ECLEEN CARABALLO
Queens’ first Buffalo Exchange will celebrate its one-year anniversary this weekend.
Last year, the thrift store, which has stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn, opened its fifth New York City location and first in the borough at 29-16 Ditmars Blvd. in Astoria.
The 2,167-square-foot newly renovated Buffalo Exchange store, which offers shoppers new, used and vintage fashion items from high-end designers to everyday clothing, was previously used as a paint store, bank and most recently, a Hallmark Celebration store.
This Saturday’s birthday bash will include new clothing items, giveaways, prizes and snacks.
Store Manager Rocco Paone says he’s “excited to see how well of a turnout it will be because this is the first of its kind in Astoria.”
Buffalo Exchange first began reshaping the idea of “thrifting” in 1974 through its concept of recycling, or trading in former favorites.
Since then, the independently-owned, family operated and privately-held company has added 44 more stores to the company, including the one on Ditmars Boulevard, and Paone says it is interesting to see how it has evolved.
Visitors and frequent shoppers have welcomed the idea of the store in Astoria, said the store manager, and have told him that “it’s great to have some sort of different concept of retail in the neighborhood.”
The Aug. 9 first birthday celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 29-16 Ditmars Blvd.
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