Buffalo Exchange: The Closet of the Best Friend I Want To Meet
by Sarah Heath
The Buffalo Exchange originated in Tuscon, Arizona circa 1974. The store is a family affair, started by Kerstin and Spencer Block. The couple, both Swedish, thought Buffalo sounded American and Exchange was to the point. Lucky for us Denverites we have a franchise right on the border of downtown.
The Denver store is located on 13th and Grant St. in Capitol Hill, and specializes in buying and selling men and women’s fashion. The place is too funky! There are so many racks full of clothes. For the girls: sweaters, long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts, dresses, and racks of skirts and pants along the wall. And all the same sections are there for boys. Shoes, bags, $8 sunglasses, pins and leather, oh my!
I stopped in on a Friday, right after I cashed my paycheck, and I immediately tried on probably ten shirts and dresses and all the men’s sweaters. I never know what to look for when I go, which is incredibly vital to the experience! When I go I’m in the mindset to create my personal iconic style. It’s like dipping into my best friend’s closet, in fact that’s exactly what The Exchange is about. I’m waiting till the weekend to go back in with my gently bruised treasures, the clothes that I bought for full price and only wore once, and trade them for clothes already stocked.
With the solid discount from whatever I can trade, I can pick out a lot of pieces from the designers and the mall, but the store maintains its independent vibe. The staff is easy to pick out, dressed outrageously in articles pulled from the rack. It’s hard to miss the front of the store with the tall plastic mannequins dressed in themes. Halloween is the most flamboyant theme of the year.
Everything inside the Exchange was purchased by the staff. Customers should bring in everything they can part with, but should only expect exchange value.
I love this store because it allows me my basic expensive taste, but on a budget. I can’t help but come back every day when I have four hours and disposable income. Even down to the dressing room there’s a great feel to the place. I just know I’m going to leave one step closer to the stylish metropolitan girl I aspire to be.
The shop’s flavor is well worth the drive and I implore anyone to go forth and shop at the Buffalo Exchange. I know I’ve started dressing better since I last went. Park where you can get it and have fun at the Exchange.
