Admiral the cat lays peacefully resting on a large, quilted armchair, ears twitching as the doorbell rang, signaling a customer had entered the shop.

Cascading vines surround him, as they creep down the walls through the maze of artwork inside The Domestic, one of Lexington’s vintage shops.

When entering a vintage shop, it is apparent the amount of work that goes into the business. Carefully curated products line the walls of the shop, showcasing its uniqueness and personality.

Within Kentucky, there are bits and pieces of history located in each item. From horses to bourbon glasses, Kentucky history is everywhere within the shops.

Delicately crafted furniture rests upon dull patterned rugs, as mountain-high piles of old vinyl’s tower over the carved vases with small blooming flowers that are carefully placed within them.

There is a myriad of different vintage stores within Lexington, each with their own unique qualities to entice their target audience. 

Located on National Avenue, Ariana Bridges, a cashier at The Domestic, describes how much she loves the local thrift shop.

“A store like this attracts so many different types of people because its booth operated and there are so many kinds of vendors with different ages, different backgrounds, different types,” Bridges said. “I think it really allows for anyone from all ages to come in and have a great experience.”

The quality of each product within The Domestic creates a high-end atmosphere for any customer, masquerading the reality that each product has already lived a full life, Bridges said.

According to Bridges, the shop strives for all their products to look expensive or like they were crafted with care; their quality is what makes the shop stand out from competitors such as Goodwill.

Along with quality control, the products which span from artwork or furniture to clothing, are constantly revolving. 

“Our vendors come in so frequently to change up the store and provide a really friendly experience,” Bridges said. “I think it really allows for people to have a different experience every time they come in.”

She said the shop pulls people together and gives them the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents.

“I just love this store. I think it’s brought in so many people. A lot of people put a lot of love into this place, and I think it really shows, so I’m grateful to be in this environment,” Bridges said.

The Domestic is tied to another shop within Lexington, their sister shop, Subject Matter.

Subject Matter is filled with countless antiques, highlighted by natural light that sweeps through the open windows, while a cool breeze flows in.

The independent vendors within the shop create a maze of cubicles filled with books, clothes and more as a variety of antique products are laid at the customers feet.

Adorned with various aspects of Kentucky history, from bourbon glasses to signed Kentucky Derby memorabilia, Samantha Murphy, owner of Subject Matter, explains the shop’s unique history.

“We actually started from The Domestic. My partner and I were there when it opened in 2018 … so we were there for several years and that really was a great starting point for us to be able to open our place,” Murphy said.

While each cubicle of the shop is separate from one another, there are underlying themes of the Bluegrass that hold them together. Products celebrating aspects of the state are sprinkled throughout the shop.

A UK pillow lays against a vintage couch, captivating any UK fan the moment they walk in.

The small businesses and Murphy allocate their products in the same way: everywhere and anywhere, from estate sales to yard sales.

“My husband and I like to road trip. We’ve literally driven to Portland, Florida and Canada. We just shop along the way,” Murphy said.

Murphy said that Subject Matter is not only a shop, it is her lifestyle. She takes advantage of her position as owner to create a “foster home” for vintage. 

When an object enamors her, she can bring it to her home and switch it out once new things enter the shop. The vendor’s restock frequency is once a week, which aids this activity for Murphy.

The shop’s unique personality stems from their vendors, each bringing new products that represent who they are as people. These products decorate the shop creating the individuality that is present the moment you open the door.

As vendors come in constantly to rotate their products, they become more than business partners, they become friends. An employee at Subject Matter, Sarah Lay, said that the store has improved her life by helping her meet new people.

“I love meeting new people within the community. I’ve made some great friends in the vendors, and I love seeing and learning about new vintage items all the time,” Lay said.

Vintage Therapy, another Lexington classic for thrifted items is filled to the brim with vintage T-shirts, Carhartt jackets and antique lace tops. 

Sunlight beams throughout the shop’s wall of windows, highlighting the carefully crafted clothing items and artwork inside.

The shop is located within Greyline Station, a short drive away from UK’s campus, however due to recent construction of the building, Scott Hatton, one of Vintage Therapy’s co-owners, said the shop has seen fewer customers. 

“We definitely have seen a difference, but it’s nothing major. Obviously, we would love to have more foot traffic down here you know, because we don’t want to be the only retail business down here,” Hatton said.

The store is catered toward high school and college kids, Hatton said, you can find memorabilia from the ‘80s to the 2000s.

They use their location within Kentucky to their advantage by focusing on UK culture. There are piles of basketball jerseys and game day shirts that highlight these decades and the state as a whole.

Vintage Therapy only sells high quality clothing, meaning each piece has a larger price tag. Hatton said he understands that the prices are not affordable for everyone, which is why he created Vintage therapy’s most unique advantage, the shops trade in feature.

This feature allows a customer to purchase an expensive jacket for winter and once they no longer need it, they can trade it in for something of similar value. This not only cuts down costs for customers but gives them the opportunity to explore their style.

Hatton said the trade in policy was created with college kids who aren’t financially set and cannot afford expensive clothing in mind.

“You come in here and shop unique pieces that you’re going to be the only one on campus with,” Hatton said.

He explained that in many thrift shops around the globe, customers are judged and looked down upon entering the establishment due to their outfits, personalities or purchases.

Customers are often judged by shops based on what they wear or what they’re buying. This judgment creates a toxic environment within vintage and Hatton said he tries to abolish this issue in his shop.

“For anybody that walks through the door, whether they’re making a purchase or not. We want them to feel like they could just spend a whole day here,” Hatton said. “We want it to be more than just a retail experience, we want it to be a cool place where you can check your troubles at the door and forget about the world for a little bit.”