Viola's Vintage opens in Roslyn with secondhand finds
Owners Daniel Knors and Stephanie Rodriguez in their Roslyn boutique, Viola’s Vintage. Credit: Viola’s Vintage
Secondhand clothes in first-rate condition are fashion staples for Stephanie Rodriguez and Daniel Knors.
Gently used pieces that are still going strong now are at the heart of their retail venture, Viola’s Vintage in Roslyn, which opened May 2. Named after Knor's paternal grandmother, who’s about to turn 100, the shop is all about style and sustainability.
"We’re taking all these surplus items that are just hanging around and giving them new life, a new home, a new purpose," Knors, 36, says. "We’re here to bring all that to you."
Inside the airy retail space showcased by two bay windows, shoppers will find merchandise and a vibe that’s "curated vintage cool for the whole family," says Rodriguez, 33, who grew up in Queens and went to high school in Centereach. "We have a lot of unisex pieces and children’s clothes. We want to really stick to natural fibers, like cotton, silk, linen and wool."
She and Knors, also from Queens, have been based in Huntington for the past six years. They are both seasoned second-handers. They’ve sold items on Depop and eBay for five years. Rodriguez is a digital designer and Knors works in stage construction. Family, friends and others will help run the retail shop, they said.
The couple sources their items from flea markets, estate sales and vendor pop-ups in New York, Connecticut and beyond. They enjoy the thrill of the hunt.
"We went on a trip to Arizona last month for our store opening," Rodriguez says. "We shipped back 300 pounds of clothes. We got very lucky out there and are excited to bring everything to the store."
The shop’s selections include vintage slip dresses ($50 and up), denim and leather jackets (starting around $85) and jewelry ($100 and up). The store also features a small selection of mid-century modern furniture and lamps, physical media including VHS tapes and cassettes and collectibles.
While the brick-and-mortar store is a new endeavor, its philosophy is business as usual. "I would say, 99% of our wardrobe is secondhand," Rodriguez says. "It’s definitely a lifestyle."
Viola’s Vintage, 1324 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn; Instagram: @violasvintageny.
