Village Vintage thrift store opens in Patchogue with secondhand finds
Atahan Demir, left, and Ayse Guvenir at Village Vintage, their new thrift store in Patchogue. Credit: Felipe Maldonado
A revolving, curated selection of gently used clothing for men and women is the star attraction at Village Vintage in Patchogue.
But Ayse Guvenir and Atahan Demir have saved space in their South Ocean Avenue thrift store that opened in June for something extra — theatricality.
"We gather secondhand clothing, estate jewelry, antiques and curiosities, then arrange them like a stage set you get to walk through," says Guvenir, 31, who lives in New York City.
"We wanted the store and everything in it to reflect our personal taste," she adds. "We are, to be honest, a little bit dramatic. We both love eclectic interiors. We wanted the store to reflect that."
And it does, top to bottom. The mirrored ceiling is a special effect accomplished by Demir, 28, who runs an e-commerce pool and garden supply store when he’s not at Village Vintage. His handyman skills are behind the joyous magenta walls adorned with artwork as well antiques and curiosities for sale.
"We designed the store to be like an experience," Demir says, adding that extends to a disco-y vibe in the dressing room and staying open until 8 p.m. Plans are in the works to host tarot readings and music-related events.
"After people go out to eat or have drinks, they can come to the store," says Demir, who lives in Patchogue. "We have a photo booth, so they can take pictures while they’re shopping."
Merchandise, sourced through estate sales, networking and shopping excursions, ranges from everyday denim to sparkly eveningwear to accessories, brand-name handbags and shoes.
They emphasize sustainability and affordability, with many items selling for between $10 and $300. Gold-studded, red-soled green suede Christian Louboutin pumps selling on consignment — another facet of the store — run $850.
What’s on racks and shelves is carefully eyed first by the co-owners, who are distant relatives and grew up and went to college in Turkey. Guvenir studied musicology and taught piano. Demir studied software engineering.
"We don’t want people to dig through to find some gold," Demir says. "It's all gold."
Village Vintage, 10 S. Ocean Ave., 631-790-2841, Patchogue, villagevint.com, @villagevint
