2nd Street is open at 2875 Broadway
With over 700 locations in Japan, 2nd Street—founded in 1996—is known for one-of-a-kind pieces in secondhand condition. The brand arrived in the U.S. in 2018 and recently opened a new shop near Columbia University, at 2875 Broadway between West 111th and 112th streets. Another location is on the way at 2519 Broadway, at the southwest corner of 94th Street. ILTUWS stopped by to check out the secondhand sensation this week.
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Having officially opened on Friday, May 16, 2nd Street was bustling during our visit, with savvy shoppers combing through packed aisles of inventory, piece by piece, in search of something special. The shop specializes in designer brands like Jimmy Choo, Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton, among many others, and features offerings for both men and women. It’s also known for showcasing streetwear labels like Supreme, the American sensation that began in NYC on Lafayette Street in 1994.
During our visit, we gazed at some items behind a locked glass case, including a Louis Vuitton stole for $179.99, a Dior tri-fold wallet for $399, and a colorful Valentino crossbody bag for $149.99. We also spotted what appears to be the rare Supreme/Kokuyo crayon collection, selling for $49.90. For those unaware, Supreme is known for its wildly random items—like a plain clay brick stamped with the Supreme logo, which they once claimed could hypothetically be used to build a house, or a pocket blowtorch they sold another time. These items typically sell out fast and end up on the secondhand market at a steep markup, with some becoming more sought after than others. We found the crayons selling for $25 on StockX.
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One of the challenges of secondhand shopping is figuring out whether you’re really getting a good deal, so it’s a good rule of thumb to search online for the product you’re considering to see if there’s a better price. Store owners—including mom-and-pop secondhand shops with just one location—say that’s a challenge for them too: everyone wants everything at the best price.
We also saw a black women’s Canada Goose jacket selling for $399, and if you’re a fan of the New York Knicks, 2nd Street has a pair of white, orange, and blue Dunks in size 11.5 for $89. You’d definitely get some compliments at Madison Square Garden with those. Speaking of sports, we had to snap a photo of this Buffalo Bisons hat ($30)—the Triple-A minor league club in New York—because the plural of bison is bison, not bisons. They know this, but that’s how it started, and they stuck with it. That hat would pair nicely with the studded blue Christian Louboutins for $179.99.
You can get your whole fit at 2nd Street—from accessories and jewelry to blouses and jumpsuits, belts and bags for the ladies, and suits, wallets, and denim jackets for the men (and vice versa). One of our favorite parts of thrifting is seeing what’s out there and piecing together a great outfit.
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Second Street will also pay you if you want to sell your stuff. Bring your ID, and they pay cash on the spot—no in-store credit, per their website.
We should mention that 2nd Street has not been getting rave reviews on Yelp. Their Lower East Side location has 2.7 stars out of 5, and their Upper East Side spot is rated even lower at 2.1 stars. “Let me be clear: this is not 1 star, this is 0 stars, and if I could give negative stars I would,” wrote Sabrina L. “This place is actually the worst. Offering someone $0.10 per item is a complete insult when there are items literally falling apart on the racks of the store.” She, along with several others, mentioned poor item quality and rude staff.
2nd Street is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. We reached out to ask when they’ll be opening their 2519 Broadway location—we’ll keep you posted.
Signage is up at 2519 Broadway at 94th Street
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