The Thrill of the Thrift

Meet some of the superstar thrifters at TC’s Penny Lane

Step into Penny Lane, where old clothes find new life as they do in any consignment shop. The difference, you’ll soon notice, is the immense variety within the curated booths you won’t find elsewhere. Forty booths line the walls and fill the space with an eclectic and ever-changing array of clothing items, accessories, shoes, home goods, and even artwork. 

Owner Jena Wright was inspired by similar consignment concepts she encountered out west and thought (correctly!) that a unique consignment model would succeed in Traverse City. 

“The concept is a community collaboration, providing a platform for local sellers to earn money and be creative, while also fostering an inclusive shopping environment,” Wright says.

The booths are booked out over a month in advance due to the high demand. Each is operated by an individual who rents the space on a weekly basis for a flat fee. The store provides the rack, shelves, hangers, and a tagging system; the seller is responsible for bringing their items, setting their own prices, and arranging their booth creatively. After setting up their booth, sellers usually leave the logistics of running a storefront up to Penny Lane, though they are free to return during the week to refresh or restock their booth.

“The store works so well because it creates a constantly changing inventory for shoppers, making each visit a unique experience. By offering a variety of styles and items from different people, it avoids the static feel of a traditional thrift or consignment store,” Wright explains. 

Wright tells us there are several factors that go into what makes a “successful booth”: brands sold, quality and quantity of items, the organization and presentation of the booth, and the seller’s own marketing efforts. “There isn’t one category that sells better than others; it really depends.”

While there’s no predicting what will be in stock each week, that gives customers a new opportunity each visit to find something unique, vintage, or priced lower than it would be in a traditional retail store. We spoke with a few of Penny Lane’s regular sellers to unpack what sort of things fill their booths. 

Clothing & Crochet

Jessica Jabara runs a regular booth at Penny Lane and her homemade business, Bird Nest Closet, where she makes micro-crochet earrings. Her booth consists of both the adorable earrings and items from her own closet, family members, estate sales, and vintage or thrift shops.

“The combination of handmade and vintage items gives my booth variety, with items that are both modern and from the past,” Jabara says.

To her, thrifting has always been a treasure hunt, scouring aisles and shelves for unique pieces. “I love when thrifted items connect with someone new; pairing thrifted finds with my crochet gives my booth character and helps it stand out.”

Art & Styling

Heather Spooner is a local muralist and artist who runs Ampersand Lettering Lab and was behind “The Letter League,” which connected strangers using handwritten letters during the COVID shutdown. Spooner recently took up a regular booth at Penny Lane, where she sells both thrifted items and the occasional handpainted jacket.

“I love having a booth at Penny Lane because it allows me to curate items of all sizes that I find interesting,” Spooner says. 

She loves thrifting, especially while traveling, and is excited to “bring in all sorts of cool things” she thinks “others might like to add to their wardrobe to express their own creativity.” Styling and creating outfits from thrifted clothing items is one of the many ways Spooner shares her art.

Slips & Side Hustles

Kara VanHorn has both a degree in textile and apparel merchandising and her own business selling dyed vintage slips (The Slip Shoppe), so having a booth at Penny Lane is a natural fit. 

VanHorn has been collecting vintage slips for years and, after dying one for a photoshoot with a friend, latched onto the idea of giving the slips new life and color.

“The Slip Shoppe’s mission is simple: to take a piece that might otherwise end up in a landfill and reimagine it. Now I have two booths at Penny Lane—Booth 36 for slips, and Booth 40 for thrifted finds,” VanHorn says. “The second booth grew out of my merchandising and buying background. Over the past year, I’ve put together themed collections ranging from White Lotus-inspired pieces to Southwestern styles.”

Penny Lane has given VanHorn the opportunity to “build a side hustle that’s both personally fulfilling and environmentally sustainable.” 

For Me & For You

Karie McIntyre has operated Booth 6 consistently and has rented out the booth through the end of the year.

“I love the idea of rescuing pieces that would otherwise end up in a landfill somewhere, the thrill of the thrift is really exciting to me,” McIntyre says. 

Her booth, which is full of “quiet luxury” items ranging from vintage items to popular brands, gives her the freedom to explore fashion. “I love that I can find something fun, wear it for a week, then give it a new home.”

She likes that Penny Lane allows sellers to price their own items and fill their booths with whatever strikes their fancy. “There’s really something for everyone, whether they’re shopping for a specific style, era, or price point.”

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