For such a small store, this place is PACKED with amazing pieces. I visited here for the first time the 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! read more

This store is a MUST if you're in the Central Square area. They have a great selection of leather jackets, 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 read more

Absolutely awesome vintage store. This place is a Cambridge INSTITUTION: They've been in business for like fifty years. The store always has a huge selection of vintage clothing that always straddles the delightful line between stylish and absurd. When I've come in I've been helped by Emily, one of the nicest employees I've had the pleasure to meet. The store runner has lots of connections and manages to get all sorts of cool stuff that you won't be able to find anywhere else. If you're looking to add some edge or flare or excitement to your wardrobe this is the place to go!! read more

A MUST DO! I watched The Woodstock Concert for the umpteenth time. I thought of how Cool Jimi Hendrix & Roger Daltry of The Who both looked with those long Fringed outfits swaying to the music. I'd love to get a vest like that. I'm sure it's going to be Impossible to Find. I was driving by Central Square in Cambridge & something was telling me to come into The Great Eastern Trading Company so I stopped. I had never been to this shop before but passed it many times. What a Cool Store with a great selection of vintage items for men & women. After browsing the racks of great Merch, Low & Behold I didn't find a vest but something way better a jacket that fit me perfectly. What's the chance of that happening? It was a brown suede vintage jacket in Excellent condition with extra long fringe just like those Rock Legends @ Woodstock. Super Cool Find! I'm Stroked. I cant believe I own this & can't wait to wear it to a Cool Place or a Concert. If you are looking for some cool vintage items be sure to check this place out. They also have very Friendly Staff here. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget! read more

Great stuff, lots of 60s and 70s clothes really cool inside and friendly staff too. Lots of variety.

Unique selection of vintage clothes!! Prices aren't super unreasonable. Very friendly employees!!

The name doesn't really hint at what it carries, but the window displays and mannequins always put a smile on my face as I walk past during my daily commute. This is a cozy, well-edited consignment store. They carry men's and women's clothes and lean towards the retro (funky printed button-up shirts for men, bold neon tops for women), sequins (in pretty much any color), and costumes (who doesn't need a belly dancing outfit or liquid leggings with posterior corset lacing from ankle to mid-thigh?). Prices top out around $40 for the women's stuff as far as I can tell. Currently, I felt there was a lot of love for the 70s and 80s when I was poking around. There were furs and leopard print and lace. There's always A rack of stuff under $10. I can't wear the majority of this stuff at my professional place of work, but it'd be fun to pick up something for the weekend or if you're looking for a costume. There are a couple of women I see often who I presume own/run the store and they seem very nice. read more

Very nice employees. I love the random items. Great thrift store with very special items. I'll be back in 10 days for summer clothing. Thank you read more

I'm a lady who attends frequent theme parties and thus am glad I have a local go-to place for all of my stewardess uniform, Cosby sweater, and cartoonishly large snowman needs. All items I needed quickly and were able to purchase on the fly at Great Eastern Trading Company. My most recent experience had my searching for the perfect flapper costume for my Speak Easy party. Great Eastern had all sorts of vintage flapper dresses (along with some standard costumes) headdresses and accessories. More importantly, it has a great staff who offered advice on what worked for me and what did not and creative advice on how to make my costume top notch and authentic. Most items seem to be less than $40.00 and they offer fun and beautiful hats, jewelery and dresses I'd wear on a regular basis. But, really, if you need a costume this is your place-who hasn't always wanted a Hawaiian shirt, cowboy boot, and burlesque santa joint? read more

This is a totally happening place for anyone loving vintage clothes, costumes and accessories. I look a lot better at parties since discovering this local favorite, a prime destination for costume shopping and stocking up on vintage clothes. It's a small shop, just about five minutes away from the heart of Central Square, and overflowing with costumes, treats from Granny's attic and everything else that you need to transform your luscious self into a lusty pirate, a 1920s movie star, Marie Antoinette, a belly dancer or a sequined drag queen. (Yes. we have gone down these pathways.) The staff is friendly and the prices are really decent. I found a stunning silk jacket from Bergdorf Goodman, a coat from Paris and a skirt from Italy that spoke to me with great sincerity in assorted languages that only I could understand. The fabrics these pieces are made out of are simply stunning. Check this place out for your dress up needs and vintage shopping. Or if you want to make a serous impression. read more

This place had pretty masquerade masks. It made us want to go to a masquerade party. I think I will throw a masquerade party. Maybe someone will invite me to masquerade party? Deep Thoughts By Annie P. (italics) Thank You. (/italics) read more

Ran into fellow Yelpers (hm hm...Ligaya "rhymes with papaya") picking up last minute dresses for Prom. The selection...surprisingly available. For all those curious parties, I put together that flirty Madonna ala Like A Virgin outfit and all the little knick knacks here. It was so fun playing dressup I coincidentally incurred a $100 parking ticket....oy, stupid police station next door. Be careful parking in Central Square!! The clothes ranged from costumes to everyday wear (none for rent), the accessories were wide and varied, nothing was picked over and that's most likely because prices always hovered around $25-30. However, if you're seeking that something truely special, like a sequined taffeta skirt with white lace up gloves, this could be the place for those would be fabulous finds. read more

There are truly great vintage pieces here for a pretty good price (Super sexy black leather lace up shorts for $30...lots of Michael Jackson-esque sequin jackets for less than $50). So this place definitely warrants a visit if you're on the hunt. But I'm only giving it three stars because I think the curation is not that great. Ie, it's small and cute like a boutique, but the clothing is not all nice and cute...they carry a lot of ridiculously tacky items, which is a definite pro if you're looking for costumes but a definite minus if you're trying to find wearable clothing. read more

Love the windows. Thats about it! I've been in a few times and not felt welcome. I don't know why, maybe because i'm a trans women or the women who work their have no people skills. Oh, don't waist your time if your over a size 8. read more

this place is DOPE got my halloween costume here and the people working were like my personal stylists. so nice so fun fairly priced quality vintage 10/10 and i was on project runway so... read more

I always worry about telling kids at school about this place or they'd take all the good stuff! But they restock often enough and the ladies that work here are always friendly. I love cowboy boots and this place has a ton, though I've never purchased a pair. I'm primarily into eighties fashions which can be hard to find in good quality because it tends to be cheap. However, every time I come here I find something I love to take home. If my boyfriend were a bit more adventurous I'd take him with me since they have some really great men's pieces too. Favorite purchases: 1) Gold Lame party dress. Though it was sixty bucks and a little cheap (its lame after all) it's so unique with a huge full skirt and beautiful sweetheart neckline. I can't wear this thing without smiling from ear to ear. 2) Then there's the mohair sweater. I'm crazy about mohair and this one has color-blocked white mohair cutting though a bright turquoise knit. I look like a golden girl from the future in it, but in a totally wonderful way. If that sounds totally unappealing, then yeah, this place is a bit costume-y and a bit more outlandish. If you want really practical vintage pieces then by all means, sift through Goodwill. But if you want wardrobe defining statement pieces, this place has some great stuff if you have the patience to come look and come often. read more

Not the kind of place you go looking for something in particular, but the place you go to for inspiration or just to explore. Tiny but packed to the brim with all sorts of vintage and outrageous costume-y goodness. Disappointingly, it is mostly women's stuff but us boys just have to get used to the injustice we face when shopping. A great place to wander into when you're with friends. read more

I went into Great Eastern Trading today, the Saturday before Halloween, to get a last minute Halloween costume. The moment I walked in employees jumped to help me, which was awesome because I had just left Party City and was pretty frustrated. They didn't end up having what I needed on the main floor but they had it downstairs in storage, so I'm pretty sure the owner himself went downstairs and searched for what I needed until he found it. Then as soon as he was done helping me he immediately jumped to help another customer, getting really into helping them design their costume. You can really tell he and all the other employees there cared and were extremely welcoming which is so rare these days! read more

Past its prime - nothing here is true vintage, just 70s-80s polyester and sequinned tacky costumes. Good for ballroom dancers I guess.... Fine if you need an overpriced beaded 80s dress to somehow wrangle into looking like its 20s, but don't waste your time - go to the Garment District instead. Plus the owner is not exactly welcoming. read more

I visited this spot today for the first time and completely fell in love! As soon as I walked into the door, I knew I was in for a treat. Super organized and pretty cheap, which is always a plus. Every single piece in there is so beautiful and unique, I found at least one thing (if not three or four things) on every single rack that I browsed through. There are so many different styles of clothing and shoes, I am positive that anyone who goes in there and really looks can walk away with something! They also have this clearance rack that has pieces going for as low as $5! I definitely recommend checking this place out! read more

This is a really great vintage store with a wide selection of clothes--from fun to more serious couture. (But not haut, so don't worry about affordability.) The current owner clearly loves his business, and is honest in his pricing. I greatly respect him for taking on this "vintage" store and making it better than ever. Can't recommend it enough. read more

Truly unique gems and vintage finds! I got an amazeballs vintage 80's (think Golden Girls in their prime) frock for an upcoming themed wedding and am heading back for more. I even brought the groom on one trip and he picked up a sweet ruffled shirt that might be sported the big day. Don't forget to check out the accessories! I picked up some awesome holiday gifts here (tiger and rhino rings?! YES PLEASE!) Every era is covered and at incredibly fair price points. Great spot, great staff, and just a fun place to check out, you won't be disappointed :) read more

This place is genius! It's cute, well-organized, CHEAP, and has some amazing pieces. I've often found cute tops or jackets for $10-$15! They have awesome rotating racks that keep everything tidy. The unfortunate thing is that they cater to the Halloween masses in the fall, so go in November or the Spring when the owner can exercise her love for vintage. read more

I visited this store for the first time in YEARS, and was quickly reminded that it is a very special place. The new owner is certainly keeping it alive, which is refreshing as these rare vintage stores are becoming extinct. I was not planning on buying anything, yet found 2 pieces that fit me perfectly. Both designer items, but one vintage piece that seemed like it was just hanging out on the rack, waiting for me for 30 years. The owner was extremely friendly, but not pushy, and gave me space to try on various pieces. He was honest, and I could tell he wasn't trying to sell just to sell, which I really appreciate! This is a very welcoming and fun store, and if you want to find something unique and awesome, or hang out with a unique and awesome person, go check it out! (my 1st yelp review) read more

I got a Tokyo Baseball Team Shirt here. A Fantastic Kimono (which later proved to be worth mucho Dinero), and the best Leather Trenchcoat I've ever owned. I can't say much more than that, except they have great stuff here. You don't have to wade through acres of junk to find the good stuff. read more

I came in here with some friends a couple weeks before Halloween after driving by many times and being delighted with the bountiful petticoats hanging outside. It's like the grandmothers attic I never had!! So many great costume pieces, fun jewelry and accessories, and due to the season a great selection of pre-assembled costumes. The women working there were very helpful and fun and assisted in my search for "Clark Kent-like" glasses for my boyfriends costume by providing me registered trademark "Clark Kent Glasses." Bingo! My friends and I admired their beautiful selection of masks and belly dancing apparel too. Quite the selection! I definitely a trip in, even if its just to look! read more

This place is so random, but I love browsing. I must admit that I haven't actually bought anything here yet, but I plan to get my Halloween costume here. I live close by and I'm always drawn in by the funky pieces in the windows/sequined leotards hanging from the outside wall. Some stuff is cheap, some is expensive, I think it's all hit or miss. If you've ever been to a vintage shop on Haight Street in SF then you know exactly what this place is all about! read more

Great place to find time accurate costumes, or just for fun! Would have been lost if not for Daphne. She helped us pick the most perfect Disco-era outfits. We will be coming back to do mascaraed next. read more

I came here in a pinch! I needed a shirt for an event and was running late. The store was closing and I barely made it. At most establishments, staff might be a little annoyed at a customer showing up 5 minuets before closing on a Saturday night. This was not the case at Great Eastern Trading Co. Not only did they welcome me in, they personally helped me pick out a shirt. Neph (the owner I'm guessing) must have had me try on 15 shirts of every style to help me find the right one. Through the whole experience, I didn't feel rushed and had a very nice experience. I'm glad to say that with good advice from the staff, I got a very nice shirt and the best part was that it was MUCH less expensive than I expected. In fact, all the prices were right here. Please go and check this place out....Selection A+.... Prices ..... A+... and most importantly, customer service A+++! read more

If you're a fan of the wilder, funkier side of Garment District you'll love this place. They've got great vintage, costumes, accessories and jewelry. Items are in generally good condition, prices reasonable and the owner (?) is quirky and fun. Kudos on the interesting displays too. read more

This was another great resource as i search for 1920s era costumes for my short film. The eccentric window display of belly dancers and pirate maidens is hard to miss from the street. Inside, you'll find a great collection of vintage clothing from all different eras. The owner was extremely helpful in tracking down clothes that had the right look for my needs. Located a short hop from the Central Sq T stop, i strongly suggest you visit this place. read more

This store is a hidden gem. Less than a 10 minute walk from Central Square (and the Red Line), Great Eastern Trading Company is a fun mish-mash of costume pieces, including basics, like masks and gloves, as well as new and vintage clothing. The window displays were enough to draw me in, and the woman at the counter is as interesting as her store! Check this place out the next time you need an outfit for a theme party, your band, or just an interesting night out. read more

I'm surprised I bought something here! It's a pretty eclectic place, adorned with belly dancing costumes and jewelry, vintage dresses (cha! cha! sequins galore!) and other pieces, even a respectable men's collection! In fact, even though the space is small (::claustrophobes beware::), the guys can take pride in a great selection of leather jackets and novelty shirts. I was impressed when I found a long red suede vest with gold detailing and black leather trim for just $20. Unusual it 'tis and with that Middle Eastern flare, I know no one else will have it. read more

Great selection of vintage clothing and the owner, Neph, is super helpful and friendly!

terrific array of womens and mens vintage. Exquisite vintage dinner jackets for men. Small stock of bellydancing costuming as well. Tons and tons of fun read more

Fabulous spot full of many awesome treasures. The owner, Neph, is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Friendly, welcoming and all around fun person with a great heart. Not to be missed! read more

this place is ridiculous/hilarious/amazing. If you love to dig through racks of vintage goods...then its worth your while. From the amazing collection of polyester men's clothing...to gorgeous brocade 50's dresses, you can find just about anything here with a little digging. An no, of course its not for everyone...but neither is the gap, or Gucci, or any other clothing stores... there isn't "something for everyone" here unless you are a person who has a flair for the eccentric, vintage, costumey, or ridiculous. I love looking through all the great jewelery & accessories, and the staff is always super friendly & let you try on outfit after outfit and offer helpful & honest opinions from what needs tayloring...to what makes you look like a washed up tranny crackhead mess (gold Lamé can have that effect), which is greatly appreciated. If you're in the 'hood, stop by. read more

Lose yourself (yes, I think this is literally possible) in vintage clothing. Also carrying funny wigs, cowboy duds, funky jewelry, and yes, some belly dance costuming. One of the establishments that makes River Street so uber-cool. read more

I really wasn't crazy about this place--it was awkward being in there alone with the sales clerk, and I was not at all impressed with the selection. A lot of cowboy boots, a lot of sequins, nothing really suitable for anything except costumes. I'd skip this one, unless you're going to a fancy dress ball or a halloween parade. read more

This store has a lot of neat stuff, although not many vintage (1960s) dresses (which was what I was looking for). There seem to be a lot of belly dancing items, good costume pieces, '80s attire, and lots of great crinolines. The person who worked there was busy with other things, so I didn't get much help, but I was grateful to get a recommendation for another nearby store with a great vintage dress selection. Definitely a fun place worth checking out for unique clothing and costume items. read more