The Vintage Shopper's Guide to Tulsa
BY BEA BAKER, MOLLY BULLOCK, MATT CARNEY & ANGELA EVANS
1134 S. Harvard Ave., Tulsa, OK 74114
The Vintage Vault stocks the majority of its store with fantastic furniture from a variety of eras. The shop is playful with its collection of meadow gold hued couches and avant garde ashtrays, hearkening a time when people could and would smoke anywhere. It’s always a treat to roam around this space, ogling their dreamy couches, outrageous wall art and pristine glassware.
They also have a decent selection of clothing, though the stock does not change often. They have a great collection of accessories, like purses and clutches, jewelry, hats and belts that can add vintage charm to any ensemble. They also have a good selection of old vinyl to flip through and some fun vintage t-shirts and pearl snaps. —Angela Evans
1315 E. 6th St, Tulsa, OK 74120
Located nextdoor to Cirque Coffee in the Pearl District, SoBo curates a blend of vintage designer clothing, shoes and accessories. Chic leather jackets, artsy band T-shirts and stunning cocktail dresses hang in the windows, tempting customers into the shop where they’ll find a collection of unique items for reasonable prices.
SoBo's lead stylist and proponent of minimalism, Lauren Spears opened the shop to bring elevated fashion to Tulsans of all economic situations. Spears and the rest of the SoBo team hope the store will help clients feel comfortable in their own clothes without breaking the bank. In addition, the store seeks to minimize waste by buying back customers’ used clothing. As soon as styles fly off the racks, SoBo customers buy different looks. If you’re looking to create space in your closet and make money off your clothes, bring your lightly-worn items to SoBo for other fashion lovers to enjoy.
From Michael Kors shoes to Louis Vitton bags, SoBo carries all the gems that would take you an hour to find in any ordinary thrift shop. Each trip to the clothing store provides customers a different experience as SoBo rotates their collection of vintage, designer looks. By buying and reselling designer clothing, SoBo Co. provides high-end style with the mission of making fashion and self-expression accessible for every customer. —Root staff
5111 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa, OK 74105
Whatever you collect, you’ll find rows of it on display at I-44 Antique Mall. This antique dreamland is located right off Interstate 44, as the name suggests and has been an established hunting ground for thrifters since 1996. It feels reminiscent of a museum trip as you walk up and down the rows of well-organized vintage oddities on display. Smells of past generations cherished trinkets fill the air. You easily find yourself taken to another era if you stay long enough.
The antique mall is best known for their extensive collection of Native American jewelry and Frankoma pottery. Other collectibles include art deco clutches, vintage records, old street signs and throwback sports paraphernalia from local teams. They have a heavy supply of oil and gas vintage as well as other items pertinent to Oklahoma’s history.
I-44 Antique Mall prides itself on carrying more than just décor. Whether you’re a local antique collector or a traveler looking for true Oklahoman souvenirs, they have a plethora of authentic antiques to guarantee a treasured find every visit. —Molly Bullock
856 E. Admiral Blvd., Tulsa, OK 74120
First Street Flea is a flea market in downtown Tulsa held on the first Sunday every month. Vendors vary from booth to booth; while some offer vintage items and collectibles, others offer newly crafted goods like jewelry, jams and soaps.
Grab a cup of coffee and sausage roll from Chimera's corner station and enjoy perusing the quirky array of items. The atmosphere is family friendly and booth owners—many of whom participate at the Fairgrounds' Flea Market—enjoy conversing with patrons about their selection. —Root staff
3024 E. 15th St., Tulsa, OK 74104
The Antiquary has some of the oldest antiques and collectibles available in Tulsa. Don’t miss the amazing selection of handmade wooden furniture that’s nearly hidden among the antique rugs, stoneware, lamps, footed vessels, copper and brass fixtures, quilts, books, glassware and curiosities. Audiophiles will enjoy The Antiquary’s diverse collection of vintage table radios, stereo equipment and records (ask Phil to show you his stockpile).
Bargain hunters on a thin budget might balk at pricing here—think $125 for an antique vase, or $1,250 for a Cherry desk from the early 1800s. Still, you’re likely to find something that sparks your imagination or finds its way home with you. The character, quality and variety of wares at The Antiquary make it well worth a visit.
While you shop, be sure to look up and take in the impressive collection of framed art of every shape, style and era. Artwork ranges from about $100 to a couple thousand dollars. For super-affordable finds, flip through the shop’s collection of vintage photographs and prints. Prices start around $8.
Don’t expect much from The Antiquary’s website or Facebook page—it’s better experienced in person, where you’ll also meet the resident shop kitty, Gracie. (She now carries the torch for long beloved shop kitties of previous eras). —Molly Bullock
4421 S. Mingo Rd., Tulsa, OK 74146
The largest bookstore in Oklahoma, Gardner’s is home to approximately 23,000 square feet of books—seriously, so many books—audio books, comics, music, visual and interactive multimedia and more. Trade your old media in for store credit and shop anew for a bodice-ripping romance novel, self-help books, the original Star Wars flicks on VHS or whatever else your curiosity may lead you to.—Root staff
5350 E. 31st St., Tulsa, OK 74135
If you want to scoop up name-brand items at a great price, you better get to Bargains Resale Shop early. Oh, and there may be a line to get in the door because this shop is on the radar of thrifty shoppers in-the-know. Operated by the Assistance League of Tulsa and benefiting Operation School Bell, which helps clothe thousands of Tulsa students in need, this shop is staffed with volunteers who have an eye for great finds. The store even has a high-end section, with items from big-name brands.
The rest of the store is filled with gently-used clothing for women and a few options for men, too. The jewelry selection is stellar and there are some great finds in the show section, too. They have a small but mighty housewares area, including kitchen items, lamps and linens.
Because of the popularity of this seemingly hidden gem, there are always new items hitting the racks. —Angela Evans
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3110 Southwest Blvd., Tulsa, OK 74107
This location is the unofficial Goodwill headquarters of Tulsa. A new Goodwill shopping center was built, adding square footage and a shinier façade than its old location down the road. But this huge store is one of the most organized and regularly stocked of any of the city's thrift stores. Though you can find the occasional blasts from the past, especially from the '80s and '90s, rarely do they have true vintage pieces on the racks. Instead, this is a great place for finding basic items. Looking for a simple black dress or white button-down shirt? The racks won't disappoint.
During the winter, they have a large, often-changing stock of well-priced coats. The shoe selection is tops among thrift stores and changes seasonally. Gently-used shoes are somewhat difficult to find, but this thrift store seems to only stock the shelves with quality boots, dress shoes and tennis shoes.
For housewares, this location covers the basics (plates, glassware) but rarely will you find high-end or vintage items in this department. And though you may find interesting décor items, they do not have large furniture items. —Angela Evans
11523 E. 31st St., Tulsa, OK 74146
Both of the Tulsa area’s Salvation Army Family Stores have a variety of furniture, clothing and home wares, with a few notable distinctions. For immaculately organized racks and minimal clutter in a still-sizable thrift store, visit the 31st St. location. This store is so well sorted, you can select the perfect striped baby onesie, workout pants or interview-ready suit from a manageable rack of like items in minutes and be on your way. (For twice the square footage, a much larger inventory and more typical thrift store chaos, try the Kenosha location in Broken Arrow.)
True thrifters will have a heyday at either stop, where customers enjoy 50 percent off clothing, shoes, purses, linens, glassware and art on Wednesdays. Separately, a rotating weekly color-tag sale gets you 50 percent off select items. Saturdays, furniture that’s not on color-tag sale is 25 percent off.
One key difference between Salvation Army Family Stores and other thrifts around town is that neither location carries children’s toys, save for a random item here and there. Additionally, Salvation Army Family Stores support the organization’s Adult Rehabilitation Center, a faith-based residential program requiring a 40-hour work week in exchange for education, life skills, treatment and other assistance. Follow Tulsa Salvation Army Family Stores on Facebook for a peek at new items and sale announcements. —Molly Bullock