisingly rapid rate of turnaround for such a large collection according to owner Sidney, so if something catches your eye, grab it while you can. Those hoping to sell/donate their own junk, however, will have to look elsewhere.
“Nah nah, we don’t do drop-off,” Sidney tells me, waving off the question as though it’s absurd to be asking. Everything they get is picked up from organizations, so don’t show up with your old Fraggle Rock tapes hoping to strike gold like I did (joking, joking…they were Heathcliff tapes).
If in the past you’ve considered this used-items scavenging practice too jejune for your tastes, maybe these financial times have made you reconsider. Fear not, wary shopper, there are more than enough styles of clothing, furniture, and knick-knacks to suit all tastes, from the traditional, to the vintage, to the hipsterish ironic, and it is very unlikely that you will leave empty-handed.
And for the thrifting veteran, beware the alluring pay-by-the-pound clothing deal (only $2.00 a pound if you buy at least five pounds worth!), which can leave you — once you’ve walked out of the building and come down from your treasure hunting-induced stupor — wondering how the hell you’re going to get it all home.
Green Village Junk Shop
276 Starr Street | 718-456-8844
Dirty Sanchez May 7th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Everything at this place has something broken on it. Look closely now..
devilducki May 7th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
The way everything is piled onto each other is actually amazing… Eddie Borros’ lateral wet-dream, for sure. Most of the stuff is reasonably priced, but if you come upon a piece that seems relatively overpriced, don’t be surprised (mostly the prints and artwork, in my opinion). And don’t expect to bargain down- they absolutely refuse, which is… strange, considering they probably paid little to nothing for the stuff they are selling.
Matt May 8th, 2009 at 10:16 am
SID!!!!! I used to love Sid’s when it was on Roebling. We picked up quite a few furniture items from there. Decent if not great prices.
But now? I personally think it blows mightily.
perennial May 10th, 2009 at 7:57 am
There are limits to Sidney’s visual astuteness and I have picked off some great items over the years that he did not value highly.
Dresden May 11th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Sidney is one tough mother. Tough tough tough. Roebling was weird – but this one is weirder. It’s just junk he gets from Jersey and PA, out on the island. What a freak show.
Professional Alternative May 12th, 2009 at 6:55 am
This place is difficult to search through but if you’re looking for something specific and you find it, it’s sometimes worth the time. I was looking for a ceramic carafe and found exactly what I was looking for, cool white 60s thing with a black lid. I was going to pay $5 no matter what, and was surprised when that was the price the guy quoted. So I just handed him the 5 and it’s been one my favorite serving pieces.
screamcreampuff May 13th, 2009 at 10:46 am
There is no bargaining whatsoever even if something’s clearly broken and overpriced which usually makes me think twice before going…I love looking through the piles of weird and often unexplainable junk however…
soma May 13th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
This place is an overpriced shithole and waste of time and space.
armstrong May 16th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Back in the DAY (early to mid 90′s) was Sid on Roebling or Driggs around N10th? I had friends who found great furniture pieces from the 60s and 70s there. Not anymore, nope.
Have to second what others have said, the selection these days is pretty unimpressive and Sid has NEVER been one to haggle, which I think is stupid.
Clearly he’s doing something right though, long as he’s been in business around north BK. It’s fun if you have some time to stroll through, but a good 80% of his inventory could be taken straight to the dump imho.
chillinoncentral July 21st, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I recently bought a tall floor lamp for $35 that looked like crap until I re-painted its stem bronze and cleaned up the glass bowl on top… it is now a beautiful addition to our living room. I’ve also picked up an old milk tin for $20 that needed only to be cleaned… and it now serves creatively and perfectly at our entrance as an umbrella holder. And then there is the bike that I bought as a gift for a neighbor’s kid for $30… he’s about 10 and never had a bike before… he loves that bike, it was a perfect little gift. So far I haven’t gone wrong here.