Kerrie Joyce 
There’s a new shop in Hoboken’s Monroe Center. The Vintage Caffé is owned by Paola Leon, who sells vintage, pre-owned handbags from luxury brands. Although the business is based within the Monroe Center, it conducts all sales through online methods. The Hoboken-based business boasts nearly 80k followers on TikTok, which acts as a virtual storefront. Read on for the story behind The Vintage Caffé in Hoboken’s Monroe Center.
About The Vintage Caffé
While Paola’s business space displaying handbags and an authentic espresso machine is in the Monroe Center, all of her sales are actually conducted online. The space in the Monroe Center is actually her office, where she conducts her business filming social media content, livestreams and more. TikTok livestreams displaying new product drops and the app’s Shop page have been an especially useful tool in courting customers, she said.
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The store curates pre-owned accessories from brands including Chanel, Chloe, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, and Prada to name just a few. Each week, new bags are added to the virtual store, ranging in condition from “good” to “pristine.” Paola also uses Entrupy and Real Authentication to ensure the quality of her products. The inventory expands beyond just handbags, of which the curator has many. The store also curates clothing, belts, jewelry, wallets, scarves, charms and shoes from vintage designer collections.
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With the advent of the Y2K fashion resurgence, Paola’s brand supports slow fashion and sustainable methods that align with current fashion trends. One of the most coveted early 2000s styles that Paola has curated in the past is the Chloe Paddington bag.
Paola is originally from Venezuela and she founded TVC in 2021 after first moving to New York in 2016. Before Paola was able to turn her dream of The Vintage Caffé into a reality, she worked 12 hour days as a babysitter and barista. “Thanks to her hard work and her passion for fashion, what started as a hobby is now a reality,” her website reads. Her store currently ships within the United States and Latin America.
Monroe Center Space
The storage space in the Monroe Center is not yet open to the public, but The Hoboken Girl was invited to take an exclusive look at Paola’s office space and inventory. Café themes were evident as the office even displayed its own vintage espresso bar. The office is complete with a wall displaying the bags as part of the brand’s latest drop.
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Like other consignment stores, Paola’s brand also buys bags off of fashion-lovers that want to give their items a second life. Interested sellers can fill out a form on TVC’s website to sell their bags virtually.
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