I accidentally walked into an “antique lover’s & bargain hunters' dream” when I stepped into Green Village on 276 Starr St. Outside the store, wooden chairs and used tables were messily stacked on top of each other. A moving van, filled with the funkiest array of furniture, was also parked on the street.
From a distance, Green Village appeared to be a factory building or a warehouse of some sort. I initially walked right past it, but caught a glimpse of a sign, which stated that it sold used clothing and furniture. Customers also seemed to be heading inside, so I turned around and joined the crowd.
My eyes lit up the moment I entered the building. I’ve always loved thrift shopping, but Green Village is not your ordinary second hand boutique. It’s a warehouse sized shop filled to the brim with a myriad of “vintage finds & junk” — from ordinary furniture to costumes and props for set designers.
According to the company website, Green Village is Brooklyn’s best kept secret. It’s definitely a place to nab a bargain, but rummaging through the 10,000- square-foot store is an experience in and of itself.
It’s actually quite difficult to navigate as the shelves are so tightly packed with items. You are forced to walk in a single file line since there's only enough room for one person to fit in-between the aisles.
In the 30 minutes I spent at the store, I knocked down a tape recorder and saw a woman break a ceramic sculpture. I guess that comes along with the overall experience. If I wasn’t so strapped for time, I could have easily spent an entire day accidentally breaking all the contents of the store.
