WESTFIELD — Fashionistas, bargain shoppers and curiosity seekers alike have a new opportunity to hunt for hidden gems in downtown Westfield.
On Saturday, Mayor Shelley Brindle and other town officials joined the staff of 2nd Street USA, a new high-end, second-hand store located on East Broad Street, to celebrate the shop’s official grand opening.
The recently-opened shop carries a wide variety of gently-used specialty clothing, vintage handbags, designer shoes and accessories as well as backpacks, athletic wear and winter coats and jackets.
“This does not feel like a traditional thrift store,” property owner James Ward said, speaking during a tour of the shop on Monday. “Everything in here looks and feels new, but you’re still paying a fraction of what you would anywhere else.”
2nd Street, which currently has more than 700 locations around the world, originated in Japan in 1996. The new East Broad Street location is the second in New Jersey; the company also has a branch in Montclair.
Visitors to the shop also have the option of selling their own items to 2nd Street for cash. Unlike a traditional consignment arrangement (where the seller is only paid once the item is resold), 2nd Street pays for all of its items up front.
According to information provided by the company’s website, sellers will be required to bring their ID’s as an added security measure to ensure that the shop is not receiving stolen goods.
“This thrift store offers curated, one-of-a-kind pieces in premium, second- hand condition, successfully tapping into the growing and popular sustainable market,” Mayor Brindle said of the shop. “2nd Street will be a regional draw for Westfield and a very exciting addition to our resurgent downtown.”
2nd Street is the first paying tenant to occupy the East Broad Street location since Ann Taylor closed its doors in June of 2020.
“This store is a great fit for this location,” said Mr. Ward, who operated a pop-up Selfie Station business out of the space for a brief time. “This is the type of business that will bring people to town, which is exactly what we want. It’s a unique shop with a national reputation, and once the word gets out, I think people will be willing to make a special trip just to check it out.”
So far, Mr. Ward said, business has been booming.
“There has been a very steady stream of people in and out of the store since the day of the grand opening,” he said, “and it really does seem like everybody — whether you’re up on the latest fashion trends or not — is walking out with something that they really love.”
For more information, including operating hours and other details about the business, visit 2ndstreetusa.com.