This is one of my favorite stores and I haven't been there for a while, but since it's the holiday…read moreseason something called out to me with their decoration. Very nice things with prices that are matching with the value and the quality of the vintage items. if you want well crafted high-end items, come here. It's very inspirational for somebody like me who likes beautiful things.

Nothing special. Everyday items that can be found almost anywhere. The selection could be better…read morefor what you would expect to find on Charles St.

This vintage market is a total treasure trove!…read more There is no better cure for the Sunday scaries then perusing trinkets with your besties in the South End. This market was stacked with jewelry, prints, clothing, cameras, vinyls, and so much more. The layout is a little overwhelming and hard to navigate with large influxes of shoppers, however, it does force you to stay put a bit and do a bit more digging in sections. The staff was super friendly, especially the gentlemen who checked me out. I ended up going with this $10 Charlie Brown coloring book page from the 60s which is a great deal!

I came here on a Sunday with my friend. We initially thought they were only open while the other…read morewinter markets were but there's a sign that said they're open every Sunday all year long. My friend is an avid thrifter and she immediately knew this store was legit. A lot of stores claim to be thrifty and vintage but sell mass produced clothing brands. This one had very unique pieces, the items were priced fairly, and among the chaos, there was some order to where things were placed. Some of the sections belong to different people so definitely make your way around the entire store. The staff is very knowledgable and friendly. I could spend hours here, but we had other things on our agenda so we window shopped for a bit, but will eventually be back to purchase some items.

If you are looking for an antiques shop where the owner really knows their business, this is the…read moreone for you, even if you have to drive out to Brookline from Boston (not that far really.) Prices are very reasonable--they are not out to get you but to share their love of antiques with you--and the store encompasses a wide definition of what an antique really is. Sometimes an "antique" can be a lamp or table that is actually very modern in concept and history, but is not appreciated by many homeowners. The owner also has a very good sense of design, and if you tell her where the piece is going to go, she can advise you on whether it is the right choice. Highly recommended!

Apparently they were on Newbury Street for 20 years prior to moving to their current location in…read moreBrookline, where they've been since for another 20 or so (the commitment, as you can probably tell, is impressive to me). Autrefois definitely did not share the crowded, dusty feel most antique shops I've been to -- I can't profess expertise in the area, but the store seemed pared down without being austere. The pieces were all wonderful, and I know that at least some were artfully restored, so well, in fact, that I even asked the owner about the great condition of most of the things, and she was happy to show me exactly where certain pieces were restored (she seemed to indicate that they are sent off for professional restoration). It's worth noting that I didn't see a piece that was obviously restored, and everything had a great patina. As I told her, if I had the money, I would be a frequent patron!

I am so excited to see that European Country Antiques is still going strong in spite of pandemics,…read moreetc! I furnished a house with their amazing products about 15 years ago. Just sold the place over Labor Day, and the furnishings helped me close the deal. They're the perfect combination of not-too-fancy but add-warmth that I like. In addition to the furniture, the service is great. They referred me to a moving service that moved big, heavy furniture in driving rain with good humor and success. I'll be coming back soon!

Large furniture pieces with price tags to match. Antiquers beware: a lot of the pieces are…read moremix-matched butcher block style tops attached to separate bases. Also, lots of the hardware is not original. That being said, this is still a great collection for what it is: large scale, drool worthy furniture cuteness.

For such a small store, this place is PACKED with amazing pieces. I visited here for the first time…read morethe other day, after foolishly not bringing a jacket with me on a day trip in the area (thinking I'd be warm enough). I was getting lunch at a nearby spot and Googled some clothing places in the immediate area and Great Eastern Trading was first first to come up. It had good online reviews so I walked right over and I'm so glad I did! The customer service I experienced was absolutely phenomenal and I ended up leaving with a jacket that I am in love with. Next time I am in the area I will 100% be returning!

This store is a MUST if you're in the Central Square area. They have a great selection of leather…read morejackets, suit sets from the 60s/70s, accessories, etc. I went at around 12pm on a Wednesday and I was the only person in the store. The woman working there (so sorry I forgot her name) was knowledgeable and extremely friendly and I had a lovely time chatting with her. The prices were decent, with some affordable items and some more pricy pieces but nothing ridiculous like you'd see at other consignment shops in Boston. I'll definitely be back

This thrift store has a little bit of everything you could possibly think of from an extensive…read morecollection of clothing, shoes, books, as well as some household items, frames, plates, cups, self-care items like lotions and soaps (some of which could make nice gifts), games, puzzles, and more. Their pricing is also very reasonable, for instance, a leather jacket in great condition was only $12 and a nice set of hand creams was $5. I'd definitely come back to spend more time to look through all the clothing.

A bright and open space filled with books, shoes, and clothing. There's a very limited selection of…read morehome goods and accessories. I didn't take anything home this time around, but I'd definitely come back if I'm in the area.

Brought in an antique Pistillino lamp with Italian wiring that I had purchased while in Italy and…read morewanted to use in the US. Jerry was able to rewire it for American electrical outlets in about an hour for $75. Very glad to have his handy expertise in the area, as many of these skilled craftspeople seem to be retiring. It was an easy fix and not prohibitively expensive.

Fun is certainly the word! I had a blast hanging with Jerry while he expertly and efficiently…read morerepaired my lamp. Highly recommend!

I am sad to report that Steve Finberg, cofounder and longtime impresario of the MIT Electronics…read moreSwapfest, died on April 23, 2021. As it happens, I was just about to write him to ask what the plans were for reopening post-COVID. Steve was always in the public eye, enthusiastically promoting and administering the event, but was also an intensely private individual. His cheerful energy will be missed. The Swapfest was tentatively schedule to resume in mid-August 2021. Monitor the website for any updates.

Cool stuff, great prices. I got like 10 super cool antique radio switches for $5 and my friend got…read morea Leatherman for $3. If you've ever wanted to build your own radio, this is the place for you. There were also very cheap old PC components, perfect for restoration projects. There were fewer Apple components (as I would expect) but they were still very reasonably priced and in good condition for the most part. My only qualm was with the venders. For the most part they were kind and helpful, mostly nerdy in a charming way. There were, however, at least three instances where venders made very sexist, condescending remarks, such as "you should find a boyfriend who can teach you engineering," or "this isn't the place for a nice girl like you, with all these electronics!" Usually I could forgive this, and in all cases I informed them that I was in fact an engineer despite being a woman (a radical concept, I know), but in all cases, when I asked the prices of different components they gave me ones that were significantly higher than usual. I decided to do an experiment; I had my friend (a guy) go to one of the same venders and ask the price of the same component and the vender's price for him was lower (only by like two dollars, but still).