At its heart, downtown Bloomington hosts a collection of cafes, art galleries and plenty of places to thrift. On 406 N. Main Street sits Neighborhood Thrift, wedged between two art galleries and just across the street from a cafe. Unlike many family-owned stores, this one is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to six p.m. on all days but Sunday, which runs from one p.m. to five p.m.. Walking by, you can admire the eclectic display windows of the store. A collection of vintage signs, neon lights, and old-fashioned furniture sits between the sidewalk and the inside of Neighborhood Thrift, enticing any onlooker to spend their day browsing through the shop.
Inside the first room, racks of vintage clothing and accessories are surrounded by shelves of novelty items from digital cameras to ornate knives. One corner at the front display looks like a junk drawer for miscellaneous finds, one standout being a deer mount resting by some vintage Coca-Cola signs. Beyond this, you are greeted with three other doorways leading to more rooms, the intricate labyrinth of the shop contributing to the special character of shops on Main Street.
Just behind the counter, Drew Barrett, co-owner of Neighborhood Thrift, can often be found chatting away with some customers. Alongside his wife Angela, Barrett was given this position by his father-in-law, who had originally treated the store as a more traditional consignment shop. This meant that for a while after the store’s opening in 2009, Neighborhood Thrift was once meant to sell furniture as cheaply as possible. Today, Neighborhood Thrift has evolved to cater to anyone’s taste, whether customers are looking for fashionable apparel or a cool new way to decorate their living space.
Half of the store is dedicated to vintage clothing, from coats from past decades to rare graphic tees. Though it may vary depending on the quality and rarity of each piece, you can expect a fair price for each find. Most t-shirts are around $15, sweaters are around $20, and coats can be found at around $50. There’s plenty to find within all budgets, as Barrett often runs sales for clothes and highlights more pricey finds online for collectors. Among these items, you can also find Neighborhood Thrift merchandise, including bleach-dyed hats and hoodies with a modern design on the front.
Y2K fashion–an experimental style that celebrates futuristic streetwear and stems from the early 2000s–has made a comeback among Gen Z. Bloomington-Normal hosts the recurring Vintage Fest, held three times since the start of 2025. Though these events were abundant with trending styles, a common complaint among visitors was the price tags of the items. Not only does Neighborhood Thrift do its part of supplying locals with this trend, but it also goes so much further to honor the many other eras of second-hand goods.
As one of those experts, Barrett has his own reasoning for the popularity of thrifting among locals of Bloomington-Normal. In a sense of appreciation for the young adults who are credited with the popularity of thrifting, “they’re willing to accept anything,” Barret said, going on to remark about how this Gen-Z mindset supports an eco-friendly clothing industry while also bringing popularity to small thrift stores like his own. Apart from the customer’s perspective, this popularity can also be attributed to the evolution of many popular thrifting locations, Neighborhood Thrift being a prime example.
Though Neighborhood Thrift initially didn’t sell clothes in its early years, the quality of the apparel sold today would appear to have been curated over many years. As the owner, Barrett spends six days a week on average searching for the perfect additions to his store. You won’t be able to donate your own things here, as he sources his inventory from auctions, estate sales and other connections. Barrett said he looks for “people that I can buy a lot of items from all at once,” explaining that it removes the extra time that comes with sorting through donations. If you’re in search of a place to give away some of your things, Barrett also suggests nearby stores Two FruGals and Abundant Thrift, both of which do accept donations.
The rest of the store is dedicated to its origins in furnishings. tables, vanities and wardrobes fill several rooms, with any leftover space dedicated to decorations. Some recent highlights from this viewing among these rooms are a collection of ornate golden jewelry boxes, drawing desks and several very impressive portraits of big cats., with the size of the rooms paired with the quantity of things in each of them, these standouts can be better stated as representatives of what you can find. It should be noted, too, that the prices of these items are just as fair as their clothing counterparts, if not even more accommodating to all price ranges.
When asked about his favorite style to look for when collecting goods, Barrett responded with a specific interest in furniture, particularly “Mid-century decor.Clothes are actually a more recent addition to Neighborhood Thrift, and I’ve never been too interested in antiques.” Barrett specified that he’s always loved watching different eras of vintage come in and out of fashion though, nodding to his almost two decades of experience here.
Barrett had taken over this store in its state of being a sole seller of furniture. Although the store has evolved since its start back in ‘09, you can tell from just one conversation with the Co-owner that much of its progress came with great effort. “You need to have a solid work ethic to run anything,” Barrett said. “Of course, I have a family to care for and some days are longer than others, but I also just love what I do.”
At the end of the day, Neighborhood Thrift is rated by residents as one of the top thrift stores in Bloomington-Normal, a particular standout to those looking to get lost among the shelves. Whether you’re looking for some new wardrobe additions or a good way to find decorations, this store has your back. Not only does the inventory hold something for everyone, but the friendly staff and affordable prices keep locals coming back.
