Stop by the Nostalgia Vintage & Thrift Shop in East Meadow and you’ll quickly notice a wide selection of second-hand treasures upcycled by April Senra and her daughter Lily, fashion content creators who are on an endless search for donated clothing and accessories in need of a second life.
Every item in the store is handpicked, washed and steamed before going on sale. The Senras said they aim to provide a boutique shopping experience at affordable prices.
Opening weekend at the shop — located at 534 E Meadow Ave. — earlier this month was filled with excitement. Coinciding with April Senra’s birthday, Nostalgia Vintage was filled with curious shoppers, family and friends.
“Knowing so many people loved our message of shopping sustainably, along with being a mother and daughter duo, made us so excited for our future,” April Senra said. “It was just beautiful and warmed my heart.”
TikTok lure
Adding to the excitement of opening day, Lily Senra created a borderline viral TikTok post that drew a long line outside the store before its opening.
@nostalgiany Join us on March 1st for our soft opening of Nostalgia Vintage & Thrift🛍️ Nostalgia Vintage & Thrift is a 2nd Hand curated collection by a mother & daughter duo! Filled with women’s clothing ranging from xxs-xxl and accessories galore! Shoes, jewelry, purses, lampshades, you name it we have it😉 If you love a good steal we have our seasonal $1-$5 sale bins and 50% off racks filled with unique finds! Once a week we post new inventory on our depop and our instagram stories!!! Support small woman/family owned businesses and sustainable fashion at our store opening!!!💗💗💗 depop: NostalgiaNy insta: NostalgiaVintageandThrift Come stop and shop with Nostalgia!💗📍 📍534 East Meadow Ave, East Meadow Long Island, NY 11554 #eastmeadow#merrickny#longislandpopup#thriftpopupnyc#thriftpopuplongisland#thrifting#newyork#popup#eastmeadowevent#eastmeadowmoms#eastmeadowny ♬ original sound – nostalgiavintageandthrift
“That was the moment I blacked out,” Lily Senra quipped. “We had a line for both the dressing room and the register at the same time, so we had to work double time. It was a bit stressful, but in the most satisfying way! It was so surreal seeing people from all over Long Island support a small business and wish my mom a happy birthday!”
A yearlong study
The process of opening the store was quite an undertaking, as well. East Meadow residents for 20 years, the two walked into their ideal storefront, located at 534 E. Meadow Ave., in East Meadow, and had nine days to prepare it for opening day.
While the Senras just opened their boutique doors on Saturday, March 1, the ladies for over a year have sold second-hand offerings found at garage sales, estate sales and thrift stores via e-commerce platforms Poshmark and Depop and in-person pop-up store sales.
That process enabled April Senra, a Fashion Institute of Technology graduate with 25 years of experience as a freelance producer for fashion photoshoots, and Lily, a lifestyle content creator with a love for theater, to observe the demographics of their following and to determine what items and eras of clothing sold the most.
But when it comes to buying items for re-sale in their store, it mainly depends on whether the Senras like the item. Their desire to offer a wide range of sizes and styles that will appeal to all shoppers is also a motivating factor in their selection.
The duo is driven by their love for thrifting, where one-of-a-kind pieces can be found and unnecessary waste can be eliminated. April Senra grew up thrifting with her mother for as long as she can remember, passing down that passion for fashion to her daughter.
Since middle school, Lily Senra has enjoyed finding hidden gems with her friends in thrift stores to create throwback outfits.
“I love knowing that every piece has a story,” she said. “Especially if it’s something vintage before my lifetime. It makes the item so much more valuable and special.”
Through this process, the Senras have enjoyed working together as business partners, as well as mother and daughter.
“It’s been an absolute blessing, being able to live out this dream with my daughter,” April Senra said. “We are usually on the same page when it comes to all things related to the store and have the same high expectations. It has been a true partnership and I feel like we have both given 150%”
Nostalgia Vintage & Thrift Shop, located at 534 E Meadow Ave. in East Meadow, is open Wednesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. To shop online, visit Nostalgia Vintage & Thrift Store’s Poshmark and Depop.
