Belmar is welcoming a new thrift store from the beloved Hoboken thrift shop, Vintage on First. The store became a community favorite after a turbulent start in Hoboken several years ago, but the owner, Mark Rosado, says he’s switching gears and seizing a new opportunity by taking over the Nostalgic Nonsense Vintage Clothing storefront in Belmar at 913 Main Street. Read on for information about the new store coming to the Jersey Shore, as well as more about the store’s history in Hoboken.
Photo Credit: Mark Rosado
Opening in Belmar
Mark tells The Jersey Shore Girl he’s in the process of buying the oldest vintage store, Nostalgic Nonsense Vintage Clothing, at the Jersey Shore. He says the business he’s taking over has operated for over 35 years in Belmar. Located at 913 Main Street, the shop is only a few blocks from the water. No opening date has been announced yet.
Photo Credit: Mark Rosado
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The previous store, Nostalgic Nonsense Vintage Clothing, sold a wide variety of clothes representing many decades. A feast for time travelers, the store displayed outfits from the 1920s, 1950s, 1980s, and more. The owner, Pat Tecza, retired this year after spending decades selling gently used clothes down the shore, according to a Facebook post.
How Vintage On First Started in Hoboken
The opening of the Hoboken vintage shop felt like a rollercoaster ride. Mark Rosado had traveled the world for years, collecting cool items and clothes, and started selling his finds at different markets in New York City. He had been outfitting celebrities and his passion for creating amazing outfits out of unique pieces continues today.
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Back in 2017, Hoboken welcomed Mark’s store, Vintage on First, to its first location. Just weeks after the grand opening, it was forced to shut down due to a rental scam. Mark previously told The Hoboken Girl he discovered his “landlord” was a tenant who had fallen behind on rent. The real landlord had taken the keys and told the shop to vacate the store. Thanks to the support of the community, Mark was able to host pop-ups in nearby locations like Antique Bakery at 122 Willow Avenue. The store later reopened down the street for the second time.
The second location was just a short–term lease, but Mark was committed to finding a permanent home for Vintage on First in Hoboken. He continued to look for a new location to sell vintage clothes and goods before finally settling on 257 First Street. It’s where Mark and his crew have sold an incredible collection of clothes for the past six years.
See More: A Guide to Vintage + Thrift Stores in Hudson County
Since Mark opened the doors to his vintage shop, the Hoboken community embraced the store. On top of selling clothes, the storefront welcomed Porch Finds, a pop-up shop selling second-hand clothes and other vintage finds. The pop–up partnered with Vintage On First in 2018 before making the store its permanent home in 2023. No word yet on what Porch Finds plans to do with the upcoming move.
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