I shopped at a popular vintage clothing store in Modesto. What I bought with $25

One of my favorite pastimes is digging through hidden gems at vintage shops — from thrift stores to antique markets.

In Modesto, one shop in particular stands out for its racks of nostalgic finds.

Queer-owned Ambition Vintage at 1057 West Orangeburg Ave. is known for its stylish, affordable vintage and 2000s pieces, including dresses, accessories and handbags, sourced from a variety of local sellers.

The popular shop recently expanded, opening a second location in Merced at 1573 West 18th St.

Back in December, Modesto Bee reporter Maria Figueroa featured Ambition Vintage in a roundup of affordable places to find gifts under $25.

For this month’s On a Budget destination, I stopped by the Modesto location to see just how far $25 could go.

Here’s what I found:

What’s for sale at Ambition Vintage in Modesto?

Ambition Vintage in Modesto is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.

The Orangeburg Avenue shop has a 4.4-star rating on Google Reviews, with shoppers calling it “such a wonderful shopping experience” and “the perfect spot for unique Y2K and vintage clothing.”

Another reviewer wrote that it’s a “great place with such cute items at a reasonable price.”

“Genuinely one of the few places in the central valley that has the best vintage stuff and the owners are so, so sweet,” Google user Marcella Omontes wrote in a review.

I stopped by the Modesto store on a Thursday afternoon around 1 p.m.

After browsing online beforehand, I was a little worried my $25 budget wouldn’t stretch very far. Curated vintage shops often charge higher prices because the owners spend time sourcing rare or hard-to-find pieces.

However, as soon I arrived, I spotted a $10 rack outside the door. The rack was filled with pieces from the 1990s and early 2000s — from leather pants and mini skirts to crop tops and flowy dresses.

I grabbed a pair of jeans and a black short-sleeve top to try on.

Inside the shop, another nostalgic display immediately caught my eye: a large table filled with Italian charms.

Shoppers can sit and sort through hundreds of tiny charms. Each charm costs $2, and it typically takes around 18 charms to make a full bracelet, according to store employees.

I also found other small accessories and trinkets scattered across the table. There were clasp charms for $2 each, handmade pins for $4, hair clips priced up to $2 and keychains for about $4.

At that point, I grabbed a shopping basket. It was clear my hands were about to be full.

Clothing racks throughout the store featured ’90s and Y2K styles for both men and women, with prices for most items ranging from about $12 for shorts to $30 for jeans, depending on the piece and seller.

Some items were priced higher. The most expensive pieces I spotted include vintage prom dresses for up to $50 and a vintage jacket with real fur priced around $70.

Ambition Vintage also has plenty of accessories, including shoes and handbags. Shoes ranged from $10 flats to about $20 heels, while handbags cost between $10 and $20.

How I spent my $25 budget at Modesto vintage store

Starting with the two $10 pieces — a top and a pair of jeans — I grabbed from the rack outside the store, My small basket was filling up quickly

As I browsed the clothing racks inside, I found plenty of pieces I loved. The styles were right up my alley, but many of the items I liked cost more than $20 each, and I didn’t want to spend nearly my entire $25 budget on a single item.

With spring weather and a heat wave on the way, I started looking for summer clothes and picked out two pairs of shorts to try on — one priced at $12 and the other at $13.

After trying everything on, I decided to keep the $13 shorts, which fit the best.

To use the rest of my budget, I headed back to the trinket table and grabbed a few small items that had caught my eye.

I finished filling my shopping basket with silver button earrings for $5, star hair clips priced at two for $1 and a new charm for my bracelet for $2.

Is Modesto vintage clothing store affordable?

Ambition Vintage is one of the more budget-friendly vintage stores in Modesto, with many clothing items priced between $10 and $30.

While some pieces cost more — such as vintage prom dresses up to $50 and a fur jacket for about $70 — most items remain affordable.

The shop also offers plenty of accessories, with shoes and handbags priced around $10 to $20 and small trinkets starting at just $1.

I bought a pair of shorts and three accessories for $21. After tax, my total came out to $22.86.

Overall, my visit to Ambition Vintage felt like a great find for the price.

The store is a fun, treasure-filled spot to hunt for unique retro pieces, accessories and trinkets without overspending.

I found several items I loved within my budget and will definitely be back to explore more.

Where should I go next?

Have any ideas for where I should go next in or around Modesto? I’m exploring the area on a $25 budget.

Send your suggestions to arodriguez@modbee.com or fill out the form below.

Can’t see the form? Go to tinyurl.com/3euwab47.

Angela Rodriguez

The Modesto Bee

279-386-2738

Angela Rodriguez is a service journalism reporter for The Bee. She is a graduate of Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. During her time there, she worked on the State Hornet covering arts and entertainment.