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Bobby from Boston

4.5 star rating
based on 39 reviews

Categories: Used, Vintage & Consignment, Men's Clothing  [Edit]

Neighborhood: South End
19 Thayer St
(between Harrison Ave & Albany St)
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 423-9299
Nearest Transit:

E. Berkeley St (Silver)

Hours:

Tue-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
No
Parking:
Street
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

39 reviews for Bobby from Boston

Review Highlights   

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"Easily the finest selection of vintage menswear on the East Coast." (in 7 reviews)
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"This place, in no other ways, is god's gift to vintage menswear." (in 6 reviews)
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"A fav for great priced leather boots." (in 8 reviews)
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Photo of Paul D.

 

2

30

Paul D.

Charlestown, MA

5 star rating
9/15/2009

Bobby is a legend and his new store is finally up to par with the man himself.

Walking into Bobbys is like taking a step back in time.  A time when men dressed well not only to be respectful for those around them, but because it was tied to their own confidence and self respect.

Here you will find tweed and seersucker and plaid and wool and leather - in shoes and suits and overcoats and hats, all made well and all with a rich history.  Stuff the best dressed men in the 1950s and 60s were wearing....is here.  Along side military pins, classic motorcycle boots, fedora's, sport coats and blazers and skinny ties (from the days long before Mad Men.)

More like a trip to a museum than a clothing store, Bobbys is a blast to visit and Bobby himself is a joy to speak with.  Even though I only buy something every 2nd or 3rd visit, this is my favorite mens store in Boston, without a doubt.

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Photo of Elissa P.

 

6

16

Elissa P.

New Bedford, MA

5 star rating
8/13/2009

Bobby Garnett is basically the grandfather of vintage. He has owned shops through-out Massachusetts, including one in P Town during the 70's called "Uptown Strutters Ball," in which my BF (young and impressionable, at the time) purchased a tie and the seed for his future awesome vintage store (Circa) was sown.

Bobby's flagship location in Boston's South End is the ultimate in vintage merchandising. The store boasts I-don't-even-know-how-high ceilings and is outfitted with gorgeous wooden shelving, fixtures, mirrors, and displays from the 20's and 30's, that Bobby has sourced from, literally, all over the world. It's centerpiece is a giant pool table, on which piles of in-coming and recently-dry cleaned vintage is usually being sorted. Everything has a very rich, masculine, and classic vibe.

Speaking of masculine, this is THE place for men's vintage wear. Decidedly the focus of Bobby's inventory, his menswear selection is based on beat-up workwear, military garb, letterman sweaters from the 40's, and insane amounts of gorgeously broken-in leather goods - jackets, belts, bags that you would not believe. Bobby's tagline is something like "For the modern adventurer," and really, you could go on some serious safaris in this stuff!

Bobby's also has a women's department in an adjoining section of the store. This women's selection is basically 30's-50's, with not as many options as the mens, but still beautiful pieces for a classic vintage enthusiast, including beaded bags, 40's suits, 50's party dresses, and a few 70's gems!

On my last visit, I got an uh-mazing, 70's, handmade, denim patchwork jacket! It is perfectly worn and broke-in. I like to saw that I "fought" Scarlet Johansen for it, because I heard she came into Bobby's like two days later, and I swear she would've bought it!

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Photo of Audrey R.

 

15

29

Audrey R.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
11/2/2009

This is no sad collection of formaldehydey mumus and poorly constructed polyester leisure pants. No, Bobby's is vintage done right. Every piece in this store is well-chosen and stylish. The store is thoughtfully organized and genuinely fun to be in. The interior is lush and manly - I felt that I should be puffing on a pipe and sipping a bourbon while I browsed the inventory. It is true that the selection of men's clothing is much larger than the women's. That said, the few women's pieces that are here are high quality. I have never seen a finer selection of vintage women's bathing suits. Bobby's is unquestionably the best "vintage" store in the Boston area.

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Photo of Andrew S.

 

0

7

Andrew S.

Boston, MA

1 star rating
11/12/2009

So I finally have a day off of work and I decide to checkout Bobby from Boston because I have been hearing so much about it.  I show up (its a Tuesday) at around noon and go to open the door, and its locked.  I walk around for 15 minutes then try it again, still locked.  The sign on the outside clearly says open at noon on Tuesday.  I wait around until about 12:40 and nobody is there so I leave, never getting to go into the store I walked so far to get to.  Very dissapointed.

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Photo of Sameer N.

 

35

80

Sameer N.

Brighton, MA

4 star rating
1/7/2009

This place is DOPE.  Basically there's a bunch of stuff here that looks like you could find it at RUGBY (the cheeseball answer from Ralph Lauren to Abercrombie) but it's much cooler.  You can also find period pieces like WWII jackets and Monopoly man clothes.  There's tons of ill shades and so much for the ladies too!  It's a vintage store for people who want to dress like they're in a new Scorcese picture.

If you're super fabulous like me buy a polka-dot shirt, spandex shorts, and 70's rollerskates and just throw them on and go for a long skate in the summer time.  

Depending on what you want you might not have to spend too much cash here either.  Besides, what's more important than looking like a Gay Newsie from the 1930s on rollerskates?  Food?  Shelter?  COME ON. GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.

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Photo of Jamie S.

Elite '09

30

47

Jamie S.

Somerville, MA

5 star rating
11/27/2008

When I run out of eloquent ways to attempt to describe Bobby from Boston to the uninitiated, I typically fall back on this: "it's like a museum where you can buy stuff."

But it's so much more.  The fact that Bobby is right around the corner from my office is simultaneously a blessing and a curse; given that it's on the way to both Dunkin' Donuts and El Triunfo, I find myself stopping in more often than I should (if I was a fiscally responsible person).

Some of the great stuff I've gotten at Bobby: vintage cuff links, British silk pocket squares, classic button down vests.

Some of the stuff I've mustered up the self-restraint to not buy (yet): silk smoking jackets, countless sport coats and classic ties, braces, shoes, boots, bowties, hats, and so on and so on.  Hell, someone bought a monocle here a few weeks back. That's right, a monocle.

Seriously, this place is a trip when you step through the door for the first time, but you'll quickly find yourself digging through shelves, dressers, and jewelry boxes with no sense of purpose other than the joy of discovery.  I feel like a kid in a candy store every time I walk in here.  If you live in the area and haven't been to Bobby from Boston, you don't know what you're missing.

And for the record, they now accept credit cards (including American Express).

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Photo of Allix T.

Elite '09

268

1154

Allix T.

Allston, MA

4 star rating
7/1/2008

Hooray for a place to shop for veritable* vintage and antique clothing.

Along with the amazing threads that other reviewers have mentioned there's also a nice assortment of toppers, a few blankets, excellent shoes for the gents (check your sizes), and a smattering of trinkets as well.

Ladies I'll speak to you on this one: check out the selection of bags. Killer designs, fairly priced, and they'll always be in style.

My only complaint? I need more womens' wear in little sizes. I'm too selfish to want to shop here for others ;).

*As some of you know I have a real peeve about the way "vintage" gets thrown around sometimes. There's too much trendy bollox lately where someone thrifts a shit item from last year's H&M line and calls it "vintage" (sorry kids, vintage clothing = late 1920s through 80s).  [the more you know** hearts and rainbows**]

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Photo of Daniel S.

Elite '09

56

351

Daniel S.

New York, NY

5 star rating
5/16/2008

Huzzah!  Where's the ten stars?

A beautiful store full of beautiful clothes.  Fantastic selection, but nothing fits me.  Ever.

Are you a young guy who wants to be well accesorized, but can't really afford to drop $50 per pocket square at Saks?  At Bobby's you'll find cuff links, sun glasses, handkerchief, beautiful ties and bowties, gorgeous shoes (which, again, don't fit me), and an ENTIRE rack of jumpsuits.  Jumpsuits!  Did you know that 2008 is the year I'm totally bringing back the jumpsuit?  Ya' heard it here first.

As well displayed as the clothes are, it can be a little frustrating having to paw through a stack of well folded and artfully displayed t-shirts.  I feel like a bit of an ass unfolding shirt after shirt after shirt only to find that, yep, none of them fit me.

It's a perfect place to find those classic items like your grandpa used to wear.  Um, yes, I dress like my grandpa.

Anyways.  2k8.  Year of the jumpsuits.

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Photo of last s.

 

2

3

last s.

Brooklyn, NY

5 star rating
10/16/2008

Best vintage store ever! Hands down!
 Bobby has an elegant, acute and resourceful taste that surpasses any great collector, but keeps it real with his charming humor and sweet cast of surrounding characters.  Learn a thing or two about fashion history, pick up some exquisite, timeless pieces for your wardrobe or just shoot the shizzle and the cues with this sagacious dandy.  
 It's my number one stop in Boston, and unparalleled by my local NYC vintage stores in selection, character, quality, and price.  
 I heart BFB!

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Photo of Erica S.

Elite '09

247

352

Erica S.

Somerville, MA

5 star rating
4/13/2008

YES. Yes yes YES. Finally, a place that really GETS vintage, and pulls it off with class.

My boyfriend was in need of some new clothes, and I'm always down for some vintage digging, so naturally we were both psyched to spend our warm, sunny Saturday rummaging around Bobby from Boston. We tried on tons of hats (all of which were too small for both of us-- have heads gotten larger??), bow ties, boots, and marching band uniforms. I strutted in some bell bottom burnt orange corduroys, while he lusted over the original British police hats.

To be clear, this is 75% a men's store, with a nice and concise women's selection in the back. While the women's racks did have some fun stuff (70's cocktail dresses, plaid sweater vests, and a selection of handbags to drool over), the huge open room filled with menswear is the big attraction. Though everything is vintage, a huge percentage of this stuff is "new used," meaning it has all the original tags on. Rob walked out of there with a brand new pair of Lee jeans, still starched beyond comprehension, and with the original pimp-tastic label in tact, for around $35.

Other big attractions? The huge case filled with retro sunglasses. The stacks of hats in every style imaginable. And the cases of funky extras, like pipes, flasks, and monocles. Don't miss the cowboy shirt rack in the back, the military style jackets, or the rows of classy bathrobes even Hef would want to be all up in.

Come here with some time to spare, and you'll be amazed how much there is to discover here, not just on the shelves, but under tables, and in the nooks and crannies. And once you've made your fabulous selections, keep in mind that they don't take credit, so bring some cash money.

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Photo of Becki W.

Elite '09

262

113

Becki W.

Everett, MA

4 star rating
5/20/2008

I have never been so confuzzled about how to review a place in my life.

The clothes:
Primarily men's, primarily older men's at that. They are the epitome of vintage as the few dresses I saw there were straight out of the 50s and 60s. There were a couple of them that looked like material taken from my grandmother's sofa, if only grandma had dropped acid in the 60s. But that is just another sign of a good vintage store. MENTAL NOTE  - Come back and buy the Jackie Kennedy outfit for Halloween.

The men's jackets were great. I saw some great tuxedo jackets, and some great leather jackets and coats. Some of the leather coats had the distinct feeling that their previous users use to have the middle name "The" as in :Vinnie the Butcher, or Bobby the Knife. I am assuming that once these people were fitted for stripes, their families cleaned the closet out of their other clothing

The Service:
The service could easily be better. It was very clear that 2 people behind the counter were much more focused on the pizza that they ordered than the customers. Which isn't particularly bad, as the few times they did answer questions, they did not really know the answer anyway.  The entertaining man sitting by me in the back room, finishing his outfit for the All-White cruise he was getting ready for, had a better knowledge of their inventory, as well as a few other vintage places.

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Photo of George B.

Elite '09

75

100

George B.

Danvers, MA

4 star rating
11/8/2008

You are my boy Blue...Old School

This store is like a trip back in the old time machine. I can only imagine this place was the place you would shop for men's clothes and furnishing before malls started to dominate the landscape. The selection here was very impressive and in pretty good condition. If you roll old school then Bobby from Boston is the shop for you.

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Photo of Virginia Su m.

Elite '09

291

255

Virginia Su m.

Cambridge, MA

5 star rating
8/31/2008

JUST GO.

this is a fabulous store. it's definately more of a masculine spot, a perfect place to find a unique gift for someone. prices varied, but reasonable overall.

GO!

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Photo of Shawn W.

Elite '09

23

39

Shawn W.

Brighton, MA

4 star rating
7/13/2008

This place has got an absolutely inspiring vintage collection. The layout and decor are both extremely classy and full of character. It's a fun place to visit and look around, but I've had the sad realization that I'll probably never find any proper clothing here that actually fits me well, being as thin as I am. It's mostly menswear, but what they do offer for the ladies is all really unique and interesting.

The prices are pretty fair, and if you have any interest in *real* vintage, you should stop by and take a look around as soon as possible.

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Photo of Louis C.

 

25

101

Louis C.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
11/3/2006 6 photos

Bobby's Vintage clothing is a hidden jewel!! Located in the South End of Boston, Bobby's is the only vintage store in Boston that goes above and beyond!! Garment District this is not!!!

Bobby's is a great store for vintage men's suits and blazers, casual shirts, work wear, boots, belts, leather bags, American and British military, and seasonal favorites.

There is a small woman's section, but it it always very nice rayon dresses and great separates from all eras.

Bobby can get you anything that you are looking for, given proper time. What can not be found at his store is in his warehouse and can be obtain for you if you called ahead. Apparently he's got it all as Hollywood often calls upon him for more than it's fair share of period motion pictures.

Prices are very reasonable, for what you are able to buy, and the setting and merchandising of the shop are gorgeous!

If you do visit Bobby's, talk with Bobby himself. He is a true gentleman, always willing to help with any questions that you might have, very knowledgeable in all of the items he has. He'll tell you stories of Hollywood and fashion designers from New York calling HIM for help!! He is a genius!! My hat goes off to him.

Very recommended for all fans of vintage, a must see!

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Photo of Morgan F.

 

243

207

Morgan F.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
8/10/2007

I LOVE THIS PLACE.

It feels like you walked into The Royal Tenenbaums.

Besides the cool clothes, the place just looks fun and is an experience to walk around.

Bobby the owner is super duper nice and will tell you stories about the various vintage stores he has owned up and down the east coast and your browse the racks and rack of clothing and the awesome pool table.

GREEAT for guys, especially those who like clothes from 1970's and such. He actually buys dead stalk, so although its "vintage" lots of it has never been worn. Some of its more expensive, but its worth it. Tyler B and I went and despite the expensive look of the items, we was able to walk away with two shirts and a sweater for about $90.

In the side room there is a small selection of girls hats, shoes and dresses.

He has SUCH great stalk because he does costumes for movies and what you see is just a small small faction of what he keeps in his warehouse.

ALSO, bring cash, cuz its CASH ONLY!

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Photo of kate P.

 

2

36

kate P.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
6/22/2008

You walk in here and it's like an old time General Store.  The selection of vintage wear is great.  My husband bought two fantastic shirts and I actually purchased an AWESOME men's fedora that I plan to wear in the winter (the guy must have had a *really* small head).

I take issue with those who say it's expensive -- I found it to be fairly priced and for the quality, no complaints.  I've said it before, I'll say it again -- you get what you pay for.

The women's selection wasn't all that great but, well, this isn't what Bobby's is about.    And MAJOR bonus points for letting me bring my dog inside!

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Photo of Cella S.

 

38

29

Cella S.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
11/11/2008

Definitely smells like an attic full of old-time goodies. My partner-in-crime went absolutely giddy with the male clothing selection.  He's been to a lot more vintage shops than I have and he claimed that it was one of the best ones he's ever been to.  The female selection may be small, but I spent a good hour enjoying all the small knick-knacks and vintage memorabilia around the store.  Being from Philly, we both wished it was located a bit closer.

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Photo of Aluminum Chefs, C and T.

 

15

64

Aluminum Chefs, C and T.

Brookline, MA

5 star rating
1/14/2009

You could go to cool school for 50 years and not be as cool as Bobby, or his store.  What a great collection of awesome clothes.  If you want to know how a man should dress, go to BFB.  
If your wardrobe cries out for old-fashioned classy style, this place should be your first stop. It ain't cheap for secondhand, but it's certainly reasonable.  There are clothes all the way from the 20's to the 70's here, all in very nice shape.  They also sell bowties (the new 'ish, as far as I'm concerned), crest patches, bomber jackets, things with patches on the elbows.  Basically clothes you should wear while smoking a pipe, drinking something out of a snifter, and slapping a woman and then subsequently kissing her.  Speaking of women, there is a nice women's section too, that C enjoyed very much.  Also, check out the cool salvage store around the corner for the giant fireplace mantle to go with your new clothes.

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Photo of Joshua D.

 

2

39

Joshua D.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/22/2008

Accepting only cash or cheques, this place is truly period. Unlike most vintage stores, this place boasts reasonable prices for clothing that actually comes from the 20s, 30s, 60s, 70s, or any era. There you'll find ivy-league letter sweaters with tweed elbow patches, flapper dressed, World War I-era canteens and bags, mod sunglasses, and the like. Bobby himself is often dozing in his armchair, giving the place a peaceful low-key atmosphere. If you come here, be sure to check out the Bernard Toale gallery next door, which is another of the area's best finds.

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Photo of Julie A.

Elite '09

55

451

Julie A.

Arlington, MA

5 star rating
3/23/2007

This guy knows his shit and has been doing it for years and years.
This store is the place to go if you are a guy who wants to look good. His suits are fabulous and his accessories make my eyes sparkle. His selection of vintage clothes and accessories is second to none, the quality is superb and the shop is nicely set up.
An old school men's clothier at it's best!

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Photo of Kiwi H.

 

334

953

Kiwi H.

London

UK

5 star rating
8/19/2008

How can I begin to describe how much I love this shop?! I don't even know where to start.  Let me first describe how to get there: Thayer St is almost like a secret, hidden street.  Head to the 420's on Harrison and search around from there - it almost looks like it's not a 'real' street, and the store is in a little walkway with a bunch of art galleries.  And it's its own sort of gallery, in a way - vintage items as antiques and art!

The decor and layout is fantastic.  Elegant and classic, interesting and so much fun.  A British traveler who was there while I was on a recent trip there mentioned how it was like stepping into a time-warp - an absolutely wonderful one! The music is great too, and things are neatly organized, beautifully laid out, and the selection is great.  Mostly excellent for men, this is a veritable treasure trove for menswear and men's accessories.  Shoes, shirts, pants, jackets, pipes, sunglasses, money-clips, wallets, cufflinks, hats (beautiful fedoras), and oh so much more.  They also have a gorgeous collection of vintage luggage - oh, how badly I wanted to take home some of those beautiful leather and fabric trunks in all shapes and sizes!

The women's section may be small, but they have some beautiful things. A black capelet with scarlet lining for $45, cropped femme tuxedo jacket (which are all the rage this season), fantastically-cut cropped puff-sleeve jacket for $35, and so much more. Great trenches, suits, and some lovely dresses.  And oh, the accessories! Excellent bags, and rows of leather boots that would add instant style to any fall/winter wardrobe. I recently took home a classically beautiful and unique dark brown leather envelope clutch for $30 and I love it. In their rows of great heels, I spied the jackpot.  A pair of vintage, deep sapphire blue satin, mint-condition Yves Saint Laurent pumps for $15! I kid you not. Oh, I was in love the moment I laid eyes on them.  So why, WHY do the shoe deities curse me by having them half a size too small! But I'll confess.  I bought them anyway.  I know they were slightly too small, but I couldn't help myself. And at that price, come on. What? Admit it, you would have done it too.  If I never manage to squeeze my piggies into them (curse you, feet), I'll happily bestow them upon my sister who's tootsies are the right size.  If they don't fit, then I'd be happy to keep them in my closet to drool at as a work of art anyway.  They are that beautiful, and I'm that in love with them.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Bobby himself.  An absolutely charming, lovely, interesting and unique character, this is a gent who truly loves what he does and really knows his business.  We had a lovely conversation and my respect and like for him grew with each moment, and he's truly a great and friendly person. I promised I'd send a postcard from where I was moving to, after I lamented how much I'd miss having a place like this around. The rest off the staff was nice too - not your typical cookie-cutter friendly, but that's fine with me (I prefer it) and they were polite and professional, and all introduced themselves to me too which was nice.  

What more can I say? This place is a true gem.  Don't miss it.

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Photo of Daniel M.

Elite '09

9

52

Daniel M.

Arlington, MA

5 star rating
5/3/2007

I can only hope that Bobby's remains SOMEWHAT of a best kept secret.

I could easily drop a ton of cash in this place(cash is all they take). There's a pretty huge selection of vintage men's gear and it's all in pristine condition.

Even if you don't wind up buying anything(which is hard to do) you can still enjoy just walking around the store, as the set-up is very cool.

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Photo of Tristan B.

Elite '09

54

162

Tristan B.

Cambridge, MA

5 star rating
10/29/2007

I am going to have to bite my tongue and finally let out my review on one of my favorite redeeming reasons why I still live in Boston.

This place, in no other ways, is god's gift to vintage menswear. Ladies, I am so incredibly sorry, as you girls always get the nice part with vintage dresses, consignment shops, clothing sales, you name it, girls get all the breaks in this regard, so boys deserve Bobby's concentrated awesomeness.

So what do you have at Bobby's that you're not going to find at other locations? Organization, actual dead stock instead of used clothing (Although, there is some used clothing, and what is used is in excellent shape), Organization, and did I say organization? Because that's what it's all about with vintage wear. Suits, Jackets, full body suits, blazers, organized by both era and style, clearly marked with sizes makes this less like shopping at a garment store,and more like shopping at a movie set wardrobe.

What else is there? Oh wait, only the most enthusiastic staff in the world. The staff absolutely loves people who are actually interested in  the vintage clothing, and you'll get respect for it, along with suggestions, although be careful, I know one salesman there is in active competition with me for Bobby's stock. It's all in good fun though.

My only qualm is that it's cash only, and finding an ATM down there can be a complete pain in the ass. The prices on the clothing is absolutely more than fair, considering you are buying new, or pretty much brand new minus tags clothing.

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Photo of Jessie S.

 

318

557

Jessie S.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
5/20/2008

Cab Calloway! This video from my youth describes how I felt whilst browsing Bobby From Boston.

http://www.youtube.com...

I also felt like I was Diddy's manservant Farnsworth Bentley. I can see Andre 3000 from Outkast loving this store. But, since I am not a PUH (personal umbrella holder), or starting a zoot suit riot, I just browsed the men's section and loved every second of it.
It seems rare in Boston to find a vintage store that has an extensive collection of men's wear.  Bobby not only has that, but it is a specific look. Almost Southern, definitely classy (well there were some cut off jean short shorts for the men wanting to show some leg and booty), and mostly harkening to an era that feels very 1930's.  This nice young chap of a mannequin will give you the idea of the look.
http://www.arniesvinta...

Because of this classy look they do costuming for films and plays etc...
There are other vintage items here like cameras, cuff links, sunglasses (some of those looked new though), shoes, flasks, ties. Jumpsuits! I tell you what. If I had a man that dressed like this I would jump him immediately.  
Even the store itself feels vintage. The decor and setup puts in the mood of a past era.  In the back room there are the shoe shining seats (at least I think that is what they are) where you can try on the shoes. It just adds to the class.  They have postcards promoting their business all around the store that depict 1930's African Americans. I picked up a few because the black and white photos were so striking.
The back room also holds the women's section. Although very small (this is mostly a men's store), it has some great vintage dresses and a whole wall of shoes! I found a snazzy and perfect pair of shoes on that wall. Some things have prices on them, other things do not. I asked a staff member how much the shoes were and I pretty sure she made the price up (when I checked out she couldn't exactly remember what she had said the price was).  However, since the prices here are extremely reasonable I still got my shoes.  It was refreshing to go into a vintage store and be wowed by the men's clothes and not only the women's clothes.
My one gripe? The staff. They are rude and off putting.  My fiance asked one employee about a pair of pants that were too big and whether or not they could be altered. He said, "I don't know. You will have to ask somebody else." That was pretty much the end of the conversation.  It is okay that he isn't a tailor, but he was eating a slice of pizza as he said this and seemed to really not care about the question at hand.  The young woman that helped me with my shoes and checked us out was a bit rude and it seemed that we were bothering her by buying something.  If not for that I would give it 5 stars.

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Photo of Captain H.

 

2

77

Captain H.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
6/24/2007

Bobby's has, hands down, the best selection of vintage clothing for men. His women's selection of clothing is not very strong, although he does have nice shoes and hats. Looking for something in particular? Ask Bobby, he might have it in his warehouse. I would say the clothing is not cheap, but it's reasonable compared with vintage prices on ebay and general clothing prices in the South End.

Thayer Street looks more like a walkway than a street so make sure you don't miss it. Also, Bobby doesn't take credit, but he's not really cash only because he does take checks.

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Photo of Matthew R.

 

19

28

Matthew R.

Medford, MA

5 star rating
10/4/2008

Haven't been here in an age but I do remember smoking cigarettes and playing pool and shopping at the same time.

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Photo of Documentarian C.

 

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Documentarian C.

Cambridge, MA

5 star rating
9/22/2008

He's the best at what he does in Boston.  Great picks year round and buyers love the place.  Happy Halloween!!!!!

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Photo of anne k.

 

0

27

anne k.

MA

5 star rating
11/7/2008

Unbelievable vintage finds.  A fav for great priced leather boots!

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Mike B.

Somerville, MA

5 star rating
9/22/2008

I can't believe I've lived in town for eight years and had never been in this store until this afternoon, when I picked up a mint condition 60s leather jacket for a mere $60.  Bobby himself was as cool and gracious as the other reviewers mentioned, and even offered to let me peruse his enormous storeroom in Lynn by appointment.  I know I'll be spending a lot more time and money in his amazing shop.

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Elite '09

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335

Nicole M.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
9/26/2008

What a frickin fantastic place.  I've only been once *tear* and I didn't buy anything, but the selection just rocks my world.

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Elite '09

22

89

Eric S.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
1/9/2008

Like no other store I've been to.

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doug p.

Portsmouth, NH

5 star rating
2/27/2008

If I could give 6 stars for Bobby's, I would.  Easily the finest selection of vintage menswear on the East Coast.  Call before heading over, as hours seem to change often.

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mzamar x.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
12/9/2008

Beautiful period wear.  Often top dollar, but often things you'd never find anywhere else in perfect shape.  They do take credit cards, I just charged there last week.

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Lis P.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
11/14/2007

How amazing - I've worked in the South End for two years and only last week had the pleasure of shopping at Bobby's - WOW. I've traveled everywhere and this is by far THE best collection of men's vintage I've seen.... I picked up an incredible pair of motorcycle boots (for myself) and trippy hats and eyewear for my son - not to be missed!

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CC C.

New York, NY

5 star rating
3/28/2008

Six stars indeed! I am a vintage dealer in the NJ/NYC area, so from a dealer's point of view, I am so incredibly envious of THE absolute finest collection of men's vintage I have ever seen and touched anywhere on the planet. Bobby is a genius buyer and merchandiser;  you will love the gentleman's club/Oak Room vibe and decor. As for the prices, I bought a black patent leather train case at Bobby's for $15 in August 2007. I was offered $150 while browsing through the October, 2007 Manhattan Vintage show. (NO WAY, it's mine)! The neophytes who claim its "expensive" don't understand quality vintage. This is not a thrift store. It is a period fashion museum where the absolutely wearable art is for sale at more than fair prices. Ladies, there are finds for you as well; all immaculate, in excellent condition, and quite inexpensive. Also, so many accessories are unisex. This is where upscale clothing manufacturers shop to steal designs, textiles and prints for reproduction. Vintage shoppers, take your vintage virgin friends here to school them on true quality and design so they can quit the made in china, cookie cutter, 1500% markup, mall shopping madness that is retail clothing today.     Do check out this article:  http://www.bostonphoen...

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lily d.

Chelsea, Manhattan, NY

4 star rating
11/17/2007

I Actually saw Bobby and his crew at the Garment District a few days before Halloween. They were sifting through the dollar a pound, but I don't think they found anything. [I however found a 100% cashmere cardigan, and an American Apparel tshirt ; ) ]
I've been to Bobby's once, and it was overall a pleasant experience. The women's selection is not very large, but there are bags/purses (mostly $20+).. scarves.. dresses..vests..jeans..etc etc. It's fun to look around in this fun store.

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Benjamin M.

Boston, MA

5 star rating
7/16/2007

excellent selection of vintage clothing.  all sorts of great pieces, most of it  preppy clothes that still look fashionable today.  the quality is excellent (ie. this is not salvation army).  its also a cool store that nicely set up, so check it out even if you're not looking to buy anything.

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betty b.

Charlestown, MA

5 star rating
8/16/2008

great stuff, nice staff- what a gorgeous looking store! all what you need in a vintage shop! my husband got a cute top here-and he's gotten people in his office to go there too! really nice!

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