Monk Thrift Shop

I have been to monk several times. This little hole in the wall thrift shop has a charm that many thrift shops don’t. Because of its crowded nature, it really feels like you are stumbling on a real treasure when you find something you like.
The prices are reasonable and the merchandise is really varied. I have bought everything here from first edition books to NWT soulcycle leggings. However, I most often mind myself admiring their bag collection (brand name bags priced around $ 50 – 85). I would definitely go to Monk if you are looking for a reasonably priced clutch — they have a surprising amount!
One weird thing about Monk is that they give you 10% (maybe 15%?) if you donate something. I have been so tempted to donate something, or even buy a $ 1 tshirt (at the goodwill a few blocks away) to donate, just to get the discount.
I give it 4 stars because there are some good finds. Would give it 5 stars if it was slightly cheaper.

I used to really like this place. Aside from standard clothes items I had found a great briefcase and some sweet high end men’s shoes. It appears the prices have gone up over the past few years. I’m sure there are still some great and interesting find in this spot though

I found many interesting historical things in there. It is not your typical thrift shoppe.
This store has been there for years and i visit them once a month. I find a variety of crazy things not just clothes. Even as a tourist destination; i highly recommend you check it out.

Snagged an awesome pair of lightly worn Louboutins here for an outstanding price. They’ve got tons of gems. I’m definitely a fan.

One of my favorite thrift shops. The staff is very friendly, helpful and they play great music here! I also love the discount they give for donating items. I usually donate a whole pile of things and then leave with one or two items.

Cute place. I always leave with at least one item. Some pretty interesting things for decent prices and sweet staff.

Selection is mediocre and prices are high. Plus, they only give a 25% off next purchase coupon for bringing in items! Save your energy and your money and go somewhere else (like the goodwill on 8^th).

** ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE SALES TAX FOR CLOTHING ITEM IN NYC **
This place used to be so cool, what happened?
I took a few people from out of town here this weekend. Everything is obviously completely overpriced in this store, but I did find a scarf I liked for $ 6. Actually, it had no price, so the sales people up front decided it was $ 6. But when I went to pay, the salesgirl with the short pink and yellow (pink and green?) hair added on sales tax which is illegal in New York City. When I questioned her, she said a scarf wasn’t really a clothing item. (!!) Okay? This felt shady, but I didn’t really want to argue in front of my friends, so I just handed over my debit card. The girl then said I needed to spend over $ 10 to use my card. Funny, I would have thought if they are so desperate for an extra .52 that they would take any sale they could get.
Anyway, I didn’t have any cash, so I took my card back and left the scarf.
If you go to
, it clearly says scarves (and wraps and shawls) are exempt from tax.
Shall not be bringing anyone here anymore and shall stick to the Goodwill shops that are all over town and not full of such nonsense.

It’s Ok, just OK. For the quality and condition of the clothing and shoes their prices are really high. Also a lot of their clothes are in pretty poor conditon and smell ‘musty’. To be honest you can get a better deal going to the Goodwill around the corner.

It kills me when places label themselves as a «thrift» store when there is nothing in the store that is fairly priced. If i wanted a 100 $ jacket, I would just buy it form the retail store. The staff is also very less than friendly. You’re better off going to the good will around the corner.

I went in here for a quick browse between meetings. The place is packed with stuff of all sorts, which is the only reason I am giving it 2 stars instead of 1. I am an avid thrifter and vintage collector, so there is nothing worse to me than a shop with barely any merchandise!
First of all, the clothes are mainly overpriced, but there were a few finds I noticed in the time allotted. I say «allotted» because after about 13 minutes (barely scratching the surface of this place) one of the 2 sales girls began glaring at me from the front desk. I was the only person in there and was not even trying anything on (yet) just pulling a few things to see length etc and putting them back carefully. Just as I was getting in the «rhythm» realizing how the place was set up etc, this salesgirl, or I shld really say woman, she was not a girl,…
Proceeded to come to every spot I was at, come right up next to me and shuffle the clothes around in a huff. She had a scowl on her face and certainly didn’t ask if I needed help. At first I gave her the benefit of the doubt — maybe she was looking for something important — so I moved to another rack on the other side of the shop and stay out of her way. But No! She followed me there and continued to scowl! I moved again and the same thing happened 2 more times. I couldn’t believe it! Finally it happened in the coat area and even tho i had just found a cute Armani trench I wanted to try on, I decided to leave. I then realized that it was almost 6pm so maybe she wanted to close, but even then, she could have said they were closing soon. When I finally was outside I checked the hours and they actually close at 8pm! Bottom line, I would not recommend this place because this sales woman is an awful bitch and makes the hunt (which is most of the fun to me!) a total downer. Oh well.

One of the staff chicks is vermin and I’m never going back to this store after she inferred I was stealing.
As I was trying on jackets in plain eye view, she not only stands by glaring at me like the cunty store clerks eye balling Julia Roberts on Rodeo Drive in Pretty Woman, but she gathered my hangers without asking if I was done then picked up some empty hanger that was already lying around and goes «And the other?» So I replied «Other what?» And she says (pointing to the empty hanger) «The one that belongs to this hanger».
Luckily, that nasty bitch didn’t catch the worse end of my wrath, but I guarantee you they’ve lost my business. I wasn’t even going to buy the items I tried on and liked, but my friend reminded me not to take my anger out on the clothes. Touché.

1990’s Moschino dress? Sure. Bunny earrings? Don’t mind if I do!
My taste in clothes is rather here and there, with a touch of classic, sometimes athletic, when the opportunity calls for it. Monk Thrift Shop was a pretty decent shop for a few ideal pieces to calm your taste for vintage, but it had its burps.
As for clothes, there was an unusual mix of high end and cheap crap. Dated and vintage, new-​ish and fuzz-​ball dotted sweaters. I’m confused, but continue to browse, finding a handful of cute dresses, suitable for the hot-​as-​hell, muggy-​as-​a-​mofo temperatures found in Key West.
Sold. It’s probably a hit or miss, but you’ll likely find a piece or two or three at Monk.

«Thrift Shop» has the connotation of being inexpensive but not necessarily cheap. This place, like most thrift stores, has the sense that you’re sifting through a long-​lost relative who passed away and left you her entire estate to sort through. I can still smell the place in my mind: musty and old.
Yet, I was an idiot who bought two things from there that I haven’t even used or looked at, almost a year later. I suppose the novelty of being in NYC hadn’t worn off yet or perhaps it was an odor in the store that compelled me to make a buyer’s remorse inducing decision.
I can’t bring myself to touch the racks of old clothing nowadays so I mostly peruse the accessories. I can’t believe this store has the gall to think they can command Macy’s prices on their items.

I miss the Monk thrift shops that were in my neighborhood – on avenues A, B, and C – so I’m happy that not all the Monk stores in Manhattan have closed; this one on MacDougal street is good to stop in when something in the window catches your eye – and with a window this busy, something is bound to catch your eye.
I was actually just looking for a Trimline™ phone, on the off-​chance they’d have one, but no such luck. So I ended up getting a little Native American charm for $ 25; silver and gold are both through the roof, with no end in sight, but I reflected that a few years ago, that same pendant would have been $ 10 at the most.
If you’re looking for an old movie camera, vintage clothes, or random bric-​à-​brac, this store is a good bet; with Halloween approaching, it’s even a good bet to find parts of your costume. (You never know.)

a haiku:
walking in new york
found monk with designer duds!
some well priced, some not

This thrift store is more expensive than most but it’s selection is pretty legit, most of the items are things I would buy and wear or know someone who would wear them. This shop is about the same size as the Brooklyn one, with mostly women’s clothes but a nice range of men’s clothes as well.
They have shoes, books and bags fit in where ever they can and that’s standard I guess. It’s still overpriced.

Before I moved to Boston where vintage is somewhat less overpriced, I was a fan of Monk. I like the psychedelic flair of their inventory, and the overpacked racks of clothing make the clothing hunt an adventure.
I would say about half of the stuff in there costs too much for its quality. BUT the 5% of the time that I find something amazing and cheap, it is the best deal and most awesome thing I could hope to find. Such as the $ 20 wool candy-​colored 1960s dress that came right out of a Mad Men episode, which fits me more perfectly than any other dress I own.
I just hope the majority of stuff being slightly overpriced/​not amazing will help keep the gems hidden!

This place is chockful of STUFF. It’s stuffed to the brim of all these clothes, books, shoes, household goods, you name it. I do have to say, that the owners know their designer brands, because I did notice that a lot of those items — Nanette Lepore, BCBGMaxazria, etc. — were priced significantly higher than other items. I saw a pretty Nanette Lepore tank for $ 40, vintage Gucci shoes for $ 125, new with tags Kate Spade tote for $ 65 etc. You get the idea. But the selection itself is pretty nice — gently used/​like new clothing, and good condition shoes. The non-​designer items (H&M, Forever 21) are priced pretty cheaply, like $ 5-​$ 15 for shirts, etc.
There’s a lot of vintage items here too, for you true vintage buffs (me, I’m more of a designer dud person, as indicated by my reviews). The back has a lot of records and knick knacks. There were some old telephones in the front, and this one lady got so excited over a pair of vintage binoculars. I also saw an old guy (A customer) reading a book and rocking out to the music back there. SO let’s just say that the clientele here is pretty interesting.
This place is NOT for the thrift-​store shy because it’s just packed with stuff. But if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, come stop by this place.

It smells like grandma in here, really. Not that my own grandmother smells, but it’s the TYPICAL old people smell they have in here. I suppose they’re trying to make this place as vintage as possible, especially with the scent? I choke, I choke.
I came here once before, more than a year ago, and ironically walked in just as the store was going to close in a minute (that’s what she said). I still remember seeing that Coach bag behind the counter for $ 40.
All I have to say, is that this place is a rip-​off. Except the $ 1 final sale at the front. They have a whole bunch of brand new in tag «BITTEN by Sarah Jessica Parker» shirts that were sold at Steve & Barry’s a few years ago, for less than 10 bucks, and selling it for $ 12.50. Clearly, they are trying to make a gigantic profit, especially for those of us who are retail-​store savvy. They even sell used Old Navy tank tops for $ 8! «What a steal!» Also, I almost jumped when I saw a pair of Lucky Brand Jeans in my size, but it was $ 65 and used. Oh well, it was flare anyway.
I’m glad they have such a huge selection of records that were on sale for just 50 cents! Too bad I don’t have a record player.
This store is just too small, and the clothes look like something my mom would walk out of with 5 shopping bags, which is usually not good.