To have a good experience here, it's all about timing and little bit of luck. I stopped by the store on a Wednesday evening to sell and browse the racks, and it really wasn't bad at all. It wasn't crowded, the staff quoted me 20 minutes to go through my things (they were done in 35, but I was browsing so it didn't matter to me) and I didn't find anybody to be rude. I didn't have to wait for a dressing room, either. As for clothing selection, it was okay. I did see some Marc Jacobs, H&M, and J. Crew. A lot of the items weren't name brand but they had a nice, fashionable look to them. And of course there were some items that desperately needed to return to the '80s and never come back. As for selling, all of the items I brought in were for spring, and they were from Banana Republic and Anthropologie. They only took one item and I got $3 for it. As a side note, I brought the same items to the Beacon's in Williamsburg and they didn't take any of them. Perhaps they are just very picky on the buy side. In terms of the dressing rooms, the store itself isn't that big, so they crammed as many dressing rooms as they could, hence the super small stalls. Although I did find a few pieces that I liked, I felt that the price tag didn't justify it, so I just took the cash. Bottom line, come here at an off-peak time and good luck in finding that perfect second-hand piece! :) read more

Among all the boutique clothing stores on 5th Ave likes this mighty big thrift store that contains affordable clothing. I have no patience for sifting through millions of clothing like my girlfriend. This seems to be a hit or miss place. However, I do like their little jewelry section! The staff was friendly, being patient with me trying on the jewelry pieces from the display case for a long time. I ended up buying 2 rings, success! read more

I luff this store. When you're shopping on a budget (like me) it's nice to forgo H&M and Forever 21 for a change and have the opportunity to get designer goods. I've scored Chip & Pepper jeans for $20, a SM by Steve Madden fall coat for $25, cute suede moccasins for $15, Lux dress for $15...etc... They also have great vintage. Sure, the shop gets a little cramped, but for these great I think it's totally worth it. Be sure to bring your patience. read more

Have I really not reviewed Beacon's yet? Oh brother! The new location is three blocks from my house. These leads to Marc Jacobs dresses, Betsey Johnson tops, Zachary Smile, H&M and Lux finds galore - and on the cheap. For this, I cannot complain. Although sometimes I wonder where some painfully unfortunate items of clothing are bought by Beacons, and yet my tags-still-on gorgeous things are not. I avoid going on the weekends because its far too crowded than it needs to be, although Mondays and Tuesdays are the best days for finds anyway. read more

I recently came here because my friends from California heard about this place and really wanted to take a look. It's actually my first time shopping at a thrift shop so I'm not really sure what I'll say about the prices. I feel like some of the stuff you can buy new for a similar price at the store, I think you really have to choose things that you can't find currently in a regular store. However, I love how they color coded the selection of clothes so that I know where to look. They have some really good designer finds such as Ferragamo.. DVF.. Marc Jacobs... it's a hit or miss. They also have a big selection of vintage finds, if you want to hit up a trendy thrift store, here's the place to go! read more

I went in with 5 shoes to sell. I stood on line to receive a place on another line. Waited 35 minutes. 3 of them I paid over $100 for. For two of them Steve Madden / cheap and a pair of Schutz heels I received $17.82. If you have the patience I would sell on eBay. My time waiting was worth so much more than $17.82! Interestingly enough they gave me about the same for both shoes. Never doing that again. read more

Selling your things here is like trying your luck at the DMV. It all depends on who is the one helping you. I needed to get rid of some handbags and shoes so I figured..."why not get some moo-lah for it?" I managed to get about $35 for 3 bags and 2 necklaces. The rest of the stuff I brought...I had them donate it cause I wasn't going to lug it back. To be honest, I feel a bit jipped because I've seen some ugly ass shit they sell there...and I was surprised they didn't want my other stuff. Granted their clientele is for a bunch of hipsters...and you know how they think? (Anything that clashes and weird enough for people to stare and gawk...) I would really be interested to know if and where they donate my stuff to. I ended up getting a dress and a set of bangles, and 3 rings. I must say I like that they do tell you which things are "new" (there are tags that indicate as such). I wasn't impressed with the selection or the way things were arranged. You kind of have to figure out..this rack is coats, this rack are stacked with dresses...and the rest are...tops?, winter tops?, knits? It's a hit or miss. There have a decent selection of notebooks and incense burner sticks in the front, some bangles/bracelets of sorts. Would I go back there again...? I don't know. I was a bit annoyed with their attitude, and like I said, it really depends which hipster is pricing your crap. Tip-bits: When you sell, it's 30% of what they would make in cash or 50% of what they would make in credit. Cash offer only good day of, Credit to be used at the BC location. Ask for new pieces for pieces you see in glass display, they may have other pieces read more

This is currently my favorite used clothing store in nyc. It is so great because they seem to have an eye for cool and funky pieces and brand names. It is not old ugly stuff in bad condition- everything is like new and super unique on top of that. I cannot walk into this store without leaving with something- which is a first for me. I did try to sell here once and they took nothing which surprised me. I really do not know where they get these clothes because it seems they reject everyone who sells, but the selection is so great that I will definitely keep shopping here! read more

Not really a good selection for mens clothing. They cater to mostly women, but they do have some great finds. They have records, notebooks and accessories in the front. The mens section, or rack is to your right. Hopefully next time I don't leave empty handed. read more

Unlike most consignment/vintage/used clothing shops, Beacon's actually fits the PURPOSE of such stores - e.g. it has selected items that are actually cheap! (I am thinking, for example, of housing works, which has the organization but is rather "expensive," considering the clothing often sucks and is worn). About the organization: -jeans are actually organized by size -other racks are centered loosely around the theme of blouse, dress, knit, pant, skirt, etc. Not extremely organized but also not a pain to look through. Anyway, yes - it can be hit or miss. Last time I went, for example, I perused from rack to rack finding nothing. Then - just as a friend was buying an item - I see this insane avant garde gold jacket. Turns out to be an unworn diane von F, originally retailing for over 800 bucks, that was marked $40. Chaching!!!! So - you certainly find treasures here. Other times, I have gone with loads of items to the fitting rooms (Temperly, Diane VF, Tracey Reese and Betsey J being among the clothing I have bought) and left with almost as many as I tried on. So cheap you don't feel guilty about it. read more

On my way to Beacon I saw a vintage store on 5th and walked in. I was shocked by the ridiculous high prices $35 for dresses that I wouldn't pay $15 for. I walked out after a minute of browsing and was scared Beacon's was going to be the same. I was pleasantly shocked to find the opposite. I found 4 dresses all $10.95 and a cute shirt for $7. I walked out happy as ever! They have a nice selection of shoes, jackets, and belts. I was only shopping for dresses though. read more

Pros: some really fantastic finds! They carry a ton of labels, everything seems to have original tags and in good condition. Average dress price is $18 for Calvin Klein, Banana Republic, etc, more like $30 for brands like White House Black Market or Bergdorf. Staff is friendly enough. Cons: packed on weekends. The line to try things on is lengthy and maneuvering around the store is an adventure. Not a tremendously relaxed vibe or laid back shopping experience. Obviously the selection varies depending on what they've bought recently. Overall, great little spot! read more

Men's Section Not as good As the Burg one. Women's section smaller but still options. read more

I brought in a couple bags of clothes and purses to sell and wasn't quite sure what to expect. The process was really pain-free and quite positive in the end though. I was able to drop off my bags and shop around while I waited, and the wait was only 20 minutes to go through all my stuff. The store was so well-staffed! When I returned to the sales counter about a half hour later with an awesome $16.95 vintage dress from the store in hand, I secretly hoped I'd have enough cash or store credit to afford it for free. Moment of truth: It turns out I received enough store credit/cash and then some! They informed me I could get a little over $40 in store credit, and I could apply that to the dress and get the rest in store credit or cash on the spot, though when you choose cash you get slightly less. I opted for the dress and the remainder in cash which came out to about $17 in cash as well. They will either donate your left over items or you can take them back with you. Plus, I LOVE the dress I found there. It's clearly vintage, super unique, and fits like a glove, which can be hard to achieve when it comes to vintage dresses. Good job Beacon's Closet! read more

Way too overpriced for mediocre secondhand clothes. There are some vintage gems, but the sizes are mostly very, very large. Sizes aren't labeled or organized from what I could tell, which made it difficult to shop for what would actually fit me. read more

I have to say that I've had great experiences at OTHER Beacon's closets, and was incredibly annoyed with this location. I have sold before, and understand that buyers are picky and can change what they want from day to day. I get it. I came in specifically with a bunch of things as a way to see what they took, so that I could come in with more. I had a lot of new tagged brand ski clothes, and wasn't sure what they would take because I doubted any of them knew ski/snowboarding brands. Anyway, I specifically made a note to the check-in person that I had a large suitcase with zipped compartments--- to be sure to unzip everything--- the luggage compartments AND the suitcases inside. The girl, after quoting me an incredibly shorter length of time than actually happened, said, "sure" and very clearly NEVER told the other people next to her. I didn't want to hover (due to past experiences elsewhere) and was very polite. I waited over 1 hour 45 minutes, and the girl had originally quoted me 1 hour. When i finally sold a few things (absolutely not worth the time), i brought the rest back, only to see that the person very CLEARLY DID NOT GO THROUGH the whole suitcase. They did not communicate as they said they would. I'm so frustrated because i wasted two hours of my day, and these buyers hardly look at anything. The girl the week before had told me one thing, and this girl hardly looked at my stuff after I waited patiently and was easy to work with. Generally speaking, the staff was super uncommunicative, and I will definitely consign elsewhere. They act as if others are rude them before the public even says anything whatsoever. Also, please be better at quoting realistic wait times. I waited double the amount predicted. read more

This place is fabulously hit or miss. Somedays I can find some really incredible dresses and tops for really reasonable prices and other days I only see stained clothes that cost far too much. In many ways though, that's the true fun of this place. I do recommend going and seeing what kind of stuff they have, you might just find everything you're looking for. In terms of giving them clothes, I've dropped off some pieces and I feel like it's just as hit or miss as buying is. Sometimes they take good clothes, give you decent prices for it, and sometimes they don't buy anything even when you have quality pieces. They will always take anything you want to give, even if it's to donate. It's a nice way of recycling old pieces. read more

I agree with Ashley S. I came here to sell some clothes and they took like 4 things... I made $15. Boom. Now that's fine, I didn't expect them to jump all over everything I brought, but for having such discriminating taste the stuff they are actually selling is crap. A lot of polyester 80's style crap. Not sure what all the hype is about read more

Absolutely the rudest group of ladies working here. I understand your job on the weekend might be a little annoying but don't take it out on kind customers who are asking a question. I treated them with kindness and respect so why can't it be reciprocated? I would not recommend bothering to waste your time here. You're better off donating your clothes elsewhere! read more

As far as I've seen, this is the best clothing thrift shop in the area, but I've only bought. It's always crowded, but who cares? Lots of designer stuff, wide size range, clean area to try things on and the staff has always been polite to me. Though a lot of their stuff is technically high end, this is not a place for ritzy wealthy women to come and sell and purchase stuff in a protected environment. There's artists and cool young people and "riff raff," so it's the no-nonsense, every man for himself kind of vibe you'll see at a Goodwill, but with consignment shop level brands. Personally I think it rocks. read more

It used to be good, now, it's mainly over-priced, fancy garage sale. cheap clothing. Icing on the cake, they're pretty obnoxious.

You really don't need to go shopping for new clothes if you live near here. Really great, trendy clothes/shoes here for decent prices - around $12-$14 for most shirts and bottoms, maybe $17-19 for dresses. I prefer this location over the other Beacon's Closet over in Williamsburg because this one is smaller and much less overwhelming than the other. Best part is that in the front of the store there are tons of local (and new) knick-knacks, stationery, and jewelry. Also, plus points for being only a few stores down from the Chocolate room - stop in if you have a long wait for a table ahead of you! read more

Came here with my sister after she read that one of the fashionistas she admires gets her vintage pieces from Beacon's Closet. It was short walk from my boyfriend's place (the one in Williamsburg seems massive but we didn't care to go that far). The place had some good options. I ended up getting 2 things for about $17/each which is reasonable for the condition they were in (one was NWT). However as my roommate stated, the price points are on the higher side for "vintage" stuff. Would come again if in the area but most likely wouldn't venture out of my way. I still have yet to bring the items I bought to the cleaner's... so they haven't been of much use to me anyway. read more

My experience trying to exchange clothing for money here was not what I expected when it comes to selling. Prior to bringing your clothes here to sell, be prepared to have some if not all of your clothes rejected because they are very selective. I've seen many a people get rejected the few times I've been here. I've brought 100% new clothing to Beacon's Closet multiple times before and they've never bought one of my items. It seems they seek very specific styles which depend on whether they are "in season" or not. I've also brought very expensive used brand clothes, specifically jeans, but they didn't buy it because they were looking for jeans with no whiskers on them. If you want to get rid of old clothing, don't count on Beacon's to buy it, but at the same time be prepared to understand what they're looking for. read more

This place has a lot of retro and vintage clothes. All my friends love this place. I do find things I like from time to time. The prices range from $7 to $15 (tops, shirts, blouses). I saw shoes and dresses, but I didn't spend a ton of time here. I could tell that they have a large collection. It is not really my style, yet I could see how if you were going to a theme party for a certain decade, that here is the place to go. read more

I did find a Marc by Marc Jacobs shirt for $15. I still find the staff to be stank and the clothes smell like the awful incense they burn (which I guess is preferable to other things) My bed bug phobia has made me squirrley about buying used stuff (that logic is highly flawed I realize this) I have heard stories about the rejected clothes they claim will be donated ending up on the racks but I don't have any experience with this first hand. This place is not vintage it is H&M, forever 21 and other name brand cast offs. Don't even bother if you are looking for cash-bring your nicer stuff to housing works and get a tax receipt. read more

I like this location! They don't take a lot of the clothing I bring in (some of which I might have bought there) but that's the fickle nature of trying to resell trending seasonal garments. I also don't mind that the staff have personalities - they are not blanket cheeriness, but they don't strike me as overtly rude. The clothing tends to be high quality and extremely discounted from what it once would have cost. The selection and the price is why I come here, not be courted by the manners of the employees. I am surprised by the bad reviews (although re: racial bias concerned review, I am white and can't speak to that particular concern. It is a racially mixed staff but I would take that critique seriously.). The place is often packed and that speaks for itself. read more

Hit and miss -- but I still stop in when I'm walking by. I've found great things at incredible prices, and sometime, I find nothing. Depends on the day. I do prefer this one to the Williamsburg location -- the Park Slope store is a smaller, more manageable. read more

Bigger? Yes. Better? That's questionable. The Beacon's store used to be a little tenement closet further south on Fifth Avenue, but now it's like a box-store warehouse on the north end. More of the same stuff, really, which is predictable, and their new accessories area is much more present. But the clothes selection? The same. Better than Williamsburg's, of course, since it's not quite overrun by hipsters, but still. It's a good place to buy cheap shades and an emergency shirt, but other than that, really, I'd rather not. read more

Don't bother hauling your bags here. They don't take anything. There's a really nice housing works down the street. Better to donate than get treated like crap on a Sunday morning. Rude from start to finish. Sorry you hate your jobs, ladies. read more

This is a destination! Some of the best consignment I've found at super reasonable prices! You can also bring in consignment for cash or credit on the spot!! read more

I approve of Beacon's Closet simply because they blatantly rip you off and acknowledge doing so. I like this as they will give me 35% of their astronomical pricing for my used clothes, in cash. I just wish they would let me buy music with the 55% offer. Sigh. Regardless, if you are going to sell your clothes, I'd do it here. However, I would never, ever shop here. read more

Let me preface this by saying Im not a thrifter. I dont have the eye for it and I hate the smell of the clothes - its just not my scene. I accompanied my sister because she actually can find some great pieces once in a while but this time it was a big failure. This Beacon's closet is HUGE. They do a pretty good job or organizing things into colors, tops v bottoms, dresses and shoes. I have to say the "woman's" section is pretty much trash. We found this half complete tiny blazer with the seams failing apart for 40$. WHAT? Also, some of their clothes is more than gently used- my sister found a cute top but ultimately decided against it because it seemed worn and the used smell. No thanks. I did peruse the "men's" section and they have waaaay more decent and sometimes NICE options and a good prices. If I was a dude or dressed in menswear I'd check this place out. The staff is nice. read more

Beacon's Closet, like many second-hand stores, means guilt-free shopping trips.. good for the environment and I feel rich because I can afford everything in the store. Take that, Barneys! The new location is definitely a trade-up. You can actually browse comfortably on the weekends now. As in all second hand shops, it's hit or miss and you have to dig. But I've found great stuff both new and vintage that get me tons of compliments. The last time I was there, however, I felt like the sales girl was all over me, watching and counting my items as I went in and out of the dressing room. I'm kind of offended that someone would suspect me of stealing cheap second hand clothes. WTF? As for selling, I had the same experience that many have.. brought in two bags of clothes and one pair of shoes, and they bought two things: an old ass sweater I bought from Goodwill 10 years ago and a Wet Seal sweater in questionable condition. Their buying habits confuse me, but their formula must be working! read more

It's convenient, what can I say? I don't really love newer this location of the store (it used to be on Union) but it's cleaner and nicer by design. The organization of clothes could be better as the tops are all shoved together, not even filed by color. Just doing each type item like blouses, shirts, sweaters, would be more convenient. The accessories aren't noteworthy, the bags are fair but the jewelery is fairly generic (though I like their sterling silver studs) and the tights are overpriced. The hats are kind of bleh. The shoes sometimes have hidden finds (you'll do well if you have very small or larger feet), but the good ones will be super expensive or worn out. Not a store for men's clothes, they seem to get 2 1/2 racks as they are only there to pretend they care about men's clothes. Which is fine for me, that inequality works in my favor. The clothes are a gamble, you have to pay more for what you want and can be pricey. It's not a seller's market but sometimes you can find yourself a deal. The dressing rooms are small and uncomfortable, the lines are often long to wait for. The staff is pretty curt, there are some really nice people but there are some stuck up people. It's not unexpected. Sometimes you get find something good, it's all a matter of luck. And the incense burning guy is really nice, he's been there since the near start of the store and always remembers my mom. Incense makes me nauseous but I'll deal with it to be in good company. read more

Bargains can be had ... if you don't mind elbowing your way through a jungle of Billyburg hipsters. I got a killer pair of vintage Nikes for under 25 bucks - much nicer, comfier and a helluvalot cheaper than the new trainers/sneakers I was considering to buy. And my lady friend totally scored with a purchase of what appeared to be brand new/never worn before Doc Martens at less than a third of what they'd have cost off the rack. Killer prices (especially for New York) and what seems to be a constant influx of fresh stock make this used and vintage clothing shop well worth a look-see whatever your tastes may be. read more

Second-hand HIPSTER haven. Tons of thrift-store trendy treasures for LESS at this "warehouse" located in Williamsburg --- accross the street from the Brooklyn Brewery. If you're lookin' for guy stuff --- the Park Slope location on 5th Avenue is MUCH better. read more

So many unique items, very reasonably priced. I could go broke living around the corner from this store. The staff is a bunch of hipsters, but what do you expect at a popular thrift store? Besides, hipsters are nice and warm once you get through the crunchy shell. I'm sorry for the people that only make it over there when it's mega-packed, but it's packed for a reason. read more

Sure it's cramped, sure the salespeople are rude, sure they have a bit too much of basic, mass retailer items - but in the end, I left with a $15 Ella Moss top and a $30 Marc Jacobs dress. End of story. read more

I guess it's understandable that a lot of people have a hate-on for this place, but honestly, what kind of service are you expecting when you go thrifting? Digging for treasures while trying to fend off competing clientele is part of the whole Beacon's experience. If you're sensitive to musty ambiance and "hipsters" breathing down your neck ( and 'hipsters'? oh please! They're as ubiquitous as the Abercrombie crowd these days! ), Beacon's isn't for you. With that said, the weekdays are a much easier time to shop. I like Beacon's, but it's one of those "hit or miss" sort of places. It's all about the timing. Take the experience with a grain of salt, you won't ALWAYS find the greatest stuff in here, but good things come to those who try, try again :D read more