Starter Store: Greene Street Consignment

Greene Street consignment is housed in a lovely brick building that stands out from the rest of the small boutiques that line South Street. Located at 7th and South, Greene Street seemed neat and organized, which instantly drew me in. My limited experience in thrift and consignment stores had me prepared to look through unkempt piles. In reality, this store is neater than the local Express.

My adventure into Greene Street took place on a snowy day. Very few people risked the weather for a little shopping, but a few brave customers walked the aisles. I approached a woman who was looking through a circle rack and after a little small talk I asked if she came to this store often. Liz said that she was visiting her sister from Maryland and discovered the store on her last trip. She walked out with some good buys so she wanted to come back and see what else she could find. Liz’s last purchases were a faux fur shrug from Bebe for $45 - the regular price was over $100. She also purchased a Banana Republic sweater for $20, an item that was regularly priced at $65. I, myself, found a pair of Seven jeans for $40, a BCBG Generation tank-top for $12, and a Love Ady blazer for $23. The best piece of advice I was given is to look through everything. She didn’t have any merchandise with her but maybe she got lucky after I left.

Left: Google; Right: Yelp

Behind the front counter at Greene Street is where high-end designer items are kept. The top items the store were carrying were a pair of Manolo Blahnik pumps and a pair of Gucci rain boots. The rain boots were being sold for $175. Normal retail price is $350. The jewelry was not anything special but it was well priced. Necklaces were priced at  $10 to $15 and the bracelets were no more than $10. If you need an everyday necklace or bracelet, you should look through the selection.

As opposed to other consignment stores, Greene Street requires you to bring in a minimum of 10 items to consign. The rest of its policy is similar to all other stores; the owner of the clothes will receive a 40% commission off the sale. All unsold items become Greene Streets property if they are not claimed at the end of the contract. Greene Street’s hours are Monday through Thursday 10:00am – 8:00pm, Friday and Saturday 10:00am – 9:00pm and Sunday 10:00am – 7:00pm.

If you are a first-time consigner, I think Greene Street is a great place to get your feet wet. Because it’s so well organized going through racks won’t be as tedious as other consignment stores. If you are on a tight budget and need everyday pieces to fill your wardrobe, then I recommend you stop by.