Shoppers lined up down the block for the grand opening of L Train Vintage’s newest location, and its first in The Bronx.
Luna Bernard, a Wakefield resident, arrived 30 minutes before doors opened. She’s a longtime fan of the store and used to commute an hour to the Williamsburg location in Brooklyn.
“All of my clothes are from this store,” Bernard said. “I really love this store.”
Now, with a location just a short walk away on White Plains Road under the 2 train, she says shopping vintage is easier than ever.
“It was exciting and fun, but I’d have to get up and go it would take a little bit longer to get there,” Bernard said. “Now I can just get up and walk like two minutes.”
Inside, Bernard quickly spotted a unique find, a vintage jacket displayed in the window.
“I am like a Y2K fanatic. And there was this vintage baby leopard leather jacket, and I had to have this,” she said.
The Wakefield store is the 10th L Train Vintage location in New York City. The family-owned business also operates shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Unlike traditional thrift stores, L Train Vintage does not accept donations or buy items from customers.
“We don’t take donations. We don’t buy and we don’t trade,” said Jorge Perez, manager of the Wakefield store. “We have sources and buyers all over the country and all over the world that source our clothing. And it’s a really exciting treasure hunt.”
From jackets to shoes and everything in between, the store offers a wide variety of secondhand fashion for customers hoping to elevate their style.
“I could be in here for hours and look at every single thing,” Bernard said. “You don’t know what you’re going to find and that’s the excitement of it all.”
The Wakefield L Train Vintage is open daily from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.