Vintage clothing store located inside a brewery combines browsing and brewing

Childhood friends Brandon Harrington and Casey Atwell started it during the pandemic as a fun side project and it’s grown into a full-blown business.

Why it matters: Vintage clothing is undeniably popular. Walk around Charlotte neighborhoods like NoDa or South End on any given weekend, and you’ll likely find at least one vintage pop-up. Charlotte Vintage Market, for example, is a traveling pop-up market that features a multitude of local vintage vendors. 

Yes, but: While vintage markets are common around Charlotte, Atwell points out that brick-and-mortar locations are few and far between.

“There are a very small percentage of [vendors] who decide to take the leap to a physical location,” said Atwell. “It’s a side hustle for a lot of people.”

Flashback: Nothing New got its start as a part-time gig for Atwell and Harrington, too. And after a year and a half of learning the trade, the two launched their physical store on September 23. 

“The brick and mortar kind of made the most sense to take the power into our own hands and not rely on anybody else,” Atwell said. 

The big picture: Vintage clothing is also a sustainable alternative to fast fashion, which has come under scrutiny for its negative environmental impact and use of cheap labor.

• Fast fashion substitutes, like local clothing rental company Ponybox, have become increasingly popular in Charlotte recently. The overall social consensus is that fast fashion is out, as Axios’ Laura Barrero wrote recently. 

[Related Axios story: 9 of Charlotte’s best secondhand stores]

What to expect: A range of vintage apparel from local sports such as NASCAR and Panthers, plus premium outerwear and name brands like Levi’s, Carhartt, Polo, Pendleton and Nike.

• Atwell says most pieces fall between $40-$80. 

Plus: The store has a rack dedicated to a curated selection that changes every few weeks. Currently, the rack is filled with vintage world cup apparel.

“We’ve done our best to curate a selection specific to the audience that lives in our area,” said Atwell.

Details: The showroom is located inside Southern Strain Brewing at 165 Brumley Ave. NE in downtown Concord.

• Store hours are Friday 3-8pm, Saturday 12-5pm and Sunday 11am-4pm. 

What’s next: You can shop Nothing New at the DOCO Winter Market at Southern Strain this Saturday, Dec. 3.

• The pop-up market will run from 12-5pm.
• There’ll be 20+ local vendors along with craft beer, coffee and food.