Hudson Valley thrifting day trip: Shop secondhand stores for treasures

Spring is a time of new beginnings. It’s also a time for new clothing and gear such as bicycles, tools and toys. Sure, you could head over to your local big box store and stock up — or go online to do the same — but there’s nothing like a thrift store to fulfill your wish list and save a little cash. In fact, one recent study by Capital One found that thrift shoppers save an average of $1,452 per year buying secondhand and 93% of Americans shop online for secondhand items.

The lower and middle Hudson Valley are good places to start your thrifting journey. These areas boast independent and chain thrift stores that are chock-full of merchandise, said Samantha Davis, the owner of The Ultimate NYC Secondhand Shopping Experience, a New York City thrift store tour.

"We are hard-wired to want to dispose of what no longer serves us, and society has taught us to do so regularly, particularly with the messaging around spring cleaning," she said. "Once temperatures are palatable and ‘spring forward’ kicks in for an extra hour of light, homes get turned upside down and items are reviewed to keep, trash or donate. If you're on the lookout for one-of-a-kind finds and valuable items at a steal, you're guaranteed to find more treasures during and after spring cleaning season wherever you shop secondhand."

Davis said all you need to do is make a list and get out there. She suggests checking smaller, mom-and-pop thrift stores first since they are less picked-over. No matter where you end up, you can take the money you’re saving by buying secondhand and use it to turn your weekend shopping trip into a mini getaway.

Rockland County

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 1 hour away 

Nearby Rockland is a good starting point on your thrifting journey. Plus, if you begin in Rockland and head to Westchester next, you can make it home in time for dinner. Or, stay over in Tarrytown and continue your trip the next day.

If you’re looking for an old-school thrift option, try Grace’s Thrift Shop (10 S. Broadway, 845-358-7488) in Nyack. The store was founded in 1968 by the city’s Episcopal Church to support a day care center, but today it funds more than 20 local charities.

The store is open Wednesday from 1:30 to 4 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop feels like a bit of a treasure hunt, and pricing is what you would expect from a thrift store. Since the locals love Grace’s they are loyal and generous so there’s always new stock coming in. They get so many donations that they often have to ask people to stop donating for a bit — something that happened this March. In addition to clothing, look for home goods and vintage toys, children's books and scarves.

Westchester County

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 1 hour away 

There are dozens of thrift spots in Westchester County, including corporate options like Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers and Value Village locations, but there are a few standout independent options.

Golden Shoestring (149 Larchmont Ave., Larchmont, westchesteronthesound.jl.org) is run by the Junior League of Westchester on the Sound. The store has been around for more than 60 years and is consistently named one of the best thrift stores in the region. It’s open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Since the store is nonprofit — proceeds go to fund scholarships and community grants — you’re likely to find high-end and designer clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories at reasonable prices. Think trendy items like Roller Rabbit and Anthropologie.

Hard goods are available, too. Look for housewares like Depression-era glass and Lenox place settings. And since it’s run by a women’s group, the presentation is more upscale boutique than dig-through bins — a plus if you just want to browse. "Many of our items are new with tags," said Debra Quintana, the store’s manager. "We even have people who own thrift stores in Brooklyn coming and buying to resell."

Your next two stops on the Westchester circuit are in Tarrytown. The Cherry Door and Pretty Funny Vintage are as different as can be, but both are worth a look.

The Cherry Door Thrift Shop, in the Tarrytown historic district (36 Main St., 914-631-0470, thecherrydoor.org), is run entirely by volunteers. All proceeds go to the Phelps Memorial Hospital Center. Open Tuesday through Friday from noon until 3 p.m. and Saturdays from noon until 4 p.m., The Cherry Door accepts donations of antiques, furniture, china, jewelry, books, upscale or vintage clothing, luggage, electronics, appliances, tools, art and housewares. The store is packed, and you can spend an entire afternoon sorting through apparel and looking at art. You’re just as likely to find a pair of UGG boots as you are a sterling silver bracelet or a vintage Coach bag. Prices aren’t cheap, but the quality is high so there’s always that tradeoff.

Pretty Funny Vintage (80 S. Broadway, 914-631-3368, prettyfunnyvintage.com) is a short walk from The Cherry Door. The store, set in an 1890s Victorian home, is filled with vintage finds. Everything you see has been hand-selected by its owner, Stephanie Leggio, who’s been curating antiques for more than 30 years.

This light and bright store has plenty of vintage clothing and upscale sweaters, jackets and accessories, but it excels in its housewares and furniture offerings. Leggio stocks lots of one-of-a-kind items and the presentation is as important as the items. The store opens daily from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., and you’ll find new items, too, from bespoke vendors, including soy candles, towels and quilts.

Putnam County

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 1½ hours away 

That Nothing Be Lost in Garrison (16 Franciscan Way, 845-424-3635, stchristophersinn-graymoor.org) could be an all-day shopping journey. The store is on the grounds of St. Christopher’s Inn, which provides residential services for substance use treatment, and sits inside of a stone building. Everything for sale was donated to support St. Christopher’s mission.

The store, sometimes called the St. Christopher Thrift Shop, has four floors of merchandise, including clothing, furniture, art, appliances, sporting goods, jewelry, collectibles, toys and more. The men who are in treatment work at That Nothing Be Lost, which is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They can be found helping customers as well as repairing and restoring some of the store’s donated furniture.

While everything is priced reasonably — you’ll get jeans for under $10 and craft supplies for 50 cents — there are even better deals to be found if you visit on a Thursday. That day, shoppers can take advantage of a pick-a-discount promotion, which gives them 10% to 50% off on everything they buy.

Dutchess County

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: About 2 hours away 

Safe Haven Thrift in Fishkill (1545 NY-52 Suite 8, 845-392-5300) isn’t the biggest store on the list, but it’s one of the few that has pet supplies. The store houses a thrift and a pet food pantry (open 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturdays) which is run by the Safe Haven Animal Shelter & Wildlife Center.

This is a true thrift store. Open every day except Monday, everything that’s sold comes from donations. Expect to find leashes, cat boxes and dog toys right next to clothing, housewares and jewelry. Prices are reasonable, starting at $1, and fluctuate depending on the current sale that’s running. It’s not unusual to find a 50% off all footwear or clothing promotion, making it one of the more reasonable options out there.

The Beacon Flea Market (6 Henry St., Beacon, 845-202-0094, beaconfleamarket.com) isn’t necessarily a thrift store, but anyone who loves the thrill of the hunt will enjoy this option, which is open every Sunday (weather permitting) between April and November.

The flea market is behind the Beacon's post officeand features rows of booths. The program only accepts vendors who sell vintage, antique, architectural elements and collectibles, so be prepared to find vintage concert tees next to antique watercolor paintings next to midcentury jewelry. While most sellers take some form of digital payment, including Venmo and credit cards, you might get a better deal if you offer cash.