Locally owned by Matthew Klassen, Little Apple Vintage is a clothing shop with a strong sense of history. The store’s walls are lined with Royal Purple K-State yearbooks, antique maps of Manhattan, and rows of retro K-State and Chiefs baseball caps.
Matthew’s love of history was sparked by early experiences with his father and grandfather. “My dad’s a history buff,” he says. “I collected coins with my grandpa, and that kind of got me into the old stuff.”
As a child, Matthew moved from the Bay Area to southwest Kansas, where he noticed it was harder to find distinctive clothing. He’d pick up unique shirts on family trips to places like Disney World or Santa Cruz. While attending Kansas State, he stumbled across a vintage San Jose Sharks jersey at the local Goodwill. This experience catalyzed his interest in vintage clothing, and he dove into reselling items on online retailers like Depop, eBay, and Mercari. He learned the ins-and-outs of the resale business: how to curate interesting items and then repair, photograph, list, and ship them, all while juggling K-State classes and a job in Aggieville.
When the pandemic hit, Matthew worried about the future of his burgeoning endeavor. However, he found that online vintage sales surged, as people had more time to search and shop. In late 2021, he launched the Little Apple Vintage Flea, which was first held at what’s now Parkside Station. These pop-ups soon created a community, with Matthew making connections with other local resellers and regular customers.
Matthew is quick to clarify that Little Apple Vintage is not a thrift store. “Usually, thrift stores have donated items,” he explains. “We curate everything here. True vintage clothes are at least 20 years old.” Every piece is cleaned before being displaying — a process that requires about 25 loads of laundry each week. “The dryer only gets a break when I’m at the shop,” Matthew laughs. While the store does not engage in haggling, its prices are usually lower than what you’d see on national resale sites.
In April, Matthew and his business partner Andrew Kemp opened the permanent Little Apple Vintage Shop storefront. Community, affordability, sustainability, and storytelling are the core values behind the business. “There’s a lot of stories in here,” Matthew says. “Each piece has its own previous life, so it’s got its own history. You never know who was wearing it or where it’s been.”
The shop is currently open Fridays and Saturdays, with plans to add Thursdays and Sundays. The pop-up flea market continues monthly during the school year.
The shop’s customers come from all walks of life: Junction City high schoolers, K-State first-years learning what “vintage” means, collectors looking for specific items, and folks who remember when these items were new. Regulars even include K-State athletes — former Wildcats point guard Markquis Nowell was an early supporter.
The store’s inventory comes from yard and estate sales, a textile warehouse, and locals who schedule appointments to bring in clothing. Most items date from the 1970s through early Y2K, with an especially deep selection of K-State gear. There are also screen printed and upcycled items using vintage materials. In contrast to fast fashion, much of the clothing is made from natural fibers and manufactured in the U.S. The available sizes range widely, from baby-sized K-State jumpers to oversized varsity jackets. During my August visit, Matthew was beginning to turn over the inventory for the season, with shorts and tanks giving way to pants and winter wear.
“We really want everyone to be able to come in here and find something they like,” Matthew says.
Styles to watch for at Little Apple Vintage:
- Retro Sport: Throwback K-State tees, varsity cardigans, crewneck sweatshirts.
- Y2K: Low-rise denim, crop tops, bold colors.
- 1970s Boho: Flowing silhouettes, earth tones, floral prints.
Visit the Little Apple Vintage Shop in Aggieville at 622 N Manhattan Ave.
"We really want everyone to be able to come in here and find something they like." - Matthew Klassen