Vintage Garage moves to Evanston, bringing with it 75 sellers

Shoppers at the Aug. 15 Vintage Garage saw no shortage of leather jackets, patterned button-downs, old electronics and retro home decor. 

The vintage market attracted 75 vendors, who sold everything from Christmas decorations to leather cowboy boots. Hosted in the Maple Street parking garage, the event ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and required a $6 admission fee. 

Owner and operator of the Vintage Garage Melissa Sands said that in the past, the event was held in a parking garage in Chicago, but that space had been sold, so she was forced to find a new venue. 

Evanston invited the Vintage Garage to use the fifth floor of the Maple St. parking garage, and Sands said the space is great because it’s right off the CTA Purple line and attracts customers from the North Shore as well as Chicago.

“Most of our customers have been with us for a long time,” said Sands, “and now we’re starting to get some new customers, which is great!” 

Vendor Jillian Kozloski sold vintage goods from her business Rarity Collective, which specializes in vintage clothing, jewelry and house decor. Although Kozloski doesn’t have a storefront, she frequents markets in the Chicago area. 

Kozloski said she appreciated Evanston’s Vintage Garage because much of the clothing sold was “true vintage,” as opposed to store bought or refurbished, which she said is often sold at vintage markets. 

Another set of vendors, Kathy Keil and Matt Kresge, sold books in addition to some old-fashioned games, art, home goods and knickknacks. 

Keil and Kresge were longtime employees at Evanston’s Barnes & Noble before the bookstore closed, and now run a small business called Interesting & Odd, where they sell books online and at some markets. The business specializes in modern first editions, mystery, sci-fi, art, social science and more. 

Future Vintage Garages will be hosted in the same location on Sunday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 17. Those interested in selling at the market can sign up on the Vintage Garage website.