When I walked by and saw a pug curled up in the sunny window, I really hoped I was at the right place.
After double-checking the sign outside and peeking through the windows at the fashionable mannequins on display, I determined that yes, I was indeed at Antique Sugar Vintage Clothing.
Cut to my childish excitement when I opened the door and squealed “HI, LITTLE PUG!” to the snuggly creature. The dog, which I later learned was named Otis, scurried away from my probably terrifying self, but at least this made it easier to focus on what I was originally interested in — Antique Sugar.
Last March, we left you with a preview of Antique Sugar’s opening, which at the time was set to be in April. The store was moving from its original location in the Melrose District to the Roosevelt area on Second and McKinley streets.
Related: Treat yourself to stylish steals at Antique Sugar’s Vintage Clothing’s new space
The store is now open for business and stocked with stylish finds. I headed over to check it out and get the scoop from co-owner Sarah Bingham.
It turns out the store’s new location didn’t officially open until June, but Bingham told me they have had a lot of success, especially with the consumer boom many local Roosevelt stores experience on First Fridays.
“Our (first) First Friday that we were open, it wasn’t busy at all, but I think it’s because it was August and a million degrees outside,” Bingham said. “But this last previous one (in September), it was nuts … I don’t think we were on anybody’s list of places to stop by, but just as they were walking by, they came in.”
I can imagine that the floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing stylish mannequins and promises of racks upon racks of vintage clothes contribute to the store’s enticement.
Upon my own exploring, I found that the store has a wide variety of pieces, from colorfully retro bathing suits to thick houndstooth blazers.
I also was wonderstruck by the amount of sequined pieces on the racks, especially a beaded cream top that evoked some major ’20s vibes. (I imagine that wearing this would make me feel like Daisy Buchanan, but hopefully without all the romantic literary drama.)
Other attractions include displays of shoes interspersed throughout the store, which included a pair of low-heeled cowboy boots and sandals bursting with floral decorations, and a giant rack of ties that represent a Father’s Day gift goldmine.
The men’s section of Antique Sugar is one thing that makes the store unique, according to Bingham.
The presence of men’s clothing isn’t “super common” in vintage stores, Bingham said. “There’s only maybe a couple of shops that carry menswear.”
But Bingham also sings the praises of other Arizona stores, including Annie Boomer Vintage near Roosevelt and Sixth streets and Fashion by Robert Black in Scottsdale.
“We actually hang out with these people,” Bingham said. “None of us have the exact same angle on our clothing … Everybody has their niche of what they think is cool, and that’s what they sell.”
As for Antique Sugar, Bingham said the recipe of what they look for is simple — “if it’s cool, if it speaks to us in some way.”
Bingham said she and co-owner Anna Sanchez, who curate the merchandise and keep up with the maintenance of the store, have been thrift-shopping since their high school days, and that’s what led them to start their own business of buying and selling vintage threads.
“I remember going with Anna to thrift stores and she would have a big pile of stuff that wouldn’t fit her,” Bingham said. “She’s like, I don’t care, I’m just saving it for our store. Forever, before we had any idea we were gonna open the store, she was always like, we’re gonna have a store someday. So she knew.”
Antique Sugar still sells some of their pieces on their Etsy page. In the store, they put out some new pieces daily and on the Mondays following their shopping from the prior month, according to Bingham.
This is when the spankin’ new (well, old) items are up for grabs, but if you’re looking to save a few extra bucks, hit up the store on the final Saturday and Sunday of the month, when everything is 50 percent off, a new promotional offer since moving to the new location.
Explained Bingham, “If you want the best deals, it’s the last weekend (of the month). If you want the coolest new stuff before it’s gone, it’s the following week after that (on the first Monday of the month).”
Bingham said she and Sanchez have been pleasantly surprised at the diverse demographic of customers since the store moved to its new location.
“We get high school kids all the way up to retirees that are shopping for events or bringing their stuff in to us to sell,” she said. “It’s definitely more college (students) now … but we definitely have a range of people that come in.”
Contact the columnist at lallnatt@asu.edu
