Chic Vintage opened January 2, after a months-long transformation. My husband and I happened along on that First Friday of 2026, and I took a not-so-sneaky or professionally framed iPhone photo so I could figure out just what this new space was.
When I walked into the shop, it was hard to picture what the space used to be. “We bought this place back in August, and it was an office,” owner Lee Gallagher said, looking around at the finished shop. “Light green walls, a full kitchen for the office people, two bathrooms, all of it. So we totally gutted it.”
Lee and her fiancé, Tom DeRobertis, brought in Jim Hickman’s construction crew for the buildout and worked with Lauderdale Design on the interior design and layout. The result is a bright, thoughtfully designed space that feels more boutique than thrift, with custom details that reward a closer look.
“Some of the renovations, like the checkout counter, were custom made. Those little brass touches are just beautiful,” Lee said of the small but impressive accessories to the counter’s charm.
Lee and Tom purchased the space in August. Opening just after the holidays was a fast turnaround that came with its share of challenges. “If anything could go wrong, it did,” Lee said. “Software issues, electrical problems, employee illness. It was one of the most stressful times of my life.”
They opened with over a thousand items, even though not every rack was full. “We said, ‘Ignore that side of the store. We’re opening!’” Since then, they have been restocking daily from their on-site storage rooms and settling into a steadier rhythm.
I had to know how these former Chicagoans got down here to Tennessee. Tom’s connection to Knoxville goes back decades. “I went to UT in the ’90s,” he said. “I’m from Chicago, but I always loved Knoxville.” His father lived in Pigeon Forge, so the area was always familiar. When thinking about a place to relocate, Knoxville checked all the boxes.
Today, Tom works remotely as a chief risk officer for a bank in Illinois, and Lee is running the shop full time. Their shared love of thrifting started closer to home, inspired by Tom’s daughter, Aubrey. “Aubrey was always finding amazing things at thrift stores,” Lee said. “Finally, I started going with her, and I was like, why have I been paying full price all these years?”
That hobby grew into something more during an extended road trip while their home was being built in Knoxville. One of their stops was a long stay in Nashville. “The thrifting there was incredible,” Lee said. “That’s when we started thinking, maybe this could be something real.”
They drew inspiration from stores that balance affordability, curation, and personality, and began imagining what that model could look like in Knoxville.
Chic Vintage sits intentionally between high-end luxury and fast fashion. “We’re focusing on medium brand names,” Lee explained. “Lower-upper, I guess you could say. We’re not looking for Louis Vuitton. You’ll see some Coach, maybe a few higher-end pieces here and there, but mostly we’re staying in that middle tier.”
Pricing stays grounded. “People online can be overly optimistic (regarding how they price items for resale),” Lee said. “I always ask myself, what would I actually buy this for?” Most items fall into a comfortable price range. “Generally $20 to $35,” she said. “Vintage or specialty pieces might be more, but we’re trying to keep things reasonable.” I found a cute and comfy sweater for myself for under $17. I wanted to keep browsing, but had to stop myself thanks to a parking meter that was about to run out.
“Our goal is all ages, all sizes, all genres,” Lee said. “The first week, my favorite thing was seeing moms and daughters shopping together. The daughters buying the pink and edgy pieces, the moms buying business casual. That’s exactly what we hoped for.”
If Chic Vintage has a guiding philosophy, it is that shopping should be enjoyable, not stressful. Lee has done the hard work for you finding quality and worthy pieces from her own thrifting trips. “I want people to come in and have fun,” Lee said. “I want it to feel like a treasure hunt. And honestly, I want people to laugh.”
She pointed to a dramatic pair of orange stilettos on display. “I would break my ankles,” she said, laughing, “but they are amazing for someone!”
That sense of discovery runs throughout the store. You might come in looking for something practical and leave with something unexpected, or simply enjoy the experience of browsing. If you enjoy fashion, there’s eye-candy everywhere you turn! “If you don’t buy anything, that’s okay,” Lee said. “I still want people to leave feeling like they had a good time.”
Sourcing inventory, Lee says, is about persistence more than secrets and luck. “It’s not about one perfect place,” she said. “It’s about going often. Things pop up everywhere.” Chic Vintage sources from thrift stores across the country, online marketplaces, and even abroad. “We went to Paris and Amsterdam this summer,” she said, pointing to a floral coat found at a Paris flea market. “In Amsterdam we went to kilo stores, where you pay by the weight.”
Tom describes his role as operations and quality control. They clean and steam all items before putting them on the racks for sale. “I want people to walk in and feel comfortable,” Lee said. “Every item is inspected. If there’s wear, we’re honest about it and price accordingly.”
With the store now running smoothly and employees at the ready, the couple is looking ahead to what the store has the potential to bring to shoppers. They will eventually have online sales and shipping. They are also planning a standout outdoor feature: a vintage-style flower cart that will sit out front in warmer months.
“It’ll have a canopy, flowers, and hanging clothes,” Lee said. “Something that makes people stop, take photos, and come inside.” As most businesses know, having that “Instagram worthy” photo stop helps to boost visibility and in turn, sales.
They also plan to lean into collaboration, including participating in Vintage Bingo starting February 1 and exploring ideas like a thrift crawl using Molly the Trolley. Sign me up!!
Vintage Bingo was an idea that started with Carly Baskette at Mood Ring Vintage in 2023 as a way to encourage shoppers to come out and spend time browsing the many vintage shopping venues throughout all of Knoxville. When she started it, she struggled to find 25 stores that fit the bill. Now, she has more than 25 shops who want to participate in the event.
Consumer spending historically dips in January and February, and for small business owners, they feel the loss. Vintage Bingo gives the thrifters a fun way to explore 25 shops, no purchase necessary. Just stop by any one of the 25 to get your card. Once you get five stamps in a row on your card between Feb. 1-28, return the card to Mood Ring Vintage to be entered in a drawing for prizes. Follow Mood Ring for more on those.
Carly stressed “community over competition” and the importance of supporting each other, especially with similar stores having an overlap in customers. She said it requires collaboration to get through those slow months. Lee and Tom echoed that sentiment and are already feeling the love of the Old City. “Knoxville’s thrift community has been incredibly welcoming,” Lee said. “Everyone wants to support each other.”
Chic Vintage will soon offer a buyback program, allowing customers to sell items directly to the shop for cash or store credit. “It’s another way to keep things circulating and bring people back in,” Lee said. While this program is still in the works, you can stay up to date with all Lee has planned by following their social media and visiting their website. Or better yet, stop in regularly and see what’s new!
Chic Vintage | 133 W. Jackson Ave., Knoxville, TN 37902 | (865) 230-0196 | [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday–Friday: 12 pm–8 pm
- Saturday: 11 am–8 pm
- Sunday: 12 pm–5 pm
Chic Vintage, 133 W. Jackson Ave., January 2026
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