Big Reuse – Bushwick

About Big Reuse – Bushwick

Big Reuse operates from an environmental premise that most thrift stores only gesture toward: truly keeping useful objects out of landfills means accepting almost anything, not just the clothing and small housewares that fit neatly into conventional thrift shop models. The result at Troutman Street is one of the most genuinely extraordinary thrift operations in New York City — a cavernous space where clothing, furniture, vintage musical instruments, power tools, architectural salvage, building materials, housewares, and books coexist at prices that reflect the non-profit mission. The musical instrument section alone sets Big Reuse apart from every other thrift operation in Brooklyn. Vintage pianos — uprights in various states of restoration — are a recurring presence, as are guitars, amplifiers, drums, and miscellaneous instruments donated by the surrounding creative community. Musicians setting up a practice space or home studio make the trip specifically for this section. Prices are fair relative to instrument-specific secondhand shops. Furniture is similarly distinctive. The Troutman Street location receives donations of sofas, chairs, dining sets, shelving, desks, and bed frames regularly, all priced for furnishing an apartment rather than resale. The selection isn't curated for aesthetic, but the prices make it worth sorting through. The building materials section is a resource for renovators: reclaimed lumber, vintage hardware, surplus tile, architectural details salvaged from demolitions. It's unlike anything else in the borough for this category. Clothing is present and affordable but secondary to the shop's other strengths. Visit Big Reuse for the instruments, furniture, and building materials; visit Beacon's Closet or L Train Vintage nearby for clothing.