Ragtime Vintage Clothing

I’ve been to this store a handful of times and have always been treated rudely by the owner as if my business is a pain in his butt. They are the go-​to place for unique vintage costumes, which I am sure if what is keeping this shop open, yet the owner treated me and my friend like he was «doing us a favour» by pulling down some items to look at; after we asked and waiting almost 15 minutes for him to do it. AND we were the only customers in the store!
When we didn’t find anything that we liked, an employee actually scolded up for not buying anything after all their work and told us (and I quote): «Well then get the hell out of this store and never come back.» I was flabbergasted. My friend was thankfully unfazed and replied «You are being very rude and I am now happy we didn’t get anything. Don’t worry, we won’t be back.»
Anyone looking to rent a costume or vintage outfit, avoid this store. Poor manners, deplorable customer service and rudeness should not be rewarded.
I hope the owner reads these reviews and learns from them.

Awful experience here. The place smelled musty and was overcrowded. I was looking for a dress to wear to an event and when I asked the clerk if he had any recommendations he looked me up and down (I am a size 12) and said rudely «All my dresses are in small. I doubt we have anything for a girl of your size» He then turned his back to my husband and I and pretended to be doing something else while pointedly ignoring us. I was so stunned I left near tears. I’ll never shop there again or recommend it to anyone. Such a disappointment.

I can’t say much other than my first impression.
I visited this store for the first time today as my partner and I are on the prowl for winter coats.
The merchandise: There was wall to wall and ceiling to floor clothing. There was quite a bit of standard clothing, like coats and button up shirts that were located entirely out of reach for perusing. In my experience, this is where costume clothing normally is. I found that strange. The store was also extremely musty smelling.
The staff: I wasn’t greeted when I entered the store which wasn’t a big deal. I sauntered in towards the back and suddenly a woman came up behind me and, in a very abrupt tone, demanded my bag (which was a small canvas grocery bag that was full) so that she could put it behind the cash. I was a little flustered but attempted to continue to check out the store.
My partner was close behind me and, as I observed, experienced very much the same treatment by another older woman. He was a little upset by this as well so we decided to leave right away. On our way out, the first woman yelled «Thanks for coming in!» in a sarcastic tone.
This soured my entire experience. If there had been a «Please leave your bags at the counter.» sign or if we had been asked nicely to put the bags at the cash ourselves, we would have gladly. This was uncalled for, even if they’ve had theft in the past.
I am never going back here.

I have visited Ragtime twice so far. As a dedicated vintage shopper, I have endless patience to find my jewels at this place.
The store is packed from the floor to the ceiling. It matches to my imagination of a 19-​century backstage storage room. Several revolving clothes racks are so tightly packed that you get a good workout if you really try to look at every pieces in details.
The styles are from 40’s to 90’s seemingly with higher percentage of 60’s and 70’s. As I am into dresses and blouses, the choices are plenty as back then those were all women had to wear. Soon enough I successfully spotted a floral spaghetti-​strap dress and a short pink ruffle top. They fit perfectly together although they were made 30 years apart. The price is reasonable for the condition.
The musty smell is stronger here than some other vintage places I have been to. I think the main reason is the tight space. An easy solution is to take some breaks getting the fresh air outside, then come back in to continue.

I’ve only visited Ragtime Vintage Clothing once but I’m definitely a fan and will be back. I arrived at the store at 5:30 figuring they didn’t close for half an hour so there would be plenty of time to look around. When I walked in and saw clothes floor to ceiling over the entire place I knew I was wrong. You could spend hours, or days, treasure hunting here looking for something special.
Searching through everything isn’t as hard as it might seem. Since this is more of a consignment than thrift store it is much better organized. When i found one thing I liked (a nice suit at a good price) they were able to look at the tag and bring over 4 – 5 other items brought in by the same person. The prices are higher than Value Village but I think the better organization and having someone filter the collection adds enough value to make up the difference. The employees really know their stock which is great if you go in knowing what you want.
When we went to the store, it was fairly crowded and there were four people working. I’m guessing two were the owners and there were two younger employees as well. All of them were friendly, said hello, and offered to help me find what I was looking for.
The store is fairly equally divided between male and female clothing/​accessories. I really liked their selection of men’s ties and cufflinks that mixed vintage with some more modern pieces. More expensive items, including nice shoes and jewelry, are strategically placed near the cash registers. The lighting was really dim in parts of the store I recommend going in the fitting room which has better light to look over any item before you buy. The clothes do have a musty smell and will need to be washed/​aired out before wearing.

The upside:
— Massive selection of vintage stuff
— Massive selection of new stuff that looks vintage (this could be a ‘con’ for some)
— Fun old timey atmosphere
— Friendly staff
— Close enough to downtown, and easy to stop
The downside:
— Some of the «vintage» stuff is just crappy, or missing stuff
— Very musty smell in the store
— Lighting could be better
— Although the owners are very nice they always find a way to bring up their deceased daughter which does not really make for a fun shopping experience
Everyone should give it a try at least once!

Reviews of Ragtime seem pretty mixed, but I can only guess that is because of differing expectations by patrons. I have never found the staff to be rude but then I also don’t shop socially, especially in the case of thrifting; I shop with a mission. If anything the staff are more attentive than I’d like, but I’m also the sort of person who likes to be ignored in stores. Even more so when on a mission. For the record, that mission is to keep my aging, schlumpy self decently clothed, often in quasi-​profession settings, while on a student/​non-​profit budget. And that is why shopping for me isn’t a social experience.
I’ve had good luck while shopping here, so I might be biased. I’ve gone twice to get specific items (winter coat upon moving to Ottawa and later in search of pre-​Nike buyout Doc Martens) and left with what I wanted. That said, the rule of thrifting it understanding that it takes time and repeated combing of racks to find gems. The selection does include some basics, but definitely runs towards costumes, including accessories. There is also a decent military surplus section in the back.
As has been stated by previous reviewers, this is a vintage clothing store, not a charity shop. The prices are going to reflect the fact that someone has taken the time to source and quality control all the items in shop. You’re paying a markup for that time, just like you pay a markup to have food prepared or drinks mixed.

This is one of the most unique vintage shops in Ottawa. When you come in, you’re hit with an eyeful of floor to ceiling clothing, weird kitschy knickknacks and accessories, and the authentic smell of old clothes.
Casual vintage shoppers can usually find a jacket, shirt, boots or accessory to add to their wardrobe. Hardcore vintage shoppers will love the authentic and massive selection of old clothing, accessories and costumes. There’s about as much clothing for men as women, and there’s also a huge selection of costumes and vintage tuxedos that customers can rent.
The prices are definitely higher than Value Village, but you’re also investing in a well-​made classic piece of clothing that can add to your style for years. The staff is pretty laid back and more than willing to help customers, but they usually have to be approached before they’ll help you, which I like.
This store may not be for everyone because sometimes the selection can border on costumey rather than practical. Regardless, this would be the first place I’d take a visiting friend if they were looking for a great vintage shop in Ottawa.