Purchasing something used is a great idea for multiple reasons — two of which are the fact that it’s good for the environment and cost-effective. But let’s be honest, giving clothes, furniture, and decor a second chance at life is not just cheap + sustainable, but it can also be a really fun weekend event. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to know where to get the best deals and find the most unique pieces, especially with so many great places to shop throughout Essex County + Northern New Jersey. Luckily, we’ve rounded up some awesome places to thrift locally — whether you’re looking to buy something new or donate clothes + other household items. Keep reading for a list of thrift stores and consignment shops to visit in Northern NJ.
Be sure to check out our list of thrift shops in Hudson County.
2nd Street USA | 10 South Park Street
View this post on Instagram
2nd Street USA is a second-hand clothing chain with origins in Japan. New to the Montclair scene as of May 2023, this spot has a huge selection of styles, from streetwear to vintage to Japanese designer and luxury accessories. 2nd Street also has online selling + shopping options as well.
Beehive Thrift Shop | 123 Spring Street, Newton
This thrift store has everything from decorations to furniture, seasonal clothing to brand-new formal gowns. The Beehive Thrift Shop even has small appliances and antique items. Recent patrons have noted that the dressing rooms aren’t currently open. The friendly staff helps visitors find their own personal deals.
Bounce Mkt | 720 Monroe Street, Suite E410, Hoboken
Located in Hoboken, Bounce Mkt is a second-hand clothing shop for children. The business buys and sells pre-used children’s clothing. These items are in gently-used condition and from beloved brands. The clothing is thoroughly inspected and laundered. Once this process is over, the clothing is put out for other children to use and wear for a second chance at life.
Little Treasure Thrift Shop | 2 Maple Avenue, Montclair
This thrift shop sells both vintage and modern clothing along with some home decor. Plus, every Saturday from 11AM to 4PM, Little Treasure Thrift Shop runs free Arts & Crafts classes for kids between the ages of 3 and 12. This is not the store’s only community initiative — just recently, Little Treasure gave away free school supplies to those in need. Plus, the shop has also been known to have some beautiful African fabrics and head wraps for sale.
Read More: A List of Must-Shop Boutiques in Montclair
New Leaf Consignment | 16 Park Avenue, Madison
View this post on Instagram
Designer brands are available here and the options seem almost endless. There are different sizes available, and the friendly staff is there to always make sure guests see what they need. New Leaf Consignment also has seasonal consigning periods to sell clothes, including designer brands. Co-owner Stephanie Vezza also offers fashion consulting services for those interested in being styled by a professional.
Plato’s Closet Fairfield | 137 US-46, Fairfield
View this post on Instagram
This thrift shop is full of so many amazing finds. What’s even better is that visitors can actually sell clothes to Plato’s Closet and receive cash right on the spot — just don’t spend it all in one place. There are other locations in New Jersey, as well, including Edison, Middletown Township, Ledgewood, and more.
Renaissance Consignment Boutique | 410 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood
Renaissance Consignment Boutique is a favorite among visitors. Here, guests can find a great selection of designers and options, so there is really a gem for everyone. Many love to visit the downstairs area which has great options of artwork, furniture, decor, and more. Two sisters run this boutique and focus on women’s clothes on the main floor.
ReStyle ReSale Boutique | 127 Main Street, Andover
View this post on Instagram
Visitors love searching the racks for the best vintage and lightly-used pieces. ReStyle ReSale Boutique has a great array of vintage costume jewelry, unique decor, fashion hats, clothing, and more. This boutique has a great vibe and people enjoy coming back to check out the latest finds.
Save + Rave Consignment | 615 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield
View this post on Instagram
Save and Rave Consignment is owned by Alonya, a woman who loves both fashion and the arts. Save and Rave sells women’s new, vintage, and gently loved clothing + accessories — and it’s packed full of fun and unique finds. It’s open Thursday through Sunday.
Sprouts Consignment Shop | 322 Main Street, Madison
View this post on Instagram
Sprout’s Consignment Shop offers childrenswear and maternity items. This shop has a robust list of lovable brands including Adidas, Burberry, H&M, Lily Pulitzer, and more. There tends to be a seasonal sale every few months to make way for new items. What’s great is that sellers (or consignors) receive a certain percentage of the selling price depending on the item.
Toni’s Closet | 73 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair
Toni’s Closet opened in 2020 as a part of Toni’s Kitchen. With donations of gently used clothing, toys, and home items, the homeless, near-homeless, and low-income communities are able to shop for the items needed to ensure they can be met without judgment.
The Westfield Service League | 114 Elmer Street, Westfield
View this post on Instagram
The Westfield Service League is kicking off its 90th year of service and reopens its doors on September 8th after having been temporarily closed. The Westfield Service League has been donating its proceeds to a host of non-profits throughout Westfield and Union County, so shopping here is beneficial in multiple ways. It sells both new and gently used clothing. The shop is always looking for people to sell clothing — to find out how to consign at The Westfield Service League, click here.
See More: A Look Inside Hoboken’s St. Mary Advocates Thrift Shop
West Village Clothing | 410 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood
View this post on Instagram
West Village just officially reopened for fall with a host of different clothing items for the colder months. Owned by Sarah Hayden, this shop sells casual women’s (and some juniors’) clothing and accessories. West Village is currently accepting fall and winter consignments, but anyone interested in selling their clothes must make an appointment to do so. The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Woodstock Vibes Thrift Store | 3235 NJ-94, Franklin
View this post on Instagram
The vibes at this thrift store are top-notch, especially the funky, colorful bug car in the front of the store. Visitors enjoy the clothing choices on the racks as far as the eye can see. One note is that prices may be a bit higher than other options.
Before the Internet Hype, This New Jersey Cafe Drew Its Inspiration from Wicked
There's a lot of holding space for the belting banger, "Defying Gravity," in the new hit movie, Wicked. But for those local to New Jersey, you may already know that there's a cafe and bakery in Pequannock, New Jersey already dedicated to its mission. Gina Cassesse, a 5th-generation Italian chef opened her shop Defying Gravitea in May of 2023, dedicated to serving gluten-free and dairy-free treats, with a mission to show that there are "no limits" to eating foods without dairy or gluten. Over the last few years, Defying Gravitea has become a staple for those looking for delicious eats in the New Jersey area — especially if gluten-free, celiac, or dairy-free. Located at 211 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Pequannock, this cozy café is entirely gluten- and dairy-free, with every dish made from scratch in small batches with locally-sourced ingredients. But long before the Wicked internet hype and press tour, Defying Gravitea was just one New Jersey woman's dream of being limitless when it comes to allergy-friendly eating.
The Journey to Gluten-Free
Gina Cassesse has been gluten-free since 1993, which, in the '90s, was a difficult feat given the lack of availability of food choices. As a 5th-generation chef, being in the kitchen with family and food had always been a prominent part of Gina’s life. Growing up, she worked in her family’s restaurant where she learned to cook, butcher, bake, and the essentials of day-to-day operations, but then moved into a corporate job in the food industry.
^Gina with her son Nicholas, who helps run the food truck portion of the venture — a true family affair
At her corporate position, she was on a special catering team for VIPs and ran dining services for a large university, as well as cooking for many celebrities such as Phil Simms, Margaret Thatcher, as well as Governor Phil Murphy and former Governor Chris Christie.
Climbing the corporate ladder over 15 years, Gina became tired of the "limits" as she describes them, and felt her true passion was in food, having learned alongside her father for years, but also in sharing her own allergy-friendly recipes. "I was there for 15 years. During that time, I learned I was intolerant to gluten and dairy and had an autoimmune condition." This, in part, she says, inspired her to take some of her family's traditional Italian recipes and treats and work them into new gluten- and dairy-free versions.
"I had learned from my father for years, so it was a natural shift. I wanted to show the world that eating dairy- and gluten-free doesn't have to limit you," she explained. But after leaving corporate and working in the restaurant industry in a different way, she decided she wanted a place of her own, and to show that gluten- and dairy-free eating doesn't have to "not be cardboard-flavored," (her words — not ours!). Gina decided to create her own cafe, opening Defying Gravitea in Pequannock, where she resides. She now runs it with her son, Nicholas — the 6th generation.
Read More: All the Gluten-Free Eats in the Montclair Area
Why Wicked-Inspired?
The outside of Defying Gravitea when it first opened.
Fun fact, per Gina: the spatula in the logo is Elphaba’s broom, and the cup is Glinda’s bubble.
Over the last few years, Defying Gravitea has become a staple for those looking for delicious eats in the New Jersey area — especially if gluten-free or celiac. It's an entirely dedicated kitchen, with every dish made from scratch in small batches with locally-sourced ingredients (Gina even gets gluten-free flour from Italy — it's better and much purer, she shares). But something that those who aren't familiar with Wicked may not know, is that it the inspiration behind Gina's creation.
"I saw Wicked over 20 years ago with the original cast, and it was so inspiring," Gina shared. "Around 11 years ago, I was going through a rebuild of myself, and that song got me through every single day. I would sing and cry, and when I stopped crying while singing — I knew I had evolved into the new version of myself." This, she says, inspired her to want to name her cafe Defying Gravi'tea' — a play on her favorite song.
Before All the Hype
It's no doubt that the Wicked trendiness has become international buzz around the internet. But before all of that, Gina was already serving up a hearty breakfast and lunch menu and providing in-house catering for special events and carry-out dinners, too, all with Wicked's mission in mind. The cafe recently launched its new event space, The Cottage House for special and intimate events including bridal and baby showers, birthdays, and more — and a food truck launched this fall 2024.
Defying Gravitea has a thoughtfully crafted menu that features unprocessed, farm-fresh ingredients and is entirely gluten- and dairy-free (GF/DF). Each dish is made from scratch, using whole ingredients and old-world grains (gluten-free flour even sourced in Italy!) to create meals that are both nourishing and delectable. She also has a full Defying GraviTEA line.
“We offer foods that are always fresh, made-to-order,” Gina shared with The Montclair Girl. “Though our bakery is dairy- and gluten-free, we assure you it’s got fat, sprinkles, and taste!”
The breakfast menu has a selection of hearty and comforting dishes. Think fluffy flourless oatmeal pancakes, savory breakfast crepes filled with house-made Goffle Farm chicken sausage crumbles, eggs, spinach, and DF cheddar cheese. You'll also find favorites like avocado toast on house-baked bread, egg sandwiches, + house-made banana bread. For lighter options, the menu also includes sweet potato and chia seed parfaits, waffles, granola, and made-to-order omelets.
For lunch, the menu features a range of sandwiches including the Bacon + Bleu, made with turkey bacon, sautéed onions + raisins simmered into a jam, and topped with bleu cheese. Other options include a chicken cutlet sandwich, a classic parm sub, seasonal salads, and flatbread pizza with fire-roasted tomatoes, house-made ricotta, and farm pesto, as well as eggplant caponata + chicken salad.
But the real clincher is dessert — decadent cakes, breads, scones, muffins, and brownies, all that taste like you're eating the real thing (trust us on that). Eating here really feels limitless when you're lactose or gluten-intolerant — a true testament to the fact that Defying Gravitea was just one New Jersey woman's dream coming to fruition: being limitless when it comes to allergy-friendly eating.
Defying Gravitea is located at 211 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Pequannock. Call 862-226-9692 for any questions, email [email protected], or visit the site for more info.
