With So Many Traditional Malls Closing And Thrift Finds On Consumers’ Minds, Va Vintage expands Vintage Mall Space
By Butch Maier
We had malls. We had vintage stores. Now, we have vintage malls. While shopping behemoths such as MacArthur Center in Norfolk—closing in June—go by the wayside, concentrated company clusters with a variety of vintage vendors keep growing. VA Vintage, which already had a Chesapeake location, expanded to Virginia Beach in April 2025 at 1650 General Booth Blvd. in the Dam Neck Crossing Shopping Center. A year later, more than 200 vendors filled the Virginia Beach location.
The wait list
How popular is the VA Vintage Virginia Beach spot? Unless a new business offers something truly unique, it will be quite some time before it can move in. “Right now,” VA Vintage Virginia Beach director of operations Jennifer Ostulano said, “we have almost 200 people on the wait list.” Almost 200 people on the wait list. That’s nearly one vendor waiting per vendor in the store. So, what gets a new vendor in the door? “A variety is great,” Ostulano said. “We definitely put the emphasis on vintage and antiques, but we are also fine with handmade things—some people make their own soaps—there isn’t really anything that’s off limits, but we don’t want to oversaturate [the market] with too much [of one item]. Right now, we haven’t been looking for any clothing vendors for a while because we have enough.”
So, if a clothing vendor leaves, does the vendor at the top of the list move in? Or does another clothing vendor get the spot? Or does someone else? “I do go from the top—the one who has been there [on the wait list] the longest,” Ostulano said, “but I also look at what they sell. And if I feel like we have too much of that already, I may go to somebody that has something that we don’t have. The best thing to do, too, if somebody really wants in is to just keep reaching out, like every couple months: ‘Hey, I’m still interested.’ Because I’ve had some that have been on [the wait list] since April [2025], when we opened, and I reach out to them, but they never respond. If they’ve found someplace else or they’ve changed their mind, no worries, but just let me know so I can remove you.”
Month-to-month
One advantage VA Vintage vendors have is they do not need to sign yearlong leases. They can keep their spaces month-to-month. “That’s so if you come in and are here for three months and realize it’s not for you,” Ostulano said. “Some things may not sell as well in here as, like, a boutique-type shop.” She just asks for a 30-day notice. Kiosks lease for $100 per month, 6-by-6-foot booths are $250, 10-by-10s are $400 or $450 (depending if the vendor is on a wall), and 8-by-12 booths in the warehouse—which opened for furniture sales in October—are $400 or $450. There also is an internal wait list. A lot of the 10-by-10s go to current vendors because they start in a 6-by-6 and want to expand. “A lot of times I tell vendors who want the 10-by-10 that are new,” Ostulano said, “‘I would suggest getting your feet in the door with a 6-by-6, and then we can get you moved up at some point.’”
Wide Price Ranges and Ages
Trinkets and other small-ticket items typically vary from $5 to $50. Most furniture is $50 to $500, though some pieces and sets go for thousands. Ostulano said an Illinois couple opening a restaurant filled up their carts and spent $1,500. The customer demo range might be different than one would guess. “Honestly, we get a lot of 20-to-30-year-olds,” Ostulano said. “They love the vintage and the mid-century-modern style. I think they are realizing that things back in the day were made so much better than they are now, and they think it’s cool to have that. And I think a lot of people [in their 50s] and up see something and say, ‘Oh, I remember that at my grandma’s, or my parents had that, or we used to have that when I was a kid. So, I think it brings out a lot of nostalgia. And, also, it’s different. It’s not like your typical big box store—things coming from other countries. There are a lot things that are American made, one of a kind, things you can’t find anymore. I think a lot of people enjoy browsing, and we really strive hard to have this be an amazing destination because we know when people come in, they are going to be spending several hours.”
Coffee and Sweet Service
For customers to fuel up for long stays, VA Vintage is constructing a lighthouse in the middle of the store with a coffee station. While it often is difficult to find assistance in larger stores, VA Vintage employees go out of their way to help. “Our customer service is outstanding,” Ostulano said. “We don’t want you to walk in and just not talk to anyone. We have employees walking around all the time, saying, ‘How can we help you? Can we take this up front for you?’”
Moonbeam
Moonbeam is both a nickname given to her by her late father and part of VA Vintage Virginia Beach vendor Jen Strong’s company name: Moonbeam’s Handmade Jewelry and Creations. She is an artist of mixed media, as well as a vintage glass and knick-knack enthusiast. From candles made from dried herbs and flowers to upcycled sari silk rainbow maker moons and bohemian-style clothing to colored glass and floral teaware, Strong offers an eclectic collective of vintage and handmade items. Strong started with clay bead necklaces she made after a tragic car accident in 1992 kept her bedridden for months. She has been making and selling since she got back on her feet, the vision has evolved, and she also sells her creations at farmers market tent pop-ups. Her VA Vintage spot has been open since April 2025, and she has since expanded her booth space.
The Thrifty Hippy
The Thrifty Hippy inside VA Vintage Virginia Beach is run by vendor Arlene Rodriguez. “I always loved fashion,” she said. “I did some research and took a chance. I did not need a lot to start with.” Rodriguez began searching for vintage clothing and started with a 10-by-10-foot booth when VA Vintage opened in 2025. “We have done very well in not even a year,” she said. “We’ve actually grown.” In February, The Thrifty Hippy expanded to a 20-by-10-foot booth. “I meet so many great customers,” she said. “They give us suggestions all the time.”
‘An Instant Dopamine Rush’
Ostulano said VA Vintage is adding a new vendor with a plethora of Star Wars-related items. “We want to cater to everyone,” she said. “Not just the women. We have stuff for guys. We sell toys, NASCAR stuff, sports memorabilia.” Strong raves about the variety available at the vintage mall. “Guys don’t get bored when they are there with their wives,” she said. “There is stuff for them. There are so many things to discover there. It’s like treasure hunting. It’s like an instant dopamine rush when you shop there.”
For more information about VA Vintage, go to vavtg.com.
Butch Maier
