Today we’d like to introduce you to Old Flame Secondhand & Vintage.
Hi Old Flame, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Old Flame Secondhand & Vintage was launched in 2025 by siblings Ben Coe and Jess Coe.
We have a lifelong love of vintage and antiques — born out of family vacation stops in junk stores, teenage hours spent in thrift stores, and an eclectic appreciation for the styles and craftsmanship of previous eras. It was Ben’s idea to turn that interest into curating and selling some of the treasures they were finding. They began by attending pop-up vintage markets around Central Virginia, especially in Richmond and our home base of Charlottesville. After roping in their sister Jess, the idea of establishing a brick-and-mortar location began to grow.
Before long, we realized there was an opportunity to rent the space at the corner of Water St and the 1st St. alley — on the historic Charlottesville downtown mall and right next to other vintage and secondhand shops with whom we are friends, it was perfect!
We rented the space and set about creating a warm and welcoming space where we could spread our love of vintage and our dedication to shopping secondhand to others. We invited fellow vintage curators to set up their collections for sale in the shop, giving our customers a variety of styles to choose from, and an always-changing inventory. We also brought in some of our favorite local artisans — artists, jewelry makers, and crafters — to provide wonderful handmade goods and gifts for all occasions.
We love our community and the response we have seen so far. We hope to continue keeping the best secondhand and vintage finds out of the landfill — and in your closets or on your shelves where they belong — for many years to come.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No one who owns a small business will tell you it’s been a totally smooth road, unless they are lying.
We had a month from getting the keys to the space to our expected opening date. The space had been a bar before we moved in — they took out the bar, painted a gorgeous shade called “thistle” (after asking if we were sure), and that was it. We had great windows, cool concrete floors, tall open-rafter ceilings showing century-old floor beams, industrial exposed pipes and electrical conduits, and zero fixtures.
We worked non-stop that month. We brought in our own furniture and took donations of fixtures from fellow downtown businesses, which we hilariously wheeled across the Mall like the cast of a madcap comedy. Shelves the right size were finally found and ordered and then were cancelled — an emergency Fourth of July weekend drive to Ikea ensued. Other deliveries went to our neighbors and had to be tracked down.
Once there were places to put things we had to coordinate with a dozen or so vendors and fill our own racks and shelves. And hang things on the walls. And fix the lighting. And dust because those lovely old ceilings just rain the stuff. The fire department stopped by and we realized they didn’t know the space wasn’t a bar anymore and we had to fix some permits with the City (got it worked out in time!). And so on — I was still putting price labels on things on opening morning.
But despite a serious sleep deficit, we and our helpers got everything in place. We had an amazing opening weekend and we’ve been rolling along ever since!
There continue to be speedbumps — little ones too numerable to recount and bigger ones. Like just after our first anniversary when the power went out, and we had a pipe leak in our wall, and we discovered that our AC unit was dead all in 2 days time. We had no way to open windows and no AC for a week until the crane they needed to get a new unit to the roof could arrive, in August, in Virginia. We had to give up and close early and cede that particular struggle on a couple of the warmer days, but our community — our customers and our vendors — was so understanding and supportive. And that reassures us that we can continue to overcome the challenges this business presents.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Old Flame Secondhand & Vintage specializes in quality secondhand clothing and goods at an affordable price. We are queer-owned and woman-owned, and we aim to create a welcoming atmosphere of inclusion and low-pressure shopping.
Our curated clothing vendors each have their own distinct style, providing selections of both vintage and modern pieces for both masculine and feminine fits in a full range of sizes. We have amazing statement pieces and unique vintage finds alongside classic, well-made wardrobe staples and everyday favorites for all bodies.
We also have a fun and always changing selection of vintage and secondhand jewelry and accessories including belts, ties, shoes, scarves, hats, purses and bags. Plus vintage wall art, books, decor and trinkets to give your space personality.
Last but not least, we are proud to feature some fantastic local artisans — one-of-a-kind upcycled clothing, glorious-smelling candles, handmade jewelry of several types, and unique artwork.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
People always ask how it is working with a sibling — it does have its challenges, but so would any working partnership. We feel like we are lucky to know each other so well and to have such a well of trust when working together, and we’ve been (mostly) having a blast!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oldflamecville.com
- Instagram: @old_flame_cville
