Bergen County has a surprisingly rich thrift and antique shopping scene. Beyond the malls of Paramus and the boutique shops of Ridgewood, there is a network of charity thrift stores, curated vintage boutiques, and antique dealers tucked into downtowns across the county. Whether you are furnishing a home on a budget, hunting for a mid-century dresser, or simply enjoy the treasure hunt of a good thrift store, Bergen County delivers.
Here is a local's guide to the best spots, organized by town.
Ridgewood: Curated Antiques in a Walkable Downtown
Ridgewood's downtown is one of Bergen County's most walkable shopping districts, and its antique scene reflects the same quality.
Vintage61 Antiques (41 Hudson Street, Ridgewood) is the standout. This curated antique shop carries furniture, vintage jewelry, art, and decor in a beautifully merchandised space. It is the kind of store where you walk in for one thing and leave with something completely different — and you are happy about it. The selection rotates regularly, so repeat visits are rewarded.
Ridgewood's downtown also has a handful of vintage-inspired home goods stores and consignment shops worth browsing. Pair your trip with lunch at one of Ridgewood's excellent farm-to-table restaurants — see our Bergen County brunch guide for recommendations.
Hackensack: Vintage Clothing and Hidden Finds
Hackensack's thrift and vintage scene punches above its weight, especially for clothing.
3rdStrike Vintage Shop (390 Hackensack Avenue, Hackensack) is a must-visit for vintage clothing enthusiasts. The shop specializes in curated vintage apparel — think well-maintained denim jackets, band tees, leather goods, and accessories from multiple decades. The owners have a sharp eye, and the pricing is reasonable compared to the premium vintage shops in NYC and Jersey City. It is the kind of place where you can find a 1990s Yankees starter jacket or a 1970s Pendleton wool shirt on the same rack.
Beyond vintage clothing, Hackensack also has several charity thrift shops worth browsing. The city's mix of older and newer retail spaces means that small second-hand shops pop up in strip centers and downtown storefronts. For more on what makes Hackensack a great place to call home, see our Hackensack town guide.
Fair Lawn and Midland Park: Antique Row
These neighboring communities in central Bergen County are home to several of the county's best antique dealers.
Bergen Vintage Antiques & Collectibles (30-06 Broadway, Fair Lawn) carries a broad selection of antiques and collectibles spanning furniture, glassware, silver, and vintage decor. It is the kind of store where serious collectors and casual browsers alike can spend an hour.
Mayfair Antiques (11 Paterson Avenue, Midland Park) and Vintage Vibe (47 Prospect Street, Midland Park) are two more local mainstays. Mayfair Antiques has been in business for years and offers a well-curated selection of furniture and decorative objects. Vintage Vibe leans toward retro decor and smaller collectibles. Between these three stores, you can easily build a Saturday afternoon treasure hunt.
Oradell: Community Thrift at Its Best
Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe (330 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell) is a classic small-town charity thrift store. It is run by local volunteers, and the inventory reflects the community it serves — gently used clothing, housewares, books, and the occasional unexpected find. The prices are low, the staff is friendly, and every purchase supports local causes.
Oradell itself is one of Bergen County's underrated small towns — tree-lined streets, a charming downtown, and good schools. For more on what it offers, see our Oradell town page.
Maywood: Antique Buyers and Dealers
Maywood's East Pleasant Avenue has become a small hub for antique shopping.
NJ Antique Buyers (3 East Pleasant Avenue, Maywood) and Maywood Antiques (7 East Pleasant Avenue, Maywood) sit within a block of each other, making for an easy two-stop visit. NJ Antique Buyers focuses on buying and selling individual items — furniture, art, jewelry — while Maywood Antiques offers a more traditional storefront experience. The concentration of dealers in such a small area makes Maywood worth the trip for serious antique hunters.
Paterson and Westwood: The Big Charity Stores
For the kind of thrift shopping where you can really dig, two stores stand out:
Red White & Blue Thrift Store (Paterson) is one of the largest thrift stores in the region. It carries clothing, furniture, household items, electronics, and more across a sprawling sales floor. The selection changes constantly, and the prices are hard to beat. It is not the most curated shopping experience, but for sheer volume and variety, it is unmatched in Bergen County.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Westwood) is the go-to for home improvement and furniture donations. If you are looking for doors, cabinets, lighting fixtures, appliances, or building materials at deep discounts, this is your spot. The inventory varies week to week based on donations, but the deals on high-quality used furniture are consistently excellent.
CATS Resale/Thrift Shop (80 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood) supports animal rescue through the Care for Strays organization. It is a smaller, well-organized shop with clothing, home goods, and pet-related items — and every purchase helps find homes for cats and dogs in need.
Dumont: Vintage Boutique Shopping
nonu vintage (14 West Madison Avenue, Dumont) is a carefully curated vintage clothing boutique. The selection leans toward women's vintage and retro-inspired pieces, with an emphasis on quality over quantity. If you prefer your vintage shopping to feel more like a boutique experience than a treasure hunt, nonu is worth the trip.
Tips for Thrift Shopping in Bergen County
A few things I have learned from years of sending clients and friends to these stores:
- Go early on weekdays. Most charity thrift stores restock throughout the week, and weekday mornings are the quietest time to browse.
- Check for town-wide sales. Several Bergen County towns hold community-wide yard sale events in spring and fall. Ridgewood and Wyckoff both host annual sales that draw dozens of households and some serious antique dealers set up in driveways.
- Bring cash. Some smaller antique and thrift shops still prefer cash, especially for negotiated prices.
- Pair it with lunch. Most of these towns have excellent local restaurants. Make a day of it — thrift in the morning, lunch at a local spot in the afternoon. Our diners guide and pizza guide are great places to start planning your route.
Why Thrift Shopping Matters for New Homeowners
If you are moving to Bergen County — especially from a smaller space in NYC or a different part of the country — you may be furnishing a larger home for the first time. The urge to buy everything new from a big-box store is strong, but thrift and antique shopping offers a smarter path: higher quality furniture for less money, unique pieces that give your home character, and the satisfaction of keeping usable items out of landfills.
Whether you are furnishing a first home in Hackensack, decorating a condo in Fort Lee, or outfitting a rental in North Bergen, Bergen County's thrift and antique stores offer a more interesting, more affordable way to make a space your own.