A pair of boots can be crafted in the 60s, hundreds of miles away, worn for a lifetime by a stranger, passed down to their children, borrowed by a friend, gifted to a neighbor, and finally end up on the shelf of a Raleigh vintage store in 2025 with the potential of belonging to you. Each one-of-a-kind item found in a vintage store has an unknown and unique story as to how it got there. There are dozens of vintage stores in and around the triangle area, many of which are a short commute from Enloe. The next time you have a couple extra hours after school, grab your most stylish friend and visit!
Vintage store frequenter and Enloe junior Grace Wilson prefers a thrift or vintage store over a typical retail store. “At a regular chain store, the amount of stuff feels overwhelming. At smaller vintage stores, you can find cooler stuff that isn’t confined to a specific style.” A vintage store can offer a wider variety of sizes, styles, and fits too, Wilson said, “I was shopping at a [vintage] store in Fuquay, and I found low-rise Lucky [Brand] jeans. That was probably my best find because I’m kind of short, so sometimes pants can be too long for me, but those pants were perfect. I was really happy about that.” If you struggle with finding clothing that fits your unique style and size, vintage stores might be your safe haven.
House of Rebellion
Tucked into Wilmington Street, House of Rebellion is a 
gem of downtown Raleigh’s vintage scene. Formerly known as Unorthodox Vintage, the two-story shop instantly transports shoppers to another time upon entering with the relaxing smell of incense and the sound of R&B tunes. Along with the wide selection of vintage secondhand men’s and women’s clothes, the first floor offers a variety of small-business provided accessories and knick-knacks. Jewelry, hair accessories, pins, patches, and more line the front wall. Upstairs, you can find a loft overlooking the store with a few racks of clothes, as well as blankets, posters, shoes, and a musical selection of CDs, records, and cassettes.
The Burrow
A bit further from the heart of downtown, located across from 
Nash Square, lies The Burrow. When you walk in, you’ll be greeted by the largest pair of Levi’s jeans you’ve ever seen hanging on the wall, and then the store is yours to explore. The entire selection of clothes is sourced from five local vintage sellers and thoughtfully curated by the owner. Whether you’re on the hunt for a new sweater for autumn or some vintage NC State merch for the football season, you’ll be sure to find something that tickles your fancy. Aside from their seemingly never-ending supply of cool clothes, the store features a small book nook along with a collection of vintage records if that’s your jam.
The store prides itself on offering shoppers a wide range of vintage clothes at an affordable price. They regularly hold events featuring $5 bins, and there is always a sale rack with t-shirts that cost no more than $20. If the words budget-friendly, good vibes, and unique mean anything to you, take a visit to The Burrow the next time you are downtown.
Fall Back Vintage
The next time that you yearn to be inside your maximalist 
grandmother’s house, don’t hesitate to pay a visit to the newly opened Fall Back Vintage. Just a 10 minute commute from Enloe, Fall Back Vintage is located off of Atlantic Avenue, walking distance from homemade ice cream, cozy coffee shops, and a collection of restaurants and retail stores in the Raleigh Iron Works shopping mall. From furniture to overalls to salt and pepper shakers, these treasures have been cultivated by over 20 local vintage vendors, offering high-quality vintage items at a wide price range. Between the friendly faces of the staff and the accompanying 80s pop, you could easily get lost in Fall Back’s clothing racks or shelves of magazines after a long school day.
According to co-owner Laura Browning, the spirit of the store can be condensed into three words: creative, welcoming, and inclusive. At its core, the community of the store is what makes the essence of these three words apparent. Down to the magazine, Fall Back Vintage has something for everyone, so stop by this incredibly authentic store the next time you want to treat yourself.
Whether you like vintage clothes, good music, or just window shopping, these stores are sure to offer some joy to everyone who visits them. Since each is situated so close to Enloe, they make for a perfect after-school activity, and if you have a free day on the weekend, you can visit all three! We at The Eagle’s Eye hope that you can experience the same fun that we have at these stores, and maybe even find your next statement piece!
