Secondhand shopping, also known as thrifting, is more than just a trend in the Ann Arbor area. There are several reasons to experience thrifting in the area, from cheap clothing to enjoying artistic vintage statement pieces.
One of the best things about thrift shopping is the opportunity to find items that are historic. For this article, we are exploring the rarest finds you can purchase at thrift shops across the Ann Arbor area.Â
Whether it’s a rare concert T-shirt from The Get Up Vintage or an old University of Michigan Football shirt from University Vintage, the thrifting landscape is filled with rare finds. Here are a few that you should check out.
University VintageÂ
Address: 324 S State St, Ann Arbor
Rare Find: Custom Made Varsity Jacket
University Vintage, which celebrated one year of customer success since opening its brick-and-mortar store in January, is one of the city’s premier vintage shops due to its quality University apparel, which ranges from small keychains to player-worn items.
When it comes to rare items, there is no greater prize than their customized jacket, which they acknowledge as a true one-of-one. Although the item is not for sale due to its extreme rarity, it’s certainly worth stopping by the store to take a look at the varsity jacket designed with historic Wolverine logos and inside references made over the years.Â
The Getup VintageÂ
Address: 210 S 4th Ave, Ann Arbor
Rare Find: Original David Bowie ShirtÂ
The Getup Vintage, while offering environmentally conscious fashion, has maintained its promise to sell items from every decade from the 1950s. The business offers items that range from 1960s Vintage Cream Wool Open Coats to Calvin Klein Tote Bags made in the 90s.
For its rare items, Getup Vintage highlights a one-of-a-kind David Bowie shirt from his 1978 Solar II World Tour, which is currently on sale at the store for $325.
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MaLofta Vintage
Address: 407 N 5th Ave Floor 1, Ann Arbor
Rare Item: Custom Made Orb Vase
In the heart of Kerrytown in Ann Arbor, MaLofta Vintage offers a diverse assortment of items. Whether it’s art or cute statement pieces for your home, like a Vintage powder blue sofa, you can find rare items in every corner of this vintage business.
For those searching for the rarest item, look no further than its two orb vases, handcrafted by artist JT Apernathy, a retired artist who produced the two as his final pieces of work. With a price of $450, owning this item would mean owning a piece of history, as there will never be another Abernathy piece ever created again.
Find and Shine VintageÂ
Address: 6 N Huron St, Ypsilanti
Rare Find: Poster of Ypsilanti 1975 Summer CelebrationÂ
Ypsilanti offers a wealth of vintage stores to explore, from the historic Ypsi Depot town to the city’s Huron Street. With such a wide selection, it should come as no surprise that each business offers unique and rare items laden with history.
For Find and Shine Vintage, their rare item is a poster of the 1975 Ypsilanti Summer Celebration Music Festival, which featured artists such as Dave Mason, Peter Frampton and Lynyrd Skynyrd. For Find and Shine, this historical piece is available for purchase at $179.99, a bargain for a product over 50 years old.Â
Kristine Joseph Antiques
Address: 2 N Huron St, Ypsilanti
Rare Find: Civil War French Gendarmerie PistolÂ
Next door to Find and Shine Vintage, Kristine Joseph Antiques offers a genuine U.S. Civil War French Navy model converted pistol manufactured in the 1820s. While the store provides several unique products, such as rare art and second-hand couches, this original pistol is the rarest item and is available for purchase at $700.
Lucky Haskins Antiques and Retro
Address: 27 E Cross St, Ypsilanti
Rare Find: Original Map of Northern Ypsilanti.Â
Lucky Haskins Antiques and Retro in Ypsilanti offers nostalgic toys, gifts, and memorabilia. While its roster of items each tells a unique piece of history, there is no grander piece of history than its original map of northern Ypsilanti. With details of the city mapped out down to the Huron River, this piece of art was made in 1915 by the former publishing company, Geo. A. Ogle & Co. The map is large-scale, showing Ypsilanti in its original form.Â
Torn & Frayed Ann Arbor
Address: 1930 W Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor
Rare Find: Ohio State Woody Hayes 1977 ShirtÂ
If there is one thing Ann Arbor loves to do, it’s make fun of its long-time rival, Ohio State. This, of course, has happened for literal decades as their rivalry began in 1897, and no better statement of this near 12-decade roast session than Torn & Frayed Vintage’s T-shirt making fun of former Ohio State Coach Woody Hayes in 1977. With a detailed image of Hayes as a crying cracked buckeye seed, it’s a dream shirt to have for any U-M fan. It’s also worth noting that in 1977, U-M defeated the Buckeyes 14-6.Â
From quality fashion to rare art pieces, vintage stores in the Ann Arbor area offer a unique secondhand shopping experience with something for everyone. In your next thrifting adventures, stop by one of these locations to see if you can find that special item loaded with history and truly a one-of-one.
Antonio Cooper is a freelance journalist from Detroit, Michigan. His coverage of music festivals and interviews with local celebrities appeared in The E-Current Magazine, The Detroit Metro Times, XXL Magazine, RichMagDigital, The Ann Arbor Observer, and Pop Magazine.
