This past weekend, Thrifty Beaches owner Adam Kemp held a large vintage market in downtown SLO. The Market took place on Saturday Jan. 24 and Sunday Jan. 25, 2026 from 10 am to 6 pm both days.
Kemp started Thrifty Beaches as a Cal Poly passion project, taking used goods and using them to create a business. At the event Kemp gave others the opportunity to do the same.
The Market was held in the old Ross Dress for Less building in Downtown SLO and filled both floors of the building. There were over 70 vendors from all over the state, selling second hand goods to the public and each other.
There were clothes, shoes, outer wear, knick knacks, jewelry, and even vintage toys. Notable brands like Nike, Carhartt, Levis, True Religion, Dickies, Harley Davidson, Free People, Seven For All Mankind, Barbie, and even Louis Vuitton were on display.
The event gave experienced and first time sellers the opportunity to meet new people and make connections over their love of second hand style.
“My favorite part is collecting and seeing people wearing the clothes,” Ivan Curielo said.
Curielo has been thrifting clothes since 2018, when he was broke and had to find style in GoodWill. He noticed that people liked the clothes he was finding and complemented his style. Curielo began selling his finds on platforms like Ebay, depop, and through his Instagram: @hunchos_closet.
Aside from clothes, there was jewelry, ceramic works, knick knacks, and even vintage Barbie dolls. Catuih Campos from SLO Jewelry and Loan had a booth front and center filled with vintage Barbies dating back decades.
In the past year Campos noticed that people were coming in more often, selling family heirlooms to buy groceries and pay rent. After noticing this she began trying to find items of similar value and landed on vintage toys. Campos hopes to have a physical location to continue helping the community this summer.
All in all the Thrifty Beaches Vintage Market allowed the community to unite over an interest in vintage goods and styles. If a person was willing to dig, there was no telling what they may find.
“I like seeing the variety, and finding stuff you never thought you’d find. It’s about being in the right place at the right time” Marissa from Insomniac Thrifts said.
