Best shopping: Williamsburg

Amarcord Vintage Fashion

As one of the world’s shopping meccas, New York City has dozens of neighborhoods that could be labeled the place for spending money. So it says a lot that our experts pointed to Williamsburg as the happenin’ spot to snag goods of all types.

“I’ve lived here for almost nine years and I don’t go across the river unless I have to,” says fashion designer and stylist Liz McClean. “I can get quirky vintage clothes at Fluke (169 Wythe Ave between North 5th and 6th Sts, 718-486-3166), high-end clothes from local designers at Jumelle (148 Bedford Ave between North 8th and 9th Sts; 718-388-9592, shopjumelle.com), cool vinyl at Academy Records (96 North 6th St between Berry St and Wythe Ave; 718-218-8200, academyannex), great art books at Spoonbill & Sugartown, Booksellers (218 Bedford Ave at North 5th St; 718-387-7322, spoonbillbooks.com), amazing wine at UVA Wine (199 Bedford Ave at North 6th St; 718-963-3939, uvawines.com) and stuff for my computer at Mikey’s Hookup (88 North 6th St between Berry St and Wythe Ave; 718-599-8906, mikeyshookup.com).” Whew.

Spoonbill & Sugartown, Booksellers

Madeline Davy, one half of the design duo behind Octopi, adds Amarcord Vintage Fashion (233 Bedford Ave between North 4th and 5th Sts; 718-963-4001, amarcordvintagefashion.com) to the list, and comments on how spree-friendly Williamsburg is, thanks to an overflow of refueling stations. She suggests mid-buy-binge coffee at Oslo (133 Roebling St between North 4th and 5th Sts, 718-782-0332) or tasty mini cheeseburgers at Snacky (187 Grand St between Bedford and Driggs Ave, 718-486-4848).

Despite the ever-increasing number of tourists and new residents that pour into the neighborhood every year, Davy and McClean both argue that the area’s streets have somehow managed to maintain a small-town feel. Without those massive chains (yes, we’re talking to you, Ikea!), “it’s easy to get that close relationship with the staff at stores you patronize frequently,” Davy says. But are our experts worried that Williamsburg might eventually outgrow itself, morphing into a new version of the overrun and overpriced Fifth Avenue or, eesh, Soho? “It may already be on its way to a comparable Fifth Avenue,” Davy says, “but there are still some nooks and crannies to escape to.” McClean agrees, but adds with a sigh, “I just hope I can afford to stay.”

Number of chains in B-burg: 2 (American Apparel and a Subway)

RUNNER-UP

Bird

Carroll Gardens
“I like Carroll Gardens because it’s a low-key and relaxed place to shop, yet still has amazing, hard-to-find designers to choose from in stores like Butter, Bird and Steven Alan.”—Michelle Lane, stylist

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