BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A new destination for retro fashions is coming soon to Northampton County.
Yung Esau’s Vintage Shop, offering vintage clothing, accessories and other items from the 1980s through the early 2000s, will hold a soft opening on Friday at 97 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem, owner Aaron Stutz told 69 News.
A new location of Yung Esau’s Vintage Shop is set to open Friday at 97 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller
Over the next two weekends, the store will hold soft opening events, noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 21-23 and Nov. 28-30, Stutz said.
Starting Thursday, Dec. 4, the following regular hours commence: noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
The new store will be Yung Esau’s second brick-and-mortar location, supplementing a nearly three-year-old location at Belleville Market, a multi-merchant market on South Third Street in downtown Easton.
The Easton location of Yung Esau’s has flourished over the past few years, and Stutz saw an opportunity to serve more Lehigh Valley customers and build on the business’ success in Bethlehem.
Yung Esau’s Vintage Shop operates at Belleville Market in downtown Easton. The business is expanding with a second location at 97 E. Broad St. in downtown Bethlehem.
Yung Esau’s Vintage Shop
While getting coffee with his wife, Dylan Star, at the nearby Toasted & Roasted coffee shop, Stutz saw a “for rent” sign in the window of 97 E. Broad St. – a former tattoo shop – and found it to be the “perfect spot” for Yung Esau’s expansion.
“We continue to do well in Easton and wanted to expand operations in another part of the Lehigh Valley community,” Stutz said.
“So, we’re going to stay at Belleville as we grow our footprint in Bethlehem. We’re really excited to showcase even more fun, unique items.”
Stutz, a Bethlehem resident who also works part-time as a coordinator of after-school programs at William Penn Elementary School in Bethlehem, has had a fondness for collecting vintage clothing since childhood.
A new location of Yung Esau’s Vintage Shop is set to open Friday at 97 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller
A 2006 graduate of Parkland High School, he would frequent Lehigh Valley thrift stores in search of rare, eye-catching fashions that tell a story or evoke a nostalgic feeling during his teenage years.
“I’ve always had an affinity for old clothes,” Stutz said.
“I have a lot of my old T-shirts from when I was a kid, mostly because they bring back good memories. So, for some people, a vintage T-shirt could look like an old rag, but to other people, there’s an emotional attachment. It’s always fun when I hear shoppers say, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you have this!’”
Stutz and his wife lived in Colorado for several years before moving back to Pennsylvania in January 2022, and Stutz’s fondness for vintage clothes never waned during his travels.
A new location of Yung Esau’s Vintage Shop is set to open Friday at 97 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller
In 2018, Stutz began more heavily collecting vintage clothes as his longtime hobby evolved into a business where he’d sell the unique finds at pop-up markets, festivals and other venues.
Today, Stutz acquires pieces through a variety of means, including flea markets, yard sales, thrift shops and other collectors.
The business’ inventory is constantly refreshed and includes men’s and women’s fashions such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, flannels, jackets, jeans and pants.
Stutz is a big Grateful Dead fan and has a soft spot for seeking out vintage Grateful Dead T-shirts.
Shoppers also will find a lot of clothing with local flair, including pieces showcasing prominent Lehigh Valley businesses, high schools, colleges and events.
A new location of Yung Esau’s Vintage Shop is set to open Friday at 97 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller
Some current T-shirts, jackets and other clothing on display feature logos and designs related to Mack Trucks, Parkland High School, Moravian University and Lehigh University and Lafayette College.
“When I came back from Colorado, I got even more into collecting Lehigh Valley stuff,” Stutz said. “So, you might find something like an old-school Musikfest or Mayfair T-shirt.”
Vintage clothing comprises around 85% of Yung Esau’s merchandise mix, with fashion accessories such as hats and other “fun vintage items” making up the rest, Stutz said
In Bethlehem, customers will be able to browse retro and collectible pieces such as vintage hats, cassette tapes, VHS tapes and plush figures.
A new location of Yung Esau’s Vintage Shop is set to open Friday at 97 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller
In Easton, customers also can shop a unique hodgepodge of rotating items, including books, glassware and decorative pieces.
“We’ll have some fun vintage toys, collectibles and posters on the wall that also will be for sale,” Stutz said.
For the latest Yung Esau’s updates, follow the business’ Instagram page.