Our Go-To Vintage and Antique Stores

As you hopefully know, our team cares deeply about combating climate change. At the beginning of 2020, we set intention to make strides with our sustainability at Minny & Paul, most recently rolling out new eco-friendly packaging. While we know this is one small step, it is an important one, and we’re excited to keep going. In addition to this change in our business processes, our team has also been making little modifications in our daily lives to reduce our impact. From bringing reusable bags for grocery shopping, to swapping all light bulbs to LEDs, we know that every little action adds up to create a big impact.

Another great way to reduce our footprint is by shopping vintage and antique. Fast fashion has created tremendous waste across the globe, and with so many clothing and accessory trends being cyclical, you can often find perfectly on-trend styles that are secondhand. For example, 90s fashion has made a huge comeback these last 2 years, and many thrift/vintage shops are teeming with crop tops, tie dye, athleisure, acid wash jeans, you name it! On the home front, antique furnishings are usually much higher quality than mass-produced items today. While you might pay more up front, older pieces often have greater staying power thanks to their craftsmanship.

On top of the environmental benefit of shopping secondhand, it also brings a lot of character to your wardrobe or abode. What better way to show your individuality than by finding unique items from a mix of different eras and styles? If you’re ready to get your vintage on, then here is a round-up of our favorite shops around the Twin Cities:

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Arlee Park: dynamic sister duo Ashley and Jamie have tremendous talent when it comes to vintage curation. While they closed their brick-and-mortar location near Lake Nokomis, you can still score their beautiful inventory online as you anxiously await a reopening announcement (like we are)!

Rewind Vintage: founded in 2006, Rewind is a staple of the Twin Cities vintage scene. We love nothing more than to grab a cup of coffee from neighboring The Coffee Shop NE then spending a solid hour sifting through all the vintage and contemporary goods.

AudreyRose Vintage: a former neighbor of ours in the Northrup King Building, founder Jessie Witte, had to take her shop online because of COVID-19, but - have no fear - you can still peruse gorgeous finds through her Etsy shop or Instagram Stories.

The Golden Pearl Vintage: if you’re hoping to avoid really having to dig as you shop secondhand, then this is a great option for you. The Golden Pearl has a high-end boutique vibe, with a smaller assortment of carefully selected items. Another thing we love: you can shop by era in their online store, making it even easier to find something to your liking.

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Retro Wanderlust: if you haven’t meandered around Downtown Hopkins, you must! There are a variety of antique shops within a few blocks of one another, but Retro Wanderlust is one of our absolute favorites. From large casework pieces to small trinkets, their shop is chock full with great objects and oddities.

SouthSide Vintage: this shop is only open every other weekend, but it is worth blocking your calendar for. SouthSide founders, Susan and Chris, hand-select each item for the shop, ranging from modern to artfully eclectic styles. Be sure to carve out a chunk of time so you can properly take it all in!

carousel & folk: we would move into this shop if we could! Not only is it stocked with unique furniture and accents, it’s also brimming with striking houseplants. Owners Lindsey and Mike recently welcomed their first child and are on parental leave, so their online shop will be your go-to for now.

Hope Chest: located west of the Cities in Orono, this shop lets you buy secondhand while also supporting a great cause. Hope Chest accepts high-end donations, and then resells them at affordable prices, donating a portion of the revenue to support local breast cancer patients and their families. We can’t get enough!

Golden Age Design: another shop that we could live in, this space is a mid-century modern wonderland. Their team travels across the pond to score then restore Scandinavian furniture with simplistic, clean lines. While each piece is definitely an investment, their masterful refurbishment ensures that it will last a lifetime.

We know there are countless other gems across the Twin Cities and beyond, so please share your favorite in the comments!

Image Credits: Cover - Julia Mary | Arlee Park | SouthSide Vintage