This is an incredibly special place that's difficult to put into words. Kept carefully secret for…read moredecades, and now only open few hours a day on a few days a week, when you come here please move carefully and slow and know that you are on some sacred old school Montreal hallowed ground. The Little Shop is tucked in an old Parc Ex residential duplex, the only sign there is a wonder world in here is the demurely open door a few afternoons a week. The collections fill every single room of the mainfloor, basement and second floor apartments. And I do mean collections: there is material behind this quiet, gritty, working class frontage for a massive fashion, fibres and collectibles history museum. A room devoted to antique lace? Midlength cocktail dresses? Picture frames? Crates of hundreds of vintage eyeglasses, bowties, bakelite, turn of the century hats, 100 year old Spanish hand embroidery? Yes, all of this and more. Though it's overwhelming, like every secondhand and vintage store you've seen has sucked and tucked the best of themselves into tight corners of this one building out of a sheer undeniable desire to be together, there is order. For example, a wall of carefully folded quilts greets you when you walk in, including beautiful historic pieces usually only seen in museums and in movies... Because the secret of the Little Shop is this: it's the private, professional renters that are it's original appointment-only clientele. The Cirque du Soleil comes here to rent costumes and set dressings, the McCord and other museums borrow from here to fill out exhibits, the Spiderwick Chronicles created rich fantasy worlds out of the goods hidden in the Little Shop. And they are often hidden: apparently props people are notorious for hiding their finds amidst the dusty bounty... and the staff laugh tolerantly when they find a room that's been tossed, as they begin the Sysiphian work of re-establishing order. The owner is kind, and incredibly wise about the history and value of her goods, generous in spirit with the young vintage kids who come find her these days, even the couture kids who dig and dig and leave with the same old brand name things. She is carrying on a tradition inherited from a generation before: truly brave, creative, inspiring parents who carefully opened their vast hearts to artists and cultures and taught generations of Montrealers about the stories and true blood and sweat values in these goods. Take a minute to have tea with the cool people hanging out there, if you're lucky enough to be offered one, and you'll be overwhelmed with stories of great Montrealers like Hugh MacLennan, you'll find out you're sitting next to a master laceworker, and you'll get a glimpse of a special beating heart that belongs only to this town.

THE LITTLE SHOP Open WedThursSat 2-5pm and sun noon-3pm…read more1002 Ogilvy (one street east of L'Acadie,one street north of JeanTalon) I first started shopping at The Little Shop over 30 years ago. It was a treasure trove during my rockabilly time: crinolines, bustiers, polka dot scarves, pointy kitten heels. Working in the fashion industry, it was a great place to buy inspirational pieces in design, and fabrication. My house has gone thru many changes with buys from the shop: lace tablecloths, chintz curtains, mid-century prints, tiny bedside tables. The big draw was the owner Ann Silverstone. A warm and curious woman she always made you feel welcome. And she always had a story about a piece or about someone who had come into the shop. She knew everyone in theatre and film ( renting out clothing and housewares) and had a tear sheet at the ready to share with those she knew "in the business". When she passed it was hard to go to the shop. One always expected to see her in her chair sorting thru her latest finds. But I did go back. I couldn't pass up those great items she had found. I am happy to say that the shop is thriving under the management of her daughter, Jill. And Ann's constant aid and companion, Phyllis, is also still "in the house'. You are still treated to tea and cookies in the afternoon. And you get stories on the old and new acquisitions. The clothes and hats and house linens have a little more organization. It was daunting to some on where to start. And the prices are still good (The prices are fair for their provenance ). There are kids clothes and dolls, sequinned jackets and vests, a room filled with lace and crochet, vintage ski sweaters and tweed jackets, shoes and hats and gloves, boxes and vases and books, buttons and pins and glasses, and friendly people with interesting stories to tell. It's still the best adventure in the city!

This place is incredible! Chock full of cool stuff, the decor is totally hip and the staff are…read moresuper pleasant, helpful and fun. I spent all of my remaining budgeted money there after a week in Montreal, and am heading straight back there first thing when I visit again next month! Thank you Folles Alliees!

I became a member about 2 months ago. I saw a few people sharing online review on instagram and had…read moreto check for myself. I brought my sister with me and now we go as a girl night out. I seem to always go on the same day, heard Saturday and Sunday are the best day. Because more people go on Friday and Saturday. I got my friend to sign up! Honestly it has change my closet I love to go thrift shopping but I come home to discover a broken stitch or a stain. I love that before making it to the shwapclub they have been inspected one by one. You still need to check your white because of fondation stains. I have been trying to have a more minimalist wardrobe so I pack a few bag of clothing items and give one to my sister and keep the other one. I love that any items is a credit, purse, jeans, bikini... not every item you will bring will get accepted they have to be in great condition, in saison and have style. They have 6 change room for you to try on before you use your credits. They accept any brand other then ones that have been closed. To make sure things are still up to date. You can pay for a membership or every time you go. The owner is so lovely, she was there to help tonight.

Shwap Club may seem like your average, young, hip vintage store, but don't be fooled. This place is…read morenothing short of revolutionary. How it works: Go through your closet, looking for gently worn clothes, shoes, purses and/or jackets. Like that gorgeous dress you bought on sale at Zara but don't really fit into anymore. Or that neon shirt your favorite aunt got you for Christmas but you never wore. As the saying goes, one woman's trash is another woman's treasure! Bring your goodies to Shwap Club, where a lovely girl will sort through your bag and give you one credit for every item that makes the cut. That means clothes in good condition without holes, stains, etc. Pay $12 per visit or $85 for an unlimited annual membership. Then, start treasure hunting! You can leave with as many items as your # of credits, no matter the type of clothing. The store is neat and cozy, with a mid-century sitting area in the front and curated clothes separated according to category and color. The experience is relaxing yet thrilling, as I never know what I will find. Updating my closet without spending a dime is awesome, but most importantly I'm glad that Shwap Club has made me more mindful of my spending habits, helping me contribute less and less to mass consumerism. It's made me that much more appreciative of our planet.

Local 23 recently moved to a new location a couple of blocks from the original, and while I will…read morealways mourn the never-ending charm of the Bernard spot, what with the fitting rooms made from a bathroom and a coat closet, the ceiling falling down and the floor coming up.... it was clearly necessary! The new space on Boulevard Saint-Laurent is gorgeous, and much easier to shop (as in no squatting down to look at racks) and has much more room in general. They've kept a few small elements of the old place (hilarious vintage decor) which I'm very happy about, because honestly, it was the second best part of the store! The quality of the vintage stock seems to have improved, in that the less interesting flimsy modern pieces are pretty much gone. Not much else has changed other than the name/branding ( Local x annex) -- they still do their 30% and 50% markdowns, and the pricing seems about the same. Hopefully the new store will have air conditioning in the summer!!

The store is well-curated (smallish). I visited several embarrassment of riches (and rags)…read moreestablishments in Montreal and this is not one of them. I left the store after purchasing two awesome, reasonably priced items. But then I had problems with my bixi (there's a station outside the store.) I went back into the store and the store clerk kindly let me use her phone to call bixi. (Thanks again!)

As a self-defined thrifter, one who takes pride in finding great clothes for great prices.. this…read moreisn't the place for me. It was hard to find anything under $20 (even used T-shirts!!!) so that was a little disappointing. The selection of denim jackets was exceptionally impressive though. But this is definitely a high end pricey shop. If you're looking for good bargains, I wouldn't recommend coming here. However, if you're looking to find unique items at any cost, this would be the place for you!

Bought a pair of high-waist jeans that fit me like a dream! Thrifting can always be hit or miss,…read moreand I happened to get lucky this time around. The employees are friendly, and I was able to easily try on clothing.

Not only do notice how clean, and tidy the store is, but you notice that there is no vintage store…read moresmell. The reason for that according to Billy, the amazing sales person I had is because the owners curate, and they have a person who just handles cleaning and making sure the garments are amazing before they're put out on the floor. What a concept. They have vintage Levi's, regular Levi's all kinds of lovely jeans, a great selection of cowboy boots a little bit of silver I didn't really look for anything else of options. Lots of fun choices in a small, neat and tidy space you have to go there. Their stuff is . And if you're lucky enough to get Billie to wait on you, she's a wealth of information and loves what she does. How lucky the owners are to have her.

From the owner: Americana vintage with a Montreal twist! Store specializing in vintage essentials (denim, tees,…read moreleather) and unique vintage pieces. Come visit us in store!

I am a thrifter and love finding local thrift shops whenever I'm on my travels...today we stumbled…read moreupon Eva B and it was such a delight Three words to describe this place: fun, quirky and nostalgic I was able to find a couple Disney vintage items and had so much fun combing the racks for more treasures. They have a wide selection and the items are well organized and maintained What's unique about this spot is they also have a cafe on the ground floor! My mom got a bowl of their soup and she gave it 2 big thumbs up ...the staff was also so welcoming and kind. If you're looking for a special place to see and shop while you're in Montreal, check out Eva B!

Very nice crowd. Bilingual! Thank you! Prepared me an excellent samosa and expresso, for about 4 or…read more5 CAD! Absolutely ridiculous! Their clothing, as a short figure male, wasn't desirable for me. However, the philosophy of the establishment was obvious and good. I would visit here often if I lived in Montreal!

Low prices and awesome selection! Owner was very nice and willing to negotiate prices.read more

Middle of the road thrift store…read more On one hand they have really great selection. But, am I interested to pay 150$ for a vintage dress because it's vintage silk...Maybe not. If you are grossed out by places like "village des valeurs" and renaissances. It's a great place for you since all the good stuff is already skimmed out. In fact, there is a few stores like this one almost neighbouring each other so if you want the full experience. Look around on Saint-Laurent. This is a great place for a stop.

So happy to see Eva D!…read more Love love love that Eva D is the elevated, curated version of Eva B. Eva B requires more digging for treasure. Curated vintage is a completely different vibe. I was in town for 48 hours and stumbled upon Eva D while showing my husband around the city. The store was well organized, fitting rooms were spacious. There was also a comfortable couch ( a must for any good store). The staff were friendly and very helpful. We found a great little 1970s dress that was perfect for the weather that weekend; and my upcoming trip to France. I highly recommend!

LOVE this chic vintage shop! Eva D is the more curated sister shop of Eva B. It has a more…read moreboutique, elevated vibe and it shows in the slight price increase compared to "B". The pieces here are more rare finds, more elegant, and higher quality. T-shirts here are like $30+ compared to $5 at "B". I got a cool cardigan for $45, but they also have nicer jewelry at $5-$10. Sales staff here is also awesome and friendly.

Annex Vintage is a vintage clothing shop in the Mile End shopping neighborhood. A nice selection…read moreof Montreal-based designers are housed here, such as clothing, leather bags, shoes, jewelry, accessories, as well as small gifts. I pretty much bought all of their Stay Home Club tops and canvas bags, as well as the Anabel Roy sweaters, as I just love the designs and the quality of the material. Prices are listed at the MSRP, so you won't see any obvious marked up prices on any of the items - yay! I also picked up some greeting cards and stickers that I fell in love with, which were also Montreal-based. They also had a little corner of cute pins that you can decorate your clothes and/or bags with. The staff here were super friendly and were all knowledgeable in terms of the information on the designers. Annex Vintage was definitely one of my favorite shopping stops :D +a great collection of Montreal-based designer clothing +unique Montreal-based greeting cards and stickers +adheres to the MSRP on all of their items +friendly staff

Out of the several boutiques I visited in the area, their selection particularly stood out to me…read more Many of the glassware and earrings were works of art and very different from the re-occurring styles that I had grown used seeing throughout my itinerary of vintage/indie boutiques. For whatever reason, the artists they carried just appealed to me the most - personal aesthetics I guess. I visited some of their websites later and was not surprised to see many of them working in other mediums and having professional portfolios. It's not cheap, but it's worth a look if you're in the area. There were a fair number of accessories and other home goods I could pass on, but the hits are worth the trip again. You can tell the owners spent a lot of time curating their collection thoughtfully. I will definitely be back for more fantastic finds on my next trip to Montreal.