Discover BM Vintage: A treasure trove of secondhand items in Las Vegas

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BM Vintage is easy to miss from the road, quietly tucked beneath a “furniture” sign in an old Las Vegas shopping center on busy E. Charleston Boulevard, just up the street from the historic Huntridge Theater and just over a mile east of the Las Vegas 18b Arts District.

Beyond the front door is a veritable treasure trove of second-hand items: Clothing, shoes, costume jewelry, tableware, art, living plants, vinyl records, and knick-knacks galore–everything from a rug to put beneath your feet to a hat (or three) for your head.

Owner Diana Valdez, 34, first opened the vintage shop online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another company she ran with her mom, Maria Valdez, was shuttered due to the state-legislated closures of non-essential businesses. 

“We were stuck with a new lease,” recalls Valdez. “Two families depended on acting fast—my mother’s, and my household.” 

The shop quickly gained traction on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, and soon began to draw in customers from across the Las Vegas Valley, once non-essential businesses reopened.

BM Vintage is truly a family affair with Valdez and her mom working side by side in the store. Her father also helps out with various tasks, such as carrying heavy items and doing pick-ups. 

“My mom has always supported my dreams and goals so we have always worked together,” says Valdez. “My family is my support system.”

The mother-daughter duo shops for their items at local thrift stores, yard sales, and estate sales, handpicking everything that catches their eye. Valdez doesn’t play favorites with the items she sells, noting, “All items are unique because they are previously loved.”

A mother herself, Valdez has also carved out a corner of the shop for her 7-year-old called “Sofia’s Closet.” There, Valdez offers clothes her daughter has outgrown and toys she no longer plays with. Valdez says the section was Sofia’s idea, and notes that her clothes are in nearly perfect condition. 

“At the end of the week she collects her money … she has savings from it,” says Valdez. “It is teaching her to recycle and earn money.”

Just as the items in Sofia’s corner are carefully curated and set off by her daughter’s hand-drawn sign, the rest of the items throughout the shop are thoughtfully staged and showcased, creating a cozy atmosphere with an inviting retro-boho vibe. 

In addition to the second-hand items, there are several pieces of refurbished wood furniture, like tables and dressers, for sale. These pieces are finished and painted by Valdez herself. She picked up the hobby as a new mom watching interior designer Joanna Gaines on TV.

“We need to care for our planet and save items from going to waste,” Valdez says. “There are perfect condition items that people toss. I feel the need to rescue them and give them a loving home.”