Rock Candy Vintage
"Vintage & New Apparel & Homegoods”
77 Main St
New Paltz, NY
rockcandynp@gmail.com
Phone: (845) 255-1090
We walked up and down the main street in New Paltz, checking the front windows, and enjoying the scenery. It’s a pretty cool town. Drawn to Rock Candy Vintage in hopes for vintage finds, we found so much more when we decided to enter the store. The first thing I laid my eyes on was a bag on the wall with the words, “Emotional Baggage”, and I knew I had to have it. I didn’t even have to shake the hand of the owner to know that we were in the presence of good people. The better than best part is that there were two “Emotional Baggage” bags. Perfect. One for each of us. So of course, we bought both.
Next we introduced ourselves to the owner, Candy and Dan. We exchanged a few pleasantries, but in short order found ourselves in a great conversation as if we’d known them always and we were locals in this town. This was our store. A familiar place that we had been many times. We scooped items up left and right knowing that though this is how it felt, we would soon find ourselves miles from there, and if we didn’t take the opportunity to get something while we could, we’d likely regret it. They not only carry vintage apparel, but also home goods, sewn works and artwork made by New Paltz locals. On top of that, they give back! For their grand opening, they returned 5% of their sales to the National Association on Mental Illness of New York State.
While Azy learned about Ganesh, and chose a beautiful sculpture she spoke with Candy about a bit, I turned my eye toward a vintage iron-on of the cover art from Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album…and then it was as if the sky opened up rays of Heaven's light shined on this iron-on and angels with sequins jammed with guitars and a grand piano and ELTON HIMSELF was in the store serenading me and begging for me to take the iron-on home and craft it into the most divine custom t-shirt the world, or just my closet, had EVER seen. How fitting as I had tickets to his farewell show that very next week! So that's what naturally had to happen. Among the other sublime findings we immediately plunked into category of “HAVE TO HAVE” were essential oil roll-on’s in a strangely appropriately named Mermaid scent, and Mandarin Orange & Coconut, Feminism & Squash the Patriarchy patches, a “Love is all you Need” pin, and a National Parks hat we bought to honor one of our our heroes, none other than the “Father of National Parks”, John Muir.
The variety of amazingness we picked up there has been added to what I’ve come to call the holiday collection of “A few of my favorite things”…which ultimately will be best given wrapped up in packages tied up with string, of course. PERFECT. Holiday shopping that supports small, local, female owned businesses - CHECK, CHECK & CHECK! Gifts that give back - CHECKAROO! Gifts that support causes we can feel good about - ALL OF THE CHECKS!!! Upcycled, Vintage, & Recycled items as gifts - YES TO THE CHECKS!!!! I get a CHECK! And you get a CHECK! EVERYBODY GET A CHECK!!! Mic drop.  |
| A few of our favorite things! |
Rock Candy Vintage is an awesome place that supports and brings the community together! If we were locals, we’d be there every last Friday night of each month for their Late Night Fridays! Tequila shots, live music, opportunities to meet local artists, a $5 vintage T-shirt rack, and 10% of the profits returned to Puppies Behind Bars sounds like a legit great time to us! See?! We told you they’re awesome! Go meet them! Fall in love with the store! Just go!! Find out for yourselves!!!
Muir was the founder of the Sierra Club, an explorer, a conservationist, philosopher, glaciologist, an advocate for preservation, a wanderer, and a naturalist with roots in farming. He also invented from time to time. He walked countless miles in this country, and saw it as many should. If we could see it the way he did, we'd likely never want to pave another piece of it. We’d want to preserve the beauty that we destroy haphazardly and frequently without guilt.
Read more about John Muir here:
Learn more about Ganesh here:
The image in my iron-on added the perfect touch to my concert experience! Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour really is all the badassery you'd hope it would be, and so is my shirt - TRULY AMAZEBALLS! I couldn't believe my eyes when I found this at Rock Candy! It was perfect! As was the concert.
If you don’t already own this album, do yourself a solid:
Spoiler Alert - If you haven't read the articles and reviews already then you may not want to know how the concert ends!
The end of the concert...
Do you have tickets?...
Have you seen it?...
If not...and you adore him...like I do...
Are you sure you want to know?...
It is the last one...
The farewell tour...
Farewell Yellow Brick Road...
For those who are still reading...with Elton panache, he exited the stage by stepping into the scene of the yellow brick road to say, "Farewell"...and it was humorous...beautiful...touching...and vibrant, just like he will always be!
Just like a good ending, our time at Rock Candy Vintage did have to conclude. However, Azy and I luckily make friends where we go. And Candy and Dan are definitely on the friend list! Thank you to you both! You made our side trip through New Paltz a wonderful experience and we can't wait to get back to explore the town some more, visit you both, and see the special new finds you have waiting to be discovered and treasured!
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