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| Doggy models what you could find at the Yard! |
I first heard of The Yard through the print edition of The Daily Orange. It's run by Andrew Rainbow and Steve Davis out of their house on Madison Avenue east of Syracuse University around the corner from Thornden Park. It's used goods from mainly the '90s-'00s, but not strictly SU. Vintage shops are big now, and Syracuse has a few. However, The Yard only runs on weekends, but with the weather we have, they must be looking into a permanent store front and more convenient, central location closer to campus and accessible for students and townies alike, especially those of us who can't drive. Shirt Worlds closure last month left a void, even though they sold new merchandise, and there are still local options (the bookstore at Schine was just sold to Barnes & Noble like the one at leMoyne a decade ago). Champs & Scholars downtown are The Yards closest competitor since they also specialise in second hand clothes, but primarily old school Orange, and they're not the cheapest, mind. Hungry Chucks last location on Marshall Street would make a great spot since it's available and can fill the vacuum in a way, even though the Yard was a rival to Shirt World too. Even the former Marine Midland Bank/Key Bank on East Adams Street would work since it'd be less red tape than another bank or restaurant. The old Bank of America on Nottingham and Tecumseh Roads past South Campus may be a longshot if right on the hill is not an option, but running it like a car boot sale won't work all year.
Some of my furry drawings are based on different typical SU threads (one is of a jacket on the Yards Instagram that doggy is wearing, while his cap is as much a knockoff as he is!), while the photos of me in my fursuit wearing real ones mostly found at 3fifteen and Thrifty Shopper since I don't have the money for most new items, and to cover up resemblance to the original fursona (that's another post right there, and only those in the fandom get it). When I get a cat sona, I would buy jerseys, trousers and hats for areas where cons are held, be it Toronto or Pittsburgh, and I know what teams a they are, even though sports aren't my cup of tea. It's just too easy for people to buy all this and sometimes fans assume you're one as well and you don't want to let the side down. I even took doggo to a couple fancy dress do's this past Halloween to mixed reaction. See what kitty could do next year, I suppose (some furries have two sonas and/or fursuits, although I don't want to be bound by a label). Not the Yards area.
I have read, as well was told by a staff member at 3fifteens Camillus store how at the end of each semester how students may leave behind goodies they only needed for the big game at the Dome (fast fashion CNY style). While the Yard may not want anything too new, it opens the door for finding recent purchases for less, since run of the textile mill clothes wind up getting binned, but ours are as desirable as Comfrt or Armani here. At least whatever's in tatters can be recycled now if it's too much a state to be fixed. Champs and Scholars even have a few things that look like my cats had a go at them (they know better) only because it's otherwise rare, and flaws are part of the charm, perhaps, since repairing it would make it look patchy. It's like on these shows about appraising everyday items for quick cash.
Two nearby churches have started their own charity shops and could also have some SU lying around while competing with the Rescue Missions monopoly that dominates this third of Upstate. To think one would look for this many places in other cities. The Yard isn't a thrift store per se, rather a vintage shop also appealing to bargain hunters and collectors. I just hope I can afford to get something there at some point since I barely got a few from the other place over the years before they were gone.
