The instantly recognizable rainbow-hued storefront of Buffalo Exchange on The Ave permanently shuttered its doors in mid-July of this year, joining over 4,500 iconic Seattle retail locations like Cafe Racer and Cinerama going under for good this fall.
Buffalo Exchange was a place to shop for on-trend clothing and accessories, in addition to being an avenue for selling excess clothing in return for cash or store credit.
A symptom of the worldwide economic crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic, for some, the closure of Buffalo Exchange symbolizes the depressing turn of events that small businesses have faced this year, placing it in the graveyard of among over 163,000 storefronts that have closed nationwide. To others, the closure sparks excitement to see what new and interesting shop will occupy the space.
Amina Abahadi, a junior, who favored purchasing jewelry, shoes, and school supplies like backpacks and bags from the store feels “a little sad to see the store go since I spent a good amount of my life there.”
However, she expressed dislike in the store’s selection and payout, saying “it was never my number one for second hand clothing due to the relatively high prices, and the amount of money I received when selling clothes was disappointing.”
Mara Durland, a senior, enjoyed “the central location and proximity to other stores that Buffalo Exchange had on the Ave, and that “the size of the store meant you would always have a good selection.”
She admits to being an infrequent shopper of the store, only going “once every 4 or 5 months.” She stated that if she was going to Buffalo Exchange it would be when she knew she had to buy something, rather than just browsing at a different thrift shop.
If you’re an avid thrifter, don’t sweat. There are still multiple great locations in Seattle, and including The Ave to find second hand goods. As of the publishing of this article, these locations are open for in store business as per Washington’s Phase II guidelines.
- Crossroads Trading, situated just a block south of where the Buffalo Exchange was, provides a similar stock of trendy used items to its fellow late thrift shop, and is said to be slightly cheaper, and have a better system for selling goods to the store.
- Lucky Dog on The Ave is almost next door neighbors with the Buffalo Exchange’s space, but its fare is tailored more to the Supreme-shirted and Yeezy-footed streetwear aficionado. You won’t find any budget buys in the store, and you’ll be politely turned down if you try to sell some Old Navy slacks there. The selection is very tailored, so if you want to buy or sell there, you should probably have ‘designer’ in mind. The staff is very friendly, and you’ll never be pressured to buy anything.
- Red Light Vintage and Costume is the “grandmother’s closet” of Seattle thrift shops, where you can buy and sell vintage and retro articles of clothing for relatively cheap prices. The store leans towards more of a costume aesthetic, but you can find daily wear there as well.
Finally, if you still want to have the authentic Buffalo Exchange experience, there is still a storefront in Ballard that is open for business as well. However, these alternative options listed above may be easier on the local-business supporter inside you, as Buffalo Exchange is a chain based in Tucson, Arizona, and the others are all small local businesses with locations exclusive to Seattle.
