The best shops in Bushwick

Just when you thought Bushwick couldn’t get any hipper, this co-op throws open its indie-artist-lovin’ doors. Founded by screenprinter Karin Persan, the market will be stocked entirely with locally handmade clothing, jewelry and accessories, including steals like SML Bags’ colorful clutches ($50–$150), the Hand of Fantima Designs’ chunky charm jewelry ($10–$50) and Joann Berman’s hip-hop–inspired garb ($50–$150). The venue also plans to events and workshops.

Roberta’s is not the only reason to spend a little quality time in Bushwick. Check out this buy-and-sell vintage boutique, where unlike expertly curated joints that peddle retro designer loot for a price that defies the realities of economics, there are racks of affordable goods from band T-shirts to leather jackets, dresses, shoes, handbags and more. Bonus: Most prices top out around $20.

Brooklyn designer Mary Meyer and her best friend Emma Joe opened this brick-and-mortar version of their popular Etsy shop, attaching it to Meyer’s own clothing store. The ladies hawk affordable women’s and men’s vintage and gently used new clothing ($20–$70) and accessories ($12–$160). Look for one-of-a-kind pieces (mostly from the ’80s and ’90s) such as a VYNO Pat 1960s raincoat ($62), Steve Madden platform leather boots ($69), a men’s Bushwacker button-up shirt ($42) and vintage Ray-Bans ($160).

This Bushwick vinyl-and-tape shop specializes in punk, metal, industrial and other moody genres that match its bare-bones interior. Curious about grindcore? Power electronics? Drone? The racks here are stocked with local labels, used rarities and new releases sure to satiate your cravings for dark music to brood to (and sure, they have some cheerier things too).

Explore the storied relationship between booze and books at this Bushwick gem. Located in the middle of a residential block, this used-book shop opened last summer, packs an excellent selection of affordable tomes into its tiny digs and doubles as a comfy neighborhood café. During the morning, locals sip coffee ($2.50) along the back bar while leafing through the spot’s latest gets—and switch to stronger stuff like Budweiser ($3) and Bass ($4) bottles as the day wears on.

Barely a year old, Bushwick’s small but mighty “market of makers” boasts between 10 and 30 local vendors each week, peddling a range of goodies including home-grown produce and handmade jewels—and they recently added pop-up events, open-mike nights and performances to the mix. You’ll love snacks like wine ice cream (chocolate cabernet) from uRnie’s Buttercup, plus beanies ($25) with Kim Kardashian’s ugly-crying face by Aliens of Brooklyn, but the real draw is that on any given day you can take a free tie-dyeing, jewelry-making or screenprinting workshop for $10.

Anyone who’s tried to track down a funny book in Brooklyn knows that it’s a largely thankless task (minus a few standouts like Bergen Street Comics and Desert Island). Enter this modest storefront, which fills an important, underserved niche by offering Marvel comics and CCR records under one roof.