They
get their hands dirty so you don’t have to. If the thrill of the hunt doesn’t
arouse your passion, or if you have no patience for old clock radios blaring Whitney
Houston through the combined funk of several generations, these stores are for
you. It may cost a little more, but rest assured: It’ll be cool.
Velouria, 274 North
Goodman Street, 461-1020: Open from 12 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Saturday. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Focusing mainly on ’60s and
’70s fashion and accessories, this store runs the gamut from funky cool to
outrageous. All items are clean and in good condition with a $2 bargain bin for
a few “as is” buys.
Ricky’s Place, 274 North
Goodman Street, 442-0042: Open from 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, 11 a.m. to
6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Visa
and MasterCard accepted (and small children, according to employee Michelle
Zingo). Ricky’s caries clothes from the 1920s to the 1980s for anyone from
“teenagers and old ladies to hipsters and weirdos,” says Zingo. Great place to
stop for a Halloween or prom disguise.
Godiva’s, 732 South
Avenue, 244-3370: Open from12 to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and
Saturday, 12 to 7 p.m. Friday. Closed Tuesday and Sunday. Visa and MasterCard
accepted. Godiva’s carries vintage clothes with some new and military thrown
in. Anything hip from the 1940s to the 1970s is packed into this small, hip
South Wedge shop.
Aaron’s Alley, 669 Monroe
Avenue, 244-5044, www.aaronsalley.com: “11ish” to 8 p.m. Monday through
Thursday, “11ish” to 9 p.m. Friday, “11ish” to 8 p.m. Saturday, 12 to 5 p.m.
Sunday. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Aaron’s vintage section (stocked by
Rochester ex-patriot Jack Wanderman) presents mostly ’70s stuff at relatively
inexpensive prices. Great selection of leather jackets.
Monroe County
Ministry of Fashion (at the Record Archive) 1880 East Avenue, 244-1210: Open
from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Visa and
MasterCard accepted. “We carry whatever appeals to me at the moment,” says
proprietor Lucinda Storms. Lots of high-quality, hand-picked estate- and
garage-sale items with maximum cool. Recent acquisitions include a bunch of
1960s nylon slips. This store caters primarily to young girls and “the $5 shirt
guys,” Storms says. “I have a ton of men’s vintage shirts. Buying one is easier
than doing laundry.”
This article appears in Jul 24-30, 2002.
