'Spirit And Style': New Vintage Boutique Opens On Long Island

LINDENHURST, NY – A new vintage boutique opened in Lindenhurst in May.

Lindenhurst's Chapterhouse Boutique, a second-hand shop selling "unique garments for a sustainable future, curated second-hand clothing and upcycled and handmade slow fashion," is celebrating its grand opening on June 21.

Chapterhouse is owned by Allison Schmidt, who moved to Long Island from Salem, MA, after falling in love with Lindenhurst—and her future husband—during the pandemic.

"I love Lindenhurst," Schmidt told Patch. "My husband and I met during the pandemic. He lived in Merrick and I was living in Massachusetts. When I would come to visit, we would drive to Lindenhurst and sit in the outdoor seating at 27A Brewing, now my neighbors on Wellwood, and talk and get to know each other. It turned into a very regular haunt for us."

Schmidt said that as their bond grew and society started up again, the couple "watched Lindenhurst come alive." As she prepared to make the move to Long Island, watching new and old businesses open made it feel "so welcoming."

"When we looked for a home, we knew Lindenhurst was the spot. It’s home, and for all those same reasons, it feels like the perfect place to open my business," Schmidt said. "Wellwood Ave and the surrounding area are home to such a cool collection of small businesses, and I’m really happy to be joining their ranks."

While the area was new to Schmidt, her love for vintage clothing, art and design is not. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in fashion design and has worked on garments for Broadway, national tours and films, drag performers and regional theater, including serving as costume coordinator for Gateway Playhouse's Cher Show.

"I have always had a love for art and making things. I started making my own upcycled clothes at around 15 or 16, learned to sew by machine and work with patterns, and eventually graduated from Massachusetts College of Art & Design," Schmidt said. "After graduating, I got really into designing streetwear and used to sell my clothing at night in raves and clubs, working in retail or as a tailor during the day."

Schmidt attributes the Chapterhouse vibe to her Salem roots, and its offerings are as diverse as her experience. From vintage upcycled fashion to Pride attire, locally made jewelry, art and other vintage finds, the boutique's collection reflects Schmidt's eclectic style and open-minded approach to life.

"I grew up in Salem and I’m so grateful for that environment—it encouraged me to be myself and express my spirit through my style," she said. "Salem is a little offbeat and spooky, but it also has this beautiful marriage between modern culture and older, classic New England. Growing up, the local consignment shops, music store, comic store and witchy gift shops were my favorite places to hang out. The quirky, kitschy nature of small businesses before internet promotion became our primary source of discovery was a large influence in the building of Chapterhouse’s aesthetic."

When it comes to stocking the store, Schmidt said sourcing inventory has been the "best part." She said the vintage pieces come from "all over," including her "huge" personal collection and friends and former coworkers who have diverse collections. She also contracts jewelry designers and artists, many of whom are local to Long Island.

"The shop is also home to a number of one-of-a-kind upcycled items," Schmidt said. "These pieces have a really fun punk aesthetic but have been created with a couture mindset of care and detail. It’s something new from something old, which is a big part of our mission statement."

Sustainability is also part of the Chapterhouse mission statement. Schmidt said the brand's message is "largely environmental."

"The fashion industry is highly polluting and wardrobe and consumption have become a very disposable economy," Schmidt said. "We hope to extend the garment’s life at our shop, not only with our selection of curated second-hand clothing but also with tailoring, alterations, repair and sewing education like mending workshops and sewing classes."

Thrifting is another element from her life that Schmidt brings to Lindenhurst with the Chapterhouse Boutique. She said thrifting's been a "staple" of her wardrobe for most of her life.

"I don’t want to dress like everybody else and to find truly unique pieces, you really can’t beat a thrift store," she said. "I love the element of treasure hunting that happens while thrifting and I always find items with personality."

She advises not to shy away from an unorganized or messy thrift store, and still "pokes around," because "you never know when a diamond is hiding in the rough."

Schmidt says she "loves them all," whether big warehouse thrift stores like Savers or Goodwill, church basements, little consignment shops, or estate sales, it’s a scavenger hunt waiting to be enjoyed.

And she's excited to bring a part of her world she loves so much to the village she's head over heels for, too.

"It’s been really exciting watching the dream unfold," she said.

Chapterhouse Boutique is celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, June 21, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Boutique is located at 208 N. Wellwood Ave. in Lindenhurst.

Follow Chapterhouse Boutique on Instagram here.