B-Squad

This is a great place if you’re interested in vintage clothes, but not so much for items.

Betsy has the sharpest eye in town for vintage goods. I own and cherish many items from her shop including a killer Electrahome stereo and a one of a kind late 70’s motion clock. Betsy understands customer service like no one else in the vintage clothing game. Customers are rarely without smiles at B Squad!

As of 1÷6÷2013 there is a pair of 5.5″ vintage reddish-​brown frye boots (roughly $ 30) here that someone with smaller feet than me must buy. They are beautiful!
The owner has great taste — this store has a fairly small selection compared to the other vintage stores I’ve visited in the area but it is pretty well curated. There is both men’s and women’s, a great rack of vintage graphic tees and the back of the store is all vintage records. I spied a few truly beautiful vintage suitcases for less than $ 20 and the women’s shoe selection is really quite good.
While I was there the one employee of the store was engaged in a lengthy conversation with a customer where they were trading pointers about the various vintage stores in the area and also talking about local fashion events. She was super friendly and helpful!

Out paroosing for vintage shops, my friend and I stopped in at B-​Squad (after loitering in Yeti Records for a bit). Neither of us had been in, but have many vintage shops to compare to… especially this day alone.
There really isn’t much of a rhyme or reason to the sorting of clothes, antiques, shoes; anything, really. Perhaps by decade?
I don’t want to immediately sell the shop short; there are some great gems in there and very unique finds. Example: this faaabbullous 20’s dress on a wall display. Like none other. BUT, here’s where my low-​score/​disappointment/​trend throughout B-​Squad is: the dress was something like $ 200 and in not so good condition. Holes, stains, and clearly not cared for… I maybe would have paid $ 50 tops, but even then it would have been a splurge.
Too many clothes were over priced, but if you wanted that hard-​to-​find 40s/​50s/​80s piece, maybe you should check it out? Be sure to check other places first…

I was driving by at lunch time and spotted what I thought would be the perfect dress for the Unilocal Drive-​In. I parked the car and saw the «Closed» sign when I got to the door. They open at noon and it was 11:45am. I decided to walk around for a while since it was nice out and then return to the store. I got back to B-​Squad at 12:15 and it still wasn’t open. I waited another 5 minutes and I had to leave. I missed my chance to get lunch before an appointment and I didn’t even get to go inside the store. I hate my time being wasted.
Unfortunately for B-​Squad– I wasn’t the only one peering in the windows and waiting for them to open during lunch time. But I was the last one to leave.

I had never heard of this place before today when I went there in search of a Halloween costume. I ended up finding one there, and a couple other things… This place has a great selection and the girl who was working there was extremely helpful and kind. I will definitely come here again. There is also a cute record store a few doors down!

In a world where every vintage store has been picked clean by Mad-​Men-​inspired chicks and their 1970’s-rock-concert-T-shirt-wearing boyfriends, it can be hard to find a place that has enough inventory to keep everyone happy.
B-​Squad does a decent job of having a large stock of semi-​interesting things with a few gems hidden here and there. Plus enough kitchy pieces to make you stop and pull one off the rack and hold up to show your friend so you can both laugh.
I tend to buy most of my «fancy» clothes from vintage stores. I found a great 1950’s cocktail dress at B-​squad. It was not in the best shape, but it fit beautifully and the price was fair. Which is really where the thrill of the hunt comes in.

The lyrics to «Part Of B-Squad’s World,» by Annie D.
Look at this stuff…
Isn’t it neat?
Wouldn’t you think my (mod dress/​leather purse/​old vinyl/​polyester blazer/​costume jewelry/​saddle shoe) collection’s complete?
Wouldn’t you think I’m the store,
The store that has… everything.
Look at this trove
Treasures untold
How many wonders can one thrift store hold…
Lookin’ around here you think
Sure, they’ve got everythiiiiiiiiing!
I was looking at the one measly (but spot-​on) review of B-​Squad and thinking, «B-​Squad should not be a hidden gem. It’s just a regular gem. I mean, it is kind of off the normal thrifting route, but it’s totally worth writing about in the tune of The Little Mermaid song lyrics.»
This cute little shop in SoMi has a really eclectic selection that is a mix between newer things and real-​deal vintage, plus records, a little décor, accessories, shoes, boots and some kids stuff. The store is kept up well, so there always seems to be some cool new thing in the window or racked up when I visit, which is not as often as I’d like.
Anecdote from my recent visit:
I went a couple of weeks ago and, while I browsed the merch, I eavesdropped on the clerk’s convo with her friend. She was like, «OMG, you just have to come in and look at this bag… Yeah, it’s gorgeous! And It’s probably not going to last very long because it’s so cheap… and it’s a FRYE!» Simultaneously as the word FRYE came out of the shop-girl’s mouth, I saw the bag. I should say, I saw THE bag: a camel-​colored, buttery leather backpack with vintage looks and modern functionality (laptop pouch!) for $ 40.
I had to have it. After she hung up the phone, I sheepishly asked the clerk, «Is this the bag you were talking about? Because I’m a rude, rude person and was listening to your entire conversation.» I braced myself to hear that her friend wanted it, but luckily, she replied with, «Yes! I’m in love with that thing… you should definitely buy it!»
So, I just had to follow her advice, right? I even offered to write her friend a letter with my apologies for eavesdropping her out of an amazing leather bag… and my condolences, because she’ll never see the wonder that is this bag. Girl, if you are reading this, I’m sorry… but I’m also not sorry at all.

Wow, no reviews for this place yet?! B-​Squad is a cramped yet awesome vintage store on Nicollet. Chock full of retro threads, accessories, shoes and knick-​knacks. Large vinyl collection in the back of the store. Lots of t-​shirts, cowboy boots, skirts and dresses. They also have a small selection of coats in really nice shape. Check out the jewelry case at the counter. Think chunky necklaces, ironic belt buckles and dangly earrings. Add this place to your list of places to go for great thrift bargains!