In the span of two years, downtown Arlington has become a hub for vintage clothing pieces and streetwear.
“We’ve been working for a long time at trying to grow this place into a vibrant downtown,” said Maggie Campbell, Downtown Arlington Management Corp. president and CEO. “What we’re seeing in recent months and years is a momentum that is building on itself.”
Since 2006 when the organization was created, she said the goal has been to try and make downtown Arlington a college town.
Vintage stores flocking to downtown happened organically, and Campbell said she’s excited to see the area welcome more retailers.
Commodities
In December 2022, co-founders Brandon Avaroa and his wife Ashley Flores opened Commodities, a vintage sneaker store on 200 E. Abram St. Commodities is derived from its full name, The Cultures Commodities, because vintage is a culture in of itself, Avaroa said.
“Having the store Commodities locate here, that was one of the first retailers that planted a flag and took a brick-and-mortar here,” Campbell said. “And that sent a signal out to others.”
Avaroa said making ends meet as a bartender in Dallas was difficult after shops closed during COVID-19. Selling sneakers became a necessity, so he started watching YouTube videos to learn how to enter the reselling business.
He began selling on Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, soon attending major sneaker conventions.
“People go to those conventions to buy, sell, trade, and that’s exactly what I did,” Avaroa said.
He noticed a lot of vintage traction in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but Arlington was always overlooked. Being born and raised here, Flores’ history made it easy for the pair to “marry” the city, Avaroa said.
After seeing the vacant space on Abram Street, they decided to take the opportunity to open their first storefront. Avaroa said he always wanted a location in a centralized area to feel like a destination.
Multiple restaurants already lined the strip, so this allowed them to bring a retail opportunity to the area.
From stickers to one-of-a-kind shoes, the shop offers something for everyone, Avaroa said. He most enjoys offering local brands and giving local artists opportunities to thrive.
“People are just looking for something that identifies them, something that allows them to express themselves,” he said.
Whether it’s sneakers or streetwear, Avaroa said he ensures that what he sells is unique and nostalgic.
Stash VHS
In November 2024, CEO Angel Espinoza opened his vintage thrift store Stash VHS a block from Commodities.
Before placing roots in downtown Arlington, Espinoza sold his vintage pieces to make extra money while working all week at General Motors.
Espinoza realized he wanted to take his business to the next level and begin selling at shows and conventions. Avaroa said Espinoza and Flores went to school together, so when he saw Avaroa selling shoes, he reached out.
“After that I remember him saying, ‘I don’t know if sneakers are my route, but definitely vintage is,’” he said. “And that’s where he’s stuck to.”
Espinoza said before he started his business, he kept to himself and would spend his time either at work or selling clothes online from his room.
He was limited to hosting events at Traders Village in Grand Prairie on weekends. Eventually, he wanted to push himself and his brand out.
“Our goal is ultimately to have a hangout hub,” Espinoza said. “It’s not even so much about vintage. It’s more about building relationships and connections.”
A big part of vintage culture is the history behind the clothes, he said. He picks pieces that speak to him and caters to his audience.
Price is based on an item’s rarity, but overall, his pieces range from $20 to $30.
While being next to two other vintage stores invites friendly competition, it provides options for customers. If his store doesn’t have what someone needs, he points them in the right direction.
Deep Dive Vintage
Store manager Estephanny Jimenez said Deep Dive Vintage opened its doors over a month ago, sandwiched between Commodities and Stash VHS.
Owner Lauren Ballentine started the company by selling clothes online right after high school in 2020.
“Things got crazy, and here we are,” Jimenez said.
Before working for Deep Dive Vintage, Jimenez was a regular shopper there. She said she has seen the store through its phases, always feeling welcomed and a sense of community.
Their goal is to curate and give customers what they want, she said. Shoppers are always in the back of their minds, and Jimenez said there are times they pick a piece they know a regular would love.
“Our vibe is all the way back to the 1930s to Y2K, so we’re really trend inclusive,” Jimenez said.
The vintage shop used to be located in Hurst for around four years.
“We obviously loved it and it was great as it was, but we outgrew it. It was time for a change,” she said.
Being right next to UTA, Jimenez said they knew moving to Arlington would bring in foot traffic.
One of their biggest focuses is sustainability, ensuring clothes are mended and handled with care, Jimenez said.
Clothes range from $18 to $27, excluding their gowns and true vintage options. She said they try to keep prices as affordable as possible so customers can have unique pieces for a doable price.
“I was a student and I remember that being very difficult for me. I had to feed myself but I also wanted to feel good, look good,” Jimenez said. “I feel like that’s huge here in Arlington just because we want everybody to feel like themselves and good. And it’s hard when you’re a student.”
@amandaLaldridge
