Mile End Retro: Montreal’s Best Vintage Shops

Montrealers have always had a soft spot for second–hand treasures – antique furniture, vintage clothing, high–end collectibles. Maybe it’s fond memories of Expo 67 and the 1976 Olympics, maybe it’s just part of the city’s famously stylish boho vibes.  

Over the past few years, an unprecedented number of first–rate second–hand shops have cropped up across the city, with many of them concentrated along a small stretch of Boulevard Saint–Laurent in Mile End. Their wares range from dreamy millennial fashion to high–end industrial design, and together they make up a great (and sustainable) afternoon of shopping for those who like to hunt beyond the rack. Here are some of our favourites.

La Pompadour

Best for: 20th–century style

Opened in June 2022 by retro collector and blogger Stéphanie Finjean and Chantal Trudel (whose first shop, Esprit Vintage, is located in Marieville, Quebec), visiting La Pompadour feels like going back in time to somewhere around 1989. Find something pastel at every price point, including a wall of ceramic vases, chrome lamps, vintage sunglasses and select standout furniture – like an oversized velvety loveseat shaped like lips, or a couch from the late Quebec designer Paul Boulva (whose retro–futuristic designs you may recognize from Star Trek: The Next Generation). “It’s great to have a lot of vintage shops together,” says Finjean, about moving into the neighbourhood. “The clients here are funky, they want something unique.” 

Empire Exchange 

Best for: Old and new

Second–hand clothing is a way of life (and style) for many Montreal students and artists, who regularly bring their nearly new pieces to this local indie mini–chain of second–hand boutiques. At Empire Exchange, vintage means Y2K fashion for men and women, with racks full of affordable, millennial–friendly pieces like Reformation dresses and 1980s band tees. It’s the perfect spot to find a party dress for a last–minute invite, or a cashmere sweater for a sudden cold snap. About half the store is made up of new items, including bucket hats, small–brand skin care, and an impressive selection of scented candles care courtesy of Boy Smells, Kobo and Old Whaling Co. (to name a few). 

Ruse

Best for: Luxury labels

Design is within reach at this ultra–chic consignment shop that opened in 2015 and focuses exclusively on authentic, immaculately preserved clothing from luxury labels (think: Chloé, Jil Sander, The Row) – plus a wide selection of “It bags” from Chanel and Louis Vuitton. They also have a substantial men’s section that includes both formal and streetwear (think: Paul Smith, Engineered Garments, Yohji Yamamoto). Their inventory is often only a season or two old, and it moves quickly thanks to word of mouth and slick online drops they preview on their Instagram – so move fast or get major high–fashion FOMO.

Seconde

Best for: It Girl energy

Three different local vintage resellers came together in March 2021 to open this heavily curated space that feels a bit like a very chic woman’s loft apartment. The focus is on quality and high–fashion trends, with a good mix of neutrals, natural fibres and statement pieces from European designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and Moschino (what co–owner Masha Sitnikova calls their “coups de coeur” a.k.a. show–stopping pieces). In back by the airy dressing rooms, find one–of–a–kind ceramics, a rotating offering of original art, plus select new accessories from burgeoning indie designer labels and Çanta knit purses. 

Bond

Best for: MCM homewares

This former gallery space showcases vintage housewares in curated scenes across multiple small floors, with an emphasis on mid–century modern design’s biggest hitters like Eames, Adrian Pearsall and Eero Saarinen. Beyond the imposing Danish teak tables and fibreglass Herman Miller chairs, find smaller pieces like brass bar carts, paperclip stools and Artemide lamps. Need something that will fit in your carry–on? Keep an eye out for stunning objets d’art such as Kosta Boda candle holders and Flavio Poli Murano glass bowls. 

Citizen Vintage

Best for: Wearable art

Opened back in 2011 with a mission of fighting fast fashion, Citizen Vintage’s two brick–and–mortar stores are neighbourhood mainstays in both Mile End and farther south on Boulevard Saint–Laurent. They have expanded beyond nineties–heavy vintage styles for men and women, crafting outfits made from deadstock vintage material under their Studio Citizen label, plus regular capsule collections (especially graphic tees) created with indie artists, like Char Bataille and Niti Marcelle Mueth. Check out their queer–friendly greeting cards, art prints and zines, plus regular Instagrammable window displays created for every new collab.