Our story
Second Story started in 2011 because two people couldn't stop buying furniture at estate sales. Turns out, other people felt the same way.
Where it began
Second Story opened in March 2011 in a 900-square-foot storefront in South Minneapolis. Founders Nina Bartow and James Eckert had spent years refinishing and reselling furniture from weekend estate sales, and they kept hearing the same thing from friends: "I wish I could find stuff like this without spending all Saturday in someone else's garage."
So they opened a shop. Nina handled buying and merchandising — she has an eye for what will last and what only looks good in a listing photo. James ran operations and built relationships with the consignors and estates that would become their supply chain.
By 2014, they'd moved to a larger location and added clothing and housewares. By 2017, they'd launched a full consignment program. Today, Second Story is one of the most trusted names in Minneapolis resale — not because they sell everything, but because they're careful about what they take in.
The shop is named for the idea that everything deserves a second story. Every piece of furniture was in someone's home. Every coat was worn somewhere important. We're just the next chapter.
The people behind it
Every item in the shop has passed through one of these people's hands. That's not an exaggeration.
Nina has been hunting estate sales, auctions, and flea markets for over twenty years. She knows within thirty seconds whether a piece has legs. Her specialty is furniture and vintage housewares, and she has an inexplicable ability to spot a quality chair through a pile of junk from across a parking lot.
James keeps Second Story running: consignor relationships, pricing strategy, and the logistics of turning over a 3,500-square-foot floor every few weeks. He also curates the books and media section personally, which explains why it's consistently one of the best in the city.
Priya joined the team in 2018 after years working in vintage resale on the East Coast. She evaluates every piece of clothing and jewelry that comes in for consignment. Her eye for condition and provenance means the Second Story clothing floor runs closer to a curated boutique than a thrift bin.
What we take — and what we don't
We're selective because we have to be. Our shoppers trust that everything here is worth their time. That trust is worth protecting.
Not sure if we'd take your items? Email us a quick description and a couple of photos at hello@secondstoryconsignment.com. We'll give you an honest answer within 2 business days — no obligation.
Community
Items that don't sell don't go to a dumpster. They go to organizations that need them.
Unsold furniture and housewares go directly to Habitat for Humanity ReStore, where they fund affordable housing projects across the metro.
Professional clothing that doesn't move through our floor is donated to Dress for Success Minneapolis, supporting job seekers with interview-ready wardrobes.
Books that don't fit our inventory go to the library's Friends of the Library book sale, funding literacy programs across Hennepin County.
Inventory changes constantly. The best finds don't last long.