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Where Conrad Benner Shops All-Things Vintage On the Cheap

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Welcome to Playing Favorites, wherein local shopping and fashion gurus provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around Philly that we might not all know about. Cue the Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.

Image credit: Conrad Benner

For an urban explorer like Streets Dept's Conrad Benner—a photo blogger who braves crumbling drywall, sketchy floorboards, and chance encounters with ghostly apparitions to get those great shots of Philly's abandoned buildings—it's all about the thrill of the hunt. So when Benner told us his favorite Philadelphia shopping haunts include a labyrinth-like book store and a bulk vintage warehouse, we were all, "Sounds about right."

After the jump, Benner reveals the city's top seven spots where you're likely to find him digging for vintage oxfords, dog-eared books, and bargain-priced estate furniture.


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Jinxed Clothing

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Since moving back to Fishtown with some friends in the middle of last year, Jinxed has been my go-to for vintage/thrift house stuff. There are two locations near my house: one at The Piazza in Northern Liberties and one on Frankford Avenue in Fishtown. And I also follow them on Instagram (like 10k other Philadelphians!) I've got a living room chair from there, a side table, a few stools, rugs, a painting... Seriously, if you've never been there, you must live in Delaware. (Nothing against the First State.) Jinxed has got it all, and they've got it all at really, really great prices. [Image credit: Jinxed/Instagram]

Lost + Found

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Whenever I'm in Old City I try and stop into Lost + Found. I've been getting stuff from these two ladies for years. They've got a healthy selection of new and vintage men's wares, and they're just a pleasure to talk to. I almost always end up leaving with something, usually a button down shirt of some sort. But I've also shopped here to buy jewelry for friends' birthdays and such.

Sazz Vintage Clothing

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Speaking of Old City, I'm a big fan of Sazz as well. Great selection of men's vintage oxfords and tees—and a ton of fun old sweaters in the winter! Definitely worth checking out their wholesale warehouse in Kensington too. There's always a lot of stuff to dig through, and the prices (as the "warehouse" name implies) are about as low as you're going to get for vintage in the city. [Image credit: Sazz/Facebook]

Two Percent To Glory

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I'd have to say that my newest "obsession"—if I can use a bit of Seventeen magazine language for a second—has got to be Two Percent To Glory in Fishtown. This shop is exquisitely curated. A fantastic selection of men's clothing(really, much more than most vintage shops!)and tons of little items for everyone (art, rugs, etc.) And like all the places I've talked about, a truly wonderful shop owner. Totally dedicated to her shop and easy to talk to while you pick through her collection. [Image credit: Two Percent to Glory/Facebook]

Franklin Flea

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Philly's newest (and possibly best) roving flea market with all sorts of vintage goods and collectibles. I think this flea is succeeding where the Brooklyn Flea failed, and though I've only been to one of these yet, I was definitively impressed and am excited to check it out more this spring/summer! [Image credit: Franklin Flea/Facebook]

Philly Aids Thrift Shop

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I mean this is a no brainier. I've been going to this place for years, since I lived in South Philly, and it's only expanded and gotten better over the years. A fantastic selection of vintage housewares (I think every plate I have is from here) as well as clothing, art, and even books. And to top it all off, your money goes to a great cause. Absolutely zero buyer's remorse associated with shopping at Philly AIDS Thrift. [Image credit: Facebook/Philly AIDS Thrift]

Mostly Books

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And talking about books, if you've never checked out Mostly Books, you are missing an experience. An awesome place to get a few new reads for yourself, or as a little present, Mostly Books is literally like walking into a huge abandoned factory of lost books. As much as I love my phone and Instagram (of course), you will never catch me reading from a tablet. This place is a book lover's heaven. [Image credit: Mostly Books]

Jinxed Clothing

Since moving back to Fishtown with some friends in the middle of last year, Jinxed has been my go-to for vintage/thrift house stuff. There are two locations near my house: one at The Piazza in Northern Liberties and one on Frankford Avenue in Fishtown. And I also follow them on Instagram (like 10k other Philadelphians!) I've got a living room chair from there, a side table, a few stools, rugs, a painting... Seriously, if you've never been there, you must live in Delaware. (Nothing against the First State.) Jinxed has got it all, and they've got it all at really, really great prices. [Image credit: Jinxed/Instagram]

Lost + Found

Whenever I'm in Old City I try and stop into Lost + Found. I've been getting stuff from these two ladies for years. They've got a healthy selection of new and vintage men's wares, and they're just a pleasure to talk to. I almost always end up leaving with something, usually a button down shirt of some sort. But I've also shopped here to buy jewelry for friends' birthdays and such.

Sazz Vintage Clothing

Speaking of Old City, I'm a big fan of Sazz as well. Great selection of men's vintage oxfords and tees—and a ton of fun old sweaters in the winter! Definitely worth checking out their wholesale warehouse in Kensington too. There's always a lot of stuff to dig through, and the prices (as the "warehouse" name implies) are about as low as you're going to get for vintage in the city. [Image credit: Sazz/Facebook]

Two Percent To Glory

I'd have to say that my newest "obsession"—if I can use a bit of Seventeen magazine language for a second—has got to be Two Percent To Glory in Fishtown. This shop is exquisitely curated. A fantastic selection of men's clothing(really, much more than most vintage shops!)and tons of little items for everyone (art, rugs, etc.) And like all the places I've talked about, a truly wonderful shop owner. Totally dedicated to her shop and easy to talk to while you pick through her collection. [Image credit: Two Percent to Glory/Facebook]

Franklin Flea

Philly's newest (and possibly best) roving flea market with all sorts of vintage goods and collectibles. I think this flea is succeeding where the Brooklyn Flea failed, and though I've only been to one of these yet, I was definitively impressed and am excited to check it out more this spring/summer! [Image credit: Franklin Flea/Facebook]

Philly Aids Thrift Shop

I mean this is a no brainier. I've been going to this place for years, since I lived in South Philly, and it's only expanded and gotten better over the years. A fantastic selection of vintage housewares (I think every plate I have is from here) as well as clothing, art, and even books. And to top it all off, your money goes to a great cause. Absolutely zero buyer's remorse associated with shopping at Philly AIDS Thrift. [Image credit: Facebook/Philly AIDS Thrift]

Mostly Books

And talking about books, if you've never checked out Mostly Books, you are missing an experience. An awesome place to get a few new reads for yourself, or as a little present, Mostly Books is literally like walking into a huge abandoned factory of lost books. As much as I love my phone and Instagram (of course), you will never catch me reading from a tablet. This place is a book lover's heaven. [Image credit: Mostly Books]