23rd Street
Burlington Coat Factory
In an otherwise jampacked store, the men’s department is an oasis of calm, with deals like a charcoal Hugo Boss suit for $399.98. Other labels spotted: Michael Kors, Sean John, Versace.
707 Sixth Ave., nr. 23rd St.; 212-229-1300
The Family Jewels
A stash of crisp, pristine mid-century aprons ($46) that cry out to be spring’s version of the dress-over-pants trend.
130 W. 23rd St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-633-6020
Weiss & Mahoney
Thirty dollars for the coolest laptop tote in town (a.k.a. the GI Style Helmet Bag), which comes in beige, green, camo, and black, plus great men’s parkas for $129, peacoats for $130.
142 Fifth Ave., at 19th St.; 212-675-1915
14th Street
T.J. Maxx
Go with a friend who will hold a place in line while you shop; you’ll save an hour. Great deals: a bright blue Kenneth Cole carry-on for $69.99, boys’ Ralph Lauren Polo sweaters in red and blue for $24.99, and a queen-size cotton quilt from Single Needle for $39.99.620 Sixth Ave., nr. 18th St.; 212-229-0875
Filene’s Basement
Same complex, different goods. Expect to dig for your size. Best for cool, casual separates like a woman’sred Nike warm-up jacket in red, $24.99, or Paper Denim & Cloth jeans, $69.99. Stock up on hosiery; there’s lots of Calvin Klein for $6.99.
620 Sixth Ave., nr. 18th St.; 212-620-3100
Housing Works Thrift Shop
143 W. 17th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-366-082017 at 17 Thrift Shop
17 W. 17th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-727-7516
Hit both of these for home furnishings (skip the dusty, tired clothing at Housing Works). A grandpa-esque oak rocking chair with a tan leather seat was $750 at Housing Works—not cheap but pretty good for a significant piece of furniture. Simple, pretty brass or pewter candlesticks were $20 and $40, respectively, at 17 at 17.
Broadway-Lafayette
Pearl River Mart
A monster on any bargain savant’s landscape, with an almost infinite array of charming cheapnesses. A blue cast-iron tea kettle is $39.50.
477 Broadway, nr. Broome St.; 212-431-4770
Find Outlet
More stylish boutique than traditional “outlet,” this store has trendy clothes from desirable labels like Paul & Joe, Samantha Tracy, Alice + Olivia, and Twinkle at 50 to 70 percent off retail. Recently, a Paul & Joe tweed coat with a satin belt was $333.
229 Mott St., nr. Prince St.; 212-226-5167
Second Avenue
Chef Restaurant Supplies
Hop off here tostock up on cheap kitchen basics athalf what you’d pay at Williams-Sonoma. Wooden spoons for a few dollars, two-quart saucepans for $12, an Odax rolling pin for $12.95, and a pizza paddle for $11.95.
294–298 Bowery, nr. E. Houston St.; 212-254-6644
Delancey Street
Marmalade
172 Ludlow St., nr. Houston St.; 212-473-8070Hairy Mary’s
149 Orchard St., nr. Rivington St.; 212-228-8989David Owens Vintage Clothing
154 Orchard St., nr. Stanton St.; 212-677-3301Frock
148 Orchard Street, nr. Stanton St.; 212-594-5380
A cluster of vintage stores whose prices, although not at thrift-store levels, don’t come near Resurrection and Cherry. At Marmalade, Judith Leiber leather bags in excellent condition are $150. The real value at Hairy Mary’s is owner Sharon Broit’s sassy tube dresses made from vintage fabrics, starting at $65. A black leather coat with plush fox trim is $150 at David Owens, and super-glam oversize white Gucci sunglasses are $125 at Frock (they’d be twice that new).
East Broadway
American Fu Zhou Grocery Inc.
The Hong Kong Supermarket next door is an irresistible bazaar of fascinating foodstuffs, but the bargain here is fresh salmon, sliced to your specs (or gesticulations; English is not the first language here) for $4 a pound—about a third what uptown fish stores charge.
101 E. Broadway, nr. Allen St.; 212-385-0658
BROOKLYN
Bergen Street
Enamoo
Skateboards from the seventies for $35, side by side with home furnishings. The best deals: gigantic, mood-creating mirrors for under $300, about a quarter of what something new and less interesting would cost.
109 Smith St., nr. Pacific St.; 718-624-0175
Brownstone Treasures
Another well-priced secondhand-furniture store. Cedar wardrobe cabinets are $225 each; buy two.
Court St., nr. Warren St.; 718-237-1838
Fourth Avenue-9th Street
Under the Pig Antiques & Collectibles
Here’s where you accessorize your apartment from a mammoth selection of antique vases like an oversize blue ceramic fan-motif version for $65.
355 Fifth Ave., nr. 5th St.; 718-788-2135
Shopping Time
Classic dollar-store fare, with combs, tweezers, hairbrushes, rubber bands, hair clips, bath sponges, and loofahs for 99 cents apiece, plus lots of cheap board games like Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders for $9.99, and various Barbie permutations (Trendy and Bendy, Secret Spells) for $12.99 each.
527 Fifth Ave., nr. 14th St.; 718-832-3360
Seventh Avenue
Brooke’s The Appliance Experts
Bring your sewing machine (or vacuum cleaner) here for repairs, or just buy a new Brother LS 2125 for $99.99.
387 Seventh Ave., nr. 11th St.; 718-832-0055
Meshimar
Part Salvation Army, part junk pile, this is a rummager’s stop, but an electric guitar with an amp for $175 is worth hauling home.
433 Seventh Ave., nr. 14th St.; 718-499-5731
Néda
Moderately priced fashion by local and emerging designers, and occasional deals on unique jewelry, like three bangles for $32.
413A Seventh Ave., nr. 13th St.; 718-965-0990