(1) OVERVIEW: Cure Thrift Shop is a large size thrift shop (vintage shop, second hand store, antique shop, consignment store) located near the Union Square subway station in the East Village area of Manhattan, New York. It sells gently used quality old items at its ground floor and the lower floor spaces. It was named "Cure" because the founder of this establishment wanted to donate the money for the diabetes research. This store's noble mission was first posted in the yelp review here on July 29, 2008 (over a decade ago).
(2) MERCHANDISES: Most of the merchandises are women's clothings. The more fancy ones and the feminine-looking fitting room are located on the lower floor, so make sure to check it out. Cure Thrift Shop also have vintage furnitures, men's clothings, household goods, kitchen items, jewelries, and even a few wall-mounted classic taxidermy artworks.
MEN'S NECKTIES: I saw a nicely selected men's neckties, that were carefully folded and displayed in the nice old wooden case here. This really talks to me regarding what level of quality of goods they handle, how carefully they take care of their goods, and how sensitively they display their goods for their valued customers. I love their attentions to the details. I love what they do here. The prices of these men's neckties here were NOT quite cheap. These simply have the Manhattan prices as expected. See my attached photo. (Also see my other very detailed review of the Goodwill Thrift Store, MyUnique Thrift Store, Buffalo Exchange thrift Store.)
NOTE: NECKTIES TALK TO US: I collect and often wear the men's vintage and vintage-style neckties of 1980s. They are extra wide, heavy, masculine, and powerful-looking. They are what I call "Power Neckties" and "Great Economic Boom Neckties" of the great economic boom era of President Ronald Reagan. He cut the tax for everyone AND we all kept more of our earnings in our pocket (even the government revenue doubled!). We were all happy! Sadly, the following US Presidents did not follow his path, and the Economical Recession came back AND the physical shape of the neckties changed to the narrower and weak-looking. Here is the reason why: People started buying less things during the Recession time. So, the necktie manufacturers had to use the smaller & thinner fabrics for their new neckties for making money to survive. They are the "Economic Recession Neckties" (of Clinton, Bush, and Obama Era). Money talks. Fashion talks. The men's neckties tell the nation's economic condition far more accurately than the news media or the words by those politicians of both sides.
NOTE: MEN'S SUITS TALK TO US: I also only buy and wear the 1980s' and 1980s style business suits even today. I hate today's "Miserable Recession Era Suits". Here is the reason why: President Barack Obama with his truly miserable Economic Recession Era made men's business suits shorter and smaller with the extra narrow lapels and less buttons. They use less fabrics and labors to make. As Obama himself proudly stated that he gave more people the Food Stamp in the history of this nation (because more people lost jobs under his Presidency AND he even doubled the national debt and made the dollar weak in the international market). The men's suits also do not lie about the nation's economic condition.
(3) AMBIANCE: This place is full of carefully selected and displayed gently used items. Some of the areas here are very tight, so, walk carefully. The warm lightings, display methods, and the grouping of the goods give you the nostalgic feelings of the old time. I particularly enjoyed those dozens of decorative balls attached on the ceiling like the late 1960s (Hippie Era) here on the ground floor.
(4) SERVICES: I have not purchased any items here yet to tell you the quality of their service at the front register. Nevertheless, as far as I saw other people visited here, it seemed the two ladies working here were average friendly and professional. One of them was curious enough to casually asked me about my sea rabbit. LOL
(5) SHOPPING TIPS: Most of the small size or small operated (with only one of two clerks) commercial thrift stores in this city usually have only one fitting rooms in the back. It is considered a common courtesy for you to inform the clerk that you are going to use the fitting room with up to 3 dresses. Even the giant thrift store chain Urban Jungle let you try only 3 clothings at each time, so, this seems a generally accepted business practice in this city. (The same can be said to the Goodwill Thrift Store by the Hoyt Schermerhorn subway station in Brooklyn and the MyUnique thrift store in Queens. See my detailed reviews of them). Needless to say, it is also a common courtesy asking the front clerk that you should leave your bag there or not immediately enting their establishment.
Dr. Takeshi Yamada and Seara (Coney Island sea rabbit)
My gorgeous 10 photographs were posted. read more