Front General Store
Shopkeeper
Coordinates
40.7025018° N, -73.9874216° W
Address
143 Front street
Brooklyn
New York
11201
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Website
Front General Store
Contact
Front General Store
Telephone
+1 718 855 5288
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Located in New York's DUMBO neighbourhood, Front General Store is an antique and vintage store specialising in retro Americana. Founded by Hideya Sagawa, the store is Japanese in sensibility and draws inspiration from traditional general stores found in the Southwest.
Fascinated by American vintage and film from a young age (starting with a pair of 505 Levi's purchased by his mother), Hideya moved to Oklahoma at 19 to learn English. After finishing the course he moved to Chicago where he worked at his first vintage store and acquired a keen eye for quality and the age of materials. The more vintage he spotted the more extensive his personal collection of denim and military wear became, and after five years in Chicago, Hideyas's next move took him to New York where he worked at vintage mecca What Goes Around Comes Around (WGACA). In late 2013, Hideya noticed a distinct lack of vintage in Brooklyn's up-and-coming DUMBO district and he took the plunge by opening his own store.
Hideya travels far and wide across America sourcing his ever-growing selection of 'old good things'; he visits local flea markets and is often recognised by global vintage-seekers in store. Hideya's cites Massachusetts (particularly Boston) as a great place to pick up unique vintage pieces and frequent trips mean his emporium is full of one-off finds including original lighters made by American soliders in Vietnam during the war (pictured).
The store itself is overflowing and items hang from the walls, ceiling, shelves, and sit folded on every available counter top. The Front General Store stocks everything from vintage to unused dry goods, clothing, accessories, footwear and hardwares.
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Opening Hours
Monday - Sunday
11:00am – 7:00pm
Nearest Train Station
Front Street/York Street
Nearest Bus Station
Front Street
Words by Lee Fleming
Photography by Michael Gannon