As a lifelong thrifter who checks out the secondhand scene nearly everywhere I travel, I can tell you the thrifting, antiquing, and vintage shopping in Columbus is unmatched. And I’m not just saying that because I live here—I’m a transplant to the city, and you can ask any of my out-of-town friends who will tell you the same thing. We’ve got a ton of good stuff to go around—and around, and around, because who hasn’t thrifted something, worn it for years, and taken it back for someone else to enjoy?
While this isn’t by any means an exhaustive list, these shops are some of my favorites. I’ve found countless treasures from these shops that have my closet brimming and my home looking like a quirky, eclectic museum. Make a day (or three) of all these shops have to offer.
Heritage Square Antique Mall
Their website says it best: “53,000-square-feet of ‘Don’t make ‘em like they used to.’” Heritage Square Antique Mall is in a league of its own on size alone. To say the place is massive is an understatement, so plan to make a day of it or at least a good long afternoon. The size of Heritage Square means they’ve got a little bit of everything—art, fashion, toys, figurines, kitchenware, furniture, and a million more unique treasures you didn’t know you needed. Never knowing what you’ll find is the magic of a massive antique mall!
Located at 1865 Channingway Center Dr, Columbus, OH 43232. Pro tip: If you bring the kiddos and they’re restless from not being allowed to touch anything for fear they’ll break something expensive, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park are nearby and a great way for them to get that excess energy out.
The Greater Columbus Antique Mall is housed inside a historic home. Photo source, Facebook.
Greater Columbus Antique Mall
Not to be outdone, the Greater Columbus Antique Mall is a treat unto itself. Spread out over the five floors of an 1890s home turned antique store, there’s something for everyone. Art, clothing and accessories, kitchenware, and practically endless knickknacks and odds and ends. Leave your vintage heels at home—you’ll be forgiven for wearing comfy shoes to traverse each of the five floors and trust me, you don’t want to miss a single corner.
Open seven days a week, you can find the shop at 1045 S High St., Columbus, OH 43206. And you’re just a couple of blocks from Schiller Park, where there’s a picturesque duck pond and several pieces of outdoor sculptural art. There’s also a fairy garden at the park—see if you can find it!
The Little Light Collective. Photo source, Facebook.
Little Light Collective
If you want a mix of vintage goods and locally made gifts, Little Light Collective has both! Want mid-century brass sculptures and modern small-batch perfume? Looking for that dreamy mod purse and that snazzy modern hair clip? Swooning over 70s owl macrame and hand-poured candles? Little Light has you covered. My best advice? Don’t skip the basement! Just watch your head if you’re tall.
While you’re in the neighborhood visiting the shop at 3041 Indianola Ave. Columbus, OH 43202, be sure to stop in Elizabeth’s Records next door and give the shop cat Jonesy some chin scritches. Afterward, pop in at the local indie movie theater, Studio 35. See a movie or just have a drink at the bar where specialty cocktails are inspired by what’s on screen.
Flower Child in the Short North Arts District. Photo courtesy of Flower Child.
Flower Child
A lot of vintage shops will boast about their selection, but when Flower Child says, “You might go from a modern 1950s living room to a sci-fi 1970s kitchen, to a plush 60s bedroom, all within the space of 20 steps,” believe them. Walking into Flower Child is like stepping into the best kind of time machine. If you’ve ever wished you could raid your mom’s and grandma’s closets from before you were born, this is your chance—because even as eclectic and high-quality as their home goods and furniture are, where Flower Child really shines is clothes. Spanning from the 1930s to the 80s and with an emphasis on fashion, this is the place to build your dream closet.
Step into this vintage department store at 233 E. Fifth Ave. Columbus, OH 43201. You’re sure to work up an appetite, so pop in at nearby Habibi Grill for some delectable Mediterranean fare.
Eclectiques features home goods, clothing, furnishings and more. Photo source, Facebook.
Eclectiques
Right in the heart of Clintonville, a Columbus neighborhood well-known for its secondhand scene, is Eclectiques. True to its name, the antique mall is an eclectic mix of lovingly curated booths. Here, you’ll find everything from 90s streetwear to mid-century modern furniture. Because there’s everything from fashion to home furnishings, there are a variety of price points—suitable for any budget. But the real magic of Eclectiques is that while every booth is different and the antique mall covers a wide swath of decades, the aesthetic is so well-curated overall that any items you pick up, regardless of which booth you find them in, will work well together.
After you visit Eclectiques at 3265 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202, be sure to take a walk down the block to Tigertree and Rock Candy Healing Stones for non-vintage local businesses with quirky clothes, fun art, the most adorable gifts, and healing crystals.
The Brass Hand in Clintonville. Photo source, Facebook.
The Brass Hand
Columbus is far from any desert, but you’d never know that when you walk into The Brass Hand. Inspired by the sights, sounds, smells, and colors of Arizona, stepping into the shop is like taking a portal to an arid cacti-covered paradise. In addition to vintage brass decor, antique books, and other dreamy secondhand decor, you’ll find candles, perfumes, small-batch skincare, and a plethora of desert plants. There’s even a Build-A-Bear style pot-your-own cactus room, which makes a fun night out for friends and lovers alike.
Find your next prickly plant baby at 3327 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202. If shopping helped you work up an appetite, Whit’s Frozen Custard is nearby for a sweet treat, or there’s Food Street, a Pakistani street food spot nearby.
Euro Classics Antiques
If you’re in the market for the finest of fine antique furniture, Euro Classics Antiques has you covered. They’re a family-owned business with two generations of experts on hand to help you find the high-quality, solid wood legacy pieces that will last a lifetime and that you’ll want to pass down to the grandkids. I’m talking about early 1900s Mission couches, chairs, and tables, glass-front barrister bookcases, Arts & Crafts movement clawfoot dining tables, and turn-of-the-century wood filing cabinets and antique card catalogs. They also often have Persian and Turkish rugs on hand, as well as wall art and pottery. Step inside and you’ll see why they’ve been around since 1986. Just remember to say hello to Yellow, the Euro Classics shop cat.
Stop by Euro Classics at 3317 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43202. It’s right in the neighborhood with The Brass Hand, Eclectiques, and the next shop on our list…
The Atomic Shop
If clothing, accessories, and small-ish home decor is your jam, check out The Atomic Shop. While you won’t find many pieces of large furniture, you’ll find tons of vintage jeans, flannels, sweaters, hats, handkerchiefs, jewelry, purses, and more, along with delightful small decorative pieces to enchant your home’s nooks and crannies. It’s especially nice to stop by in the warmer months when The Atomic Shop puts on Atomic On High, an outdoor market featuring dozens of local vintage sellers, artisan makers, music, and food. Be sure to check the Atomic on High Instagram for the latest market dates.
Check Atomic out at 3274 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202. Right outside the building, you’ll often find the rainbow-colored Galaxy Coffee truck, so grab a tasty beverage to stay hydrated while you shop.
Boomerang Room Vintage. Photo source, Facebook.
Boomerang Room Vintage
Another longtime staple of the local vintage scene is Boomerang Room, which has been in business for nearly three decades. Appropriately named since, as their slogan says, “everything comes back around,” Boomerang Room specializes in mid-century modern, atomic-age furnishings and art. If you’ve been lusting after a dreamy MCM coffee table or a teak vanity, the shop’s furniture-forward selection is sure to delight.
The Boomerang Room is next door to The Atomic Shop, so if you didn’t work up a thirst at Atomic, the Galaxy Coffee truck is a few short steps away. Hydrating with one of their lemonades, complete with edible glitter, is one of my favorite ways to fuel up for a day of secondhand scouting.
Visit Boomerang Room Vintage at 3276 North High St., Columbus, OH 43202.
Magpie Market
I almost didn’t include Magpie Market on this list—not because I don’t love them, but because they’re on my personal “best-kept secret” secondhand shopping list. I always find the best stuff there and don’t want to fight for my vintage treasures (but I will!). Magpie was started by two middle school besties and that love permeates throughout the shop in everything from the industrial chic wares to the cozy cottagecore decor. Clothing is sparse, but fashionable accessories and smaller pieces of home decor are plentiful.
Find them at 1125 Kenny Centre, Columbus, OH 43220. The Kenny Centre plaza is adjacent to the Japan Marketplace, which includes beloved restaurants like the high-end sushi spot Akai Hana and the irresistible Tensuke, with some of my favorite ramen in the city. While you’re in the area, pop into J Avenue, a Japanese boutique, for a variety of functional and decorative goods for kids and adults.
Smartypants Vintage
Don’t let the name fool you—it’s not just pants on offer at Smartypants. But whatever you take home, you’ll look smart and sharp in it. This shop is down a couple of stairs under an old stone apartment building, which makes it feel like a secret vintage stash. Specializing in clothes, you’re sure to find cardigans, skirts, scarves, belt buckles, sunglasses, sweaters, tees, and more.
Find Smartypants at 815 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43215. And if your new beret, sleek cardigan, and high-waisted skirt have you feeling studious, take a short stroll down the sidewalk to Prologue Bookshop and Roaming Goat Coffee to complete the vibe.
Smartypants Vintage. Photo source, Facebook.
Stash House Vintage
If you love graphic tees, sweatshirts, sports jerseys, and other casual, cozy streetwear, you’ll find a whole cache at Stash House Vintage. Retro sports team wear and concert tees abound, along with baggy pants and camo. If you’re on the hunt for vintage Ohio State attire to wear to the next big game, look no further. Laid back is the vibe, so the clothes on offer at Stash House transition seamlessly from the couch to a night out.
Find Stash House Vintage at 1129 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43201. If you go looking for band tees, don’t miss out on a short walk down to the nearby record store, Magnolia Thunderpussy while you’re in the neighborhood.
Grandview Mercantile & Revue. Photo source, Facebook.
Grandview Mercantile
Grandview Mercantile is a stunning 22,000-foot showroom jam-packed with stunning estate furniture, gleaming chandeliers, artwork, glassware and vintage fine jewels, as well as the occasional fancy fur or uber-high-end bag. The Merc’s team of pros scour estate sales and have a laser-focused eye for the good stuff, consigning goods that once filled some of the city’s most elite homes. The real secret here is not to be overwhelmed and to pay close attention to the countdown tags. Love that antique fainting couch, but can’t pay full price? The tags let you in on the plan to keep merch fresh by reducing the price every two weeks. If you’re a gambler with patience, you could get that piece you covet for half off—or more. They also have several cases of fine estate jewelry, so if you’re looking for that one-of-a-kind statement necklace, the bracelet you never take off, or a ring to mark a special occasion, Grandview Mercantile has it.
Find them at 1489 Grandview Ave, Columbus, OH 43212. You’re sure to work up an appetite after traversing the whole of Grandview Mercantile, and fortunately for hungry shoppers, local spots Hot Chicken Takeover and Aab India are right across the street.
One More Time
If vintage and antique isn’t your style, don’t worry! There’s still plenty for you in town. For more modern fashion-centric shopping, pop around the corner from Grandview Mercantile to One More Time, where deals on big-name shoes are often the best bargain. Though a good mix of men’s and women’s fashions, costume jewelry and accessories at great prices are worth a look and a small collection of housewares fills one wall.
Or if you’re more interested in furniture, there’s One More Time Etc., their furniture spot just a few blocks down the road.
Visit One More Time at 1521 W 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43212.
Second Chance Consignment
Next, head a block west to Second Chance. After 20 years in the local thrifting game, owner Mary Weldon knows her stuff. Consigned items are beautifully curated over multiple rooms and a full city block, with the finest names in fashion well represented—so if you’ve got bougie taste and don’t want to make your wallet weep, this is the place. The fancier brands are in the back where high fashion treasures are hidden: Hermes scarves, Chanel bags and other coveted couture goods grace these hallowed shelves. There are also plenty of lesser-known but top-quality pieces as well.
Visit Second Chance at 1803 W. Fifth Ave., Grandview Heights, OH 43212.
Goodwill/Volunteers of America/Ohio Thrift
While not as cutely curated or smartly styled, any thrifting authority would be remiss not to mention the city’s Goodwill, Volunteers of America, and Ohio Thrift stores. There are nearly a dozen of each, so visit a couple if you have time, as any given day or store may leave you empty-handed or carting away the motherlode. Take it from someone who knows: The massive Goodwill on Ohio State’s campus is a goldmine at the close of each semester when students make their exodus, leaving treasure behind, and on the last Tuesday of the month, everything at Volunteers of America is half off. That’s right—everything!
Whether you dream of day-long hunts for vintage treasures, dreamy antiques, or modern secondhand styles, the diversity of options and wealth of amazing deals make Columbus a spot where you can find style-forward looks at bargain-basement prices. Any trip to Columbus wouldn't be complete without a visit to one (or more) of these incredible shops. Home to some of the best thrift and vintage shopping around? #yesColumbus!