SHEBOYGAN — A vintage thrift store is replacing Goodside Grocery Co-Op of Sheboygan downtown.

City Vintage & Thrift LLC will bring curated vintage and thrifted clothing to the space at 1131 N. Eighth St., with a possible soft opening mid-December. Clothes will be trendy and not fast fashion, according to owner Amy Sittman.

She said the shop’s goal is “rich threads, re-tread,” visible on a sign posted in the window. Sittman wants to offer secondhand pieces of quality colors and materials like wool, leather and velvet while still keeping prices as low as possible, some ranging from $4 to $30.  

“It’s always been kind of a dream of mine, just a pipe dream,” Sittman said about opening a vintage shop. “For multiple reasons. Because I love fashion. I love vintage. I like to keep things out of the landfill. I like to reduce, reuse, recycle.”  

Sittman was encouraged by friend Kate Krause, owner of Paradigm Coffee and Music and former co-founder and board member of Goodside Grocery, to open the shop inside the grocery store’s space after it closed in October.

So, Sittman took the chance.  

She said doors could be open at City Vintage & Thrift the first week of January.

Donated items, including clothing, will be free once a month.

The space will function as a vintage thrift store most of the time, but once a month Sittman will host a community free store day.  

She will move inventory to the back of the store and bring donated items to the front. These could include children’s and adult clothing, accessories, shoes, small home décor and small select furniture. There will also be seasonal clothing, like jackets, hats and scarves for the winter.  

“I just really want to be able to help out the community,” Sittman said. 

While Sittman will curate and find vintage items, she is accepting donations for the community free store days. Donated pieces that could be sold will be put into the inventory stock, but the majority of donations will be set aside for community members.  

Some small furniture and toys will be accepted, but not large pieces like beds. Sittman wants to stick to items that people may need as the seasons change, like clothing or space heaters, which was recently donated.  

She’s had some shop experience before, selling vintage clothes at a small scale online while working as a welder for 13 years and volunteering at free stores when she lived in Alaska. Her sister used to own one there, too.

Being laid off twice and having a smooth process of getting the shop ready has made Sittman feel like she’s on the right path, she said. 

“There was a spiritual thing almost. It’s been really bizarre,” Sittman said.  

Popeyes opening in Sheboygan soon:When will Popeyes open in Sheboygan? We have the answer.

The shop could host thrifted fashion shows in the future.

After Sittman gets City Vintage & Thrift established, she said she’d like to get more involved in the community and host fun events.  

“I want to do thrift runway shows, like fashion events,” she said. “I want to be more of a part of the community than I have been because I’ve been welding for so long. I’ve been traveling for so long.”  

City Vintage & Thrift is now accepting donations.

City Vintage & Thrift is accepting donations ahead of opening from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Contact the shop at [email protected] or find it on Facebook.  

Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or [email protected]. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @alexx_garner.