Store Review: The Sharing Place.
This week, I'll be reviewing a hidden thrift haven in Harlem, The Sharing Place.
Located in East Harlem, The Sharing Place is a weird smorgasbord of high-end brands such as Salvatore Ferragamo, Kate Spade mixed in with more affordable brands like H&M, Ann Taylor etc. all mushed together in a store the size of a Manhattan studio.
I rated The Sharing Place on five categories; Staff/Atmosphere, Variety, Prices, Quality and Uniqueness. Overall, The Sharing Place squeezed through with 5 stars.
Staff/Atmosphere: Zilch
The Sharing Place doesn't score any stars on their staff and atmosphere. This store is so cramped and filled to the brim with so much clothing and antique knick-knacks, that's its almost mentally and physically exhausting to sort through it for that magical piece that makes every thrifting journey worth it. This front view of the store doesn't fully showcase the amount of product in this store.
I cannot count the amount of times I had to say " Excuse me" while squeezing past someone in the tiny aisles of the store.
The staff was rather in-different to most people that came into the store. They didn't offer a greeting or any kind of assistance, and had the tendency of paying more attention to the Spanish-speaking customers (who also seemed like known/seasoned customers). Also, there are no fitting rooms or any enclosed area to sort through any of the pieces you've picked up while making your rounds.
Variety: [🌟]
There's a decent amount of variety at The Sharing Place.They definitely have a fine selection of clothing, and accessories. I think a big hit with them is with their collection of antiques, scarves and some of their clothing.
I came across a lot of Ann Taylor, Loft, H&M, Talbots etc. pieces of decent quality which for a thrift store of it's caliber, is nice. There was a lot of variety in size, and many of the sizes ranged easily from sizes 4-12, and there were smatterings of sizes 0-2 and XL-XXXL.
The shoe section was an absolute disaster. If you're lucky or highly determined, you can score a decent pair of shoes here, but for the most part, I wouldn't recommend for shoes.
For hand-bags, I also wouldn't recommend this store because I spotted a fake Kate Spade, which for me is a big red flag, for any high end thrift store, but for this store, it gets a pass. But, for anyone looking to head over there in the hopes of scoring a killer handbag for the low, buyer beware.
However, despite all my criticism, they do have a great vintage scarf and coat section for the fall. That's definitely worth checking out if you're looking for some unique fall pieces.
Prices: [🌟][🌟]
The prices here are dirt cheap. Nothing is above $40 and the higher ticket items only apply to the high end designer items. For the most part, majority of the pieces were under $10, with most ranging between $3-$8..
Quality: [🌟]
The quality of most of the pieces were good/above average. I did notice that most of the pieces were not dry cleaned and therefore you need to wash/dry clean before wearing or even trying on ( alas the lack of a fitting room).
Uniqueness: [🌟]
A lot of the pieces were your regular, run of the mill thrift clothing but they were some definite gems hidden in those racks, if you've got the energy to dig through them. The knick knacks section was the most unique in my opinion. They had all sorts of antique goodies; vintage mason jars, vintage tea sets, candle holders, glass pieces etc. I'll definitely be back there to find some cute home things for my apartment very soon.
All in all, The Sharing Place was an interesting little spot, but it failed to deliver, in regards to its atmosphere, variety, quality and overall shopping experience. It's a spot I'd only go to for vintage knick-knacks and when I'm the mood for some digging and happen to be in East Harlem. Shopping at The Sharing Place can be rather laborious without the guarantee of finding anything worth the energy spent. For a lot of thrifters, it simply may not be worth it.
I'd recommend this store to hardcore thrifters that aren't scared of a little digging. Novices beware, this place might wear you out!