Hello friends, 

This review is all about L Train Vintage, a thrift store that's become a bit of a rite of passage in the NYC vintage & thrift scene. I'm reviewing their Bushwick location and I will review the remaining Brooklyn locations in the future.

I will be rating L Train Vintage on five categories with a maximum of two stars for each category: Staff/Atmosphere, Variety, Uniqueness, Prices and Quality.

Staff/Atmosphere: 0 🌟

There has recently been some internet controversy about this location. Some shoppers have said that the staff at this location are racist because they have been accused of following black shoppers through the store and giving them less than desirable service. This had led to a few former customers vowing to not return to this location. Take a look at their yelp page for some more context behind this issue.

That being said, during  my shopping experience, the staff and atmosphere at L Train Vintage were basically non-existent.  It's hard to differentiate between staff and shopper until you feel someone burning a hole into your back while you're shopping. The staff members that I ended up interacting with where either rude or just really didn't understand me.  To put it simply, in regards to the staff, they're either watching you diligently or ignoring you. 

The store is small and a bit packed, a lot of the inventory isn't sized and there's just so much of everything. If you're not a patient shopper, you might wanna avoid this store because it can be overwhelming and headache-inducing. I'm a thrift & vintage veteran and I literally walked around aimlessly for the first five minutes because my brain was on the fritz.

For example, all of the denim is lumped together and there is no differentiation between men's and women's denim. If you're into sorting through racks of denim in order to figure out what'll fit, then this store is perfect for you. If you'd rather not have to wade through racks of clothing, I would avoid this location

However, if you enjoy the challenge of digging through racks or clothes looking for gems, this might be fun for you. 

Variety: 1 🌟

This particular L Train Vintage location seems primarily geared towards men's and winter clothing. There are a few racks for women's clothing but majority of their inventory consists of men's army & denim jackets, sweaters, sweatshirt, tons & tons of denim, men's shirts and footwear.

If you're looking for a cheap winter coat, this is the spot for you.

If you're looking for a cool vintage sweater, this is the spot for you.

If you're looking for a fun dress for a night out in the city, skip this location and maybe head to your nearest Housing Works instead.

Overall, L Train Vintage is best if you're looking for some winter vintage pieces. If you're a guy, this is one of the thrift stores in the city that have an extensive men's sections, so go crazy. For the ladies, there's a vintage sweater or two in there calling your name so feel free to take a peek in there. 

Uniqueness: 1 🌟

There are some great vintage pieces at L Train Vintage that I doubt you'd find anywhere else. A few standout items were the real fur & faux fur coats, the plethora of mom jeans & assortment of vintage denim jackets. However, an inventory comprised mostly of denim, jackets & sweatshirts can seem a bit lackluster but for fashionistas that lean more towards street style, I see some gems in there.

Prices: 2 🌟🌟 

The price is right at L Train Vintage.  The prices for most merchandise, outside of the high-end designer inventory that's locked behind a showcase, ranges from about $10- 30. In my opinion, everything is priced reasonably, in accordance to the average NYC vintage & thrift prices.

Quality: 1 🌟 

The quality at L Train Vintage is good for a thrift store in this price range. For the most part, most of the items are in good condition with no rips, tears and/or stains. However, some vintage pieces have some natural discoloration.

While this location also carries footwear, I wouldn't recommend this location for that because their footwear quality is quite low. I came across a lot of beat-up Uggs, and aggressively-loved footwear.  No bueno.

Closing Thoughts

L Train Vintage makes a small splash with 5 out of 10 stars. If you're looking for some comfy winter wear during these frigid temps, head over and drop a few bucks on a sweater or jacket. 

If you love the Canadian Tuxedo trend, L Train Vintage will be your mini denim mecca.

Also, If you enjoy dressing like you're in a rerun of Saved By The Bell, head on over and get to shopping.

If you're looking for anything else, I'd look elsewhere.

Wanna see for yourself?

1377 Dekalb Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11221

b/t Wilson Ave & Central Ave
Bushwick

(718) 443-6940

ltrainvintage.com