Canadian vintage shoppers know exactly where to go for the best bargains. In fact, some of the best vintage stores have developed cult followings of sorts & people will wait specifically for drops from these places.
We asked our readers about their favourite Canadian vintage stores, and here are ten of the ones with the biggest cult followings. Which one have you visited, and what unexpected finds did you walk out with?
Courage My Love (Toronto)
Courage My Love has been open in Kensington Market since 1975. It’s still popular, all these years later. One reader told us they make an effort to show anyone visiting them the store’s famous $5 rack.
Other readers said that they like the store’s mix of vintage clothing & oddities for the home. It’s much better than your average second-hand store, apparently.
Exile Vintage (Toronto)
You’ll also find Exile Vintage in Kensington Market, and it opened just a year after Courage My Love. Many readers said they continue shopping there because they can’t get enough of the store’s seasonal Halloween costumes & huge T-shirt bins.
They also said it’s a little more underground than most thrift stores. But it’s still great.
Mintage (Vancouver)
Mintage is a slightly newer vintage store that launched in 2003. It has three locations. The Broadway & Kingsway Mintage Mall has ten vendors under its roof that mix rare band tees with more niche DIY printing.
A few readers said they often visit with the goal of just getting one piece of clothing, but then they leave with three.
Community Thrift & Vintage (Vancouver)
Community Thrift & Vintage is a thrift store and also a social program. Several readers said they enjoy shopping here because the store’s profits go towards helping local programs.
They really love that sense of community. It also helps that the store has a great selection for you to choose from, no matter your tastes or budget.
The Rag Machine (Vancouver)
You’re not a real Vancouverite unless you’ve been to the Rag Machine. You’ll need to grab a bag & pay by weight for any purchases, so let’s just hope you have strong enough arms for the walk home.
Many readers claimed to find lots of great vintage pieces here. One said they found some Levi’s and Carhartt for dirt cheap.
Eva B (Montréal)
Our readers who shopped at Eva B assured us that it’s more of an experience than a simple shopping trip. The front door’s covered in graffiti & there’s even a café inside. But it’s the mannequins on the stairs that’ll probably surprise you.
It’s so big that one reader told us they spent three hours there and still didn’t feel like they’d seen everything.
Citizen Vintage (Montréal)
Citizen Vintage is more for the shoppers who want something a little cleaner & quieter. There’s still plenty of reworked ‘90s denim and retro outerwear, though. It’s just presented in a different way.
The store also has its own upcycled line, stitched from old fabrics. Most of the shoppers here care about design and sustainability as much as the look itself.
Ragtime Vintage Clothing (Ottawa)
Since the late ‘70s, Ragtime Vintage Clothing has been in Ottawa. You can tell. According to a few readers, the store smells a bit like old leather, but you shouldn’t let that put you off.
Many of them recommended going around Halloween. It apparently has a huge selection of clothing, including velvet dresses & tux jackets that you can’t find elsewhere.
Elsie’s Used Clothing (Halifax)
Yes, Elsie’s Used Clothing is small. But don’t let that stop you. It’s a pure Halifax store in all the best ways, including the great music & friendly staff. The store has racks piled high with high-end pieces, and a few readers said they make sure to visit there before any event.
Once you see all those consignment & handmade pieces from local designers, you’ll understand why Elsie’s wins “Best Thrift Store” almost every year.
Better Off Duds (Saskatoon)
Better Off Duds has one of the best vintage collections on offer on the Prairies. It’s on 33rd Street West and has a mix of cowboy boots & denim, as well as some newer items that still, somehow, fit.
Quite a few readers made it a point to tell us about how friendly the staff are. You can talk to them about fit or history, and it’s one of those places that makes you love secondhand shopping.
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