An Upper East Side and online boutique specializing in vintage fashion and home decor is expanding to the Upper West Side.
The Niche Shop is currently prepping its new space at 2206 Broadway (between 78th and 79th streets), formerly home to Blossom Jewelry. They’re aiming to open September 8.
Advertisement
The store carries vintage apparel including items like blazers, dresses, shoes and handbags, and often hosts pop-up events. Items can also be purchased from The Niche Shop’s website and even directly from the store’s Instagram account. The UES location opened at 311 East 81st Street (between 1st and 2nd avenues) in April 2022.
From the UES store. Photo by Bobby Panza.
The UWS location will follow a similar format and specialize in “women’s and unisex vintage, secondhand clothing, and home decor,” according to Nichole Sesti, the store’s owner. Sesti owns the shop with Nick Sparacio, her partner of more than five years. The pair first met while working in finance.
More Upper West Side Openings, HERE
“I curate this store to what draws my eye. I love color. I love bold prints,” Sesti told East Side Feed when the E. 81st St. location opened last year. Sesti sources all inventory herself, and describes her items as “things that are easy to style but also some really fun, grab your eye, statement pieces.”
The business grew out of Sesti’s ability to sell her own clothes online and through social media. She told Business Insider earlier this year that the UES location helped take the business to the next level, in part because of the difficulty surrounding online vintage shopping.
Advertisement
“The pictures typically aren’t great, descriptions aren’t accurate, you can’t tell about sizing, and physically feeling the clothing makes a huge difference when shopping secondhand.”
In addition to clothing and apparel, the store carries jewelry, glassware, candles and other accessories.
“I want all my customers to have a unique experience when shopping here,” said Sesti in a recent Instagram video. “I handpick everything mostly from vintage wholesalers.”
This trend of “vintage” stores always seem to get their stock from thrift shops like Housing Works just to put a 1000% markup on things, but I guess it saves the bougie customers from having to dig through the racks like the rest of us commoners.