Photos by Matt Long
After seven years in Brooklyn, Worship brings its one-of-a-kind wares to Glenford in Ulster County.
Vintage is everywhere in the Hudson Valley.
From the antique stores of Hudson and Rhinebeck to the retro clothing shops that dot up and down the Hudson River, old-school shopping is the name of the game throughout the region. And what’s not to love? Not only does buying vintage do the planet good, but it also offers a connection to the past and a chance to preserve the legacy of decades prior.
For Worship founder Sara Villard, vintage is a source of endless inspiration that delights the senses while curbing fast fashion culture. At her store in Glenford, located between Phoenicia and Woodstock, she prioritizes a mix of approachable and luxury pieces that highlight the artistry and designs of past generations.
“We like to have a little something for everyone in the vintage clothing we choose, but with jewelry and merchandise that’s new,” she explains. “We search for the most eye-catching and unique pieces and also stock a little of the most lux basics so no one feels alienated or uninspired when they visit the shop.”
If the vibe inside the store, which relocated to Glenford at the end of June after seven years in Brooklyn, is any indication, Villard has vintage down pat. The interior is open and airy, with room to allow shoppers the freedom to browse the rainbow-hued racks and accessory displays. It’s the sort of space that engages all the senses as it invites visitors to explore every corner in search of pieces that speak to them.
New as Worship may be to the Hudson Valley, it’s already found a home in its quiet corner of the Catskills. Even so, the location is a marked change from its original digs in Brooklyn’s bustling Bushwick neighborhood. Villard and a business partner founded that first store after years of playing in bands and touring together as a way to maintain their connection to arts and music. Yet they never expected it would blossom the way it did.
Villard, who lives in Mount Tremper, wasn’t actually looking to open a new location when she came across the Glenford space. Upon seeing it, however, she felt an immediate connection and ended up renting it within the week. She originally intended it to be a third outpost for Worship, which also has a spot in Los Angeles, but, due to the COVID-19 crisis, she decided to relocate the store entirely from Brooklyn to the Hudson Valley.
Open for business since June 27, Worship is a must-stop during a cruise along Route 28. It keeps weekend hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays through Mondays, making it a perfect destination during socially distant day trips or hiking excursions in Ulster County.
With its ample selection of eye-catching styles that are far from your standard fast fashion offerings, Worship is as much of an experience as it is a storefront. It stocks clothing for both men and women and, coming soon, will become a community destination not just for buying, but for selling and trading, too. If all goes well, Villard even plans to expand the online store to accommodate shoppers outside of the Hudson Valley.
For now, though, she’s content to focus her efforts on her Catskills storefront. The opening party in June was a success, and she’s been working to keep shoppers safe with regular disinfection, masks for kids and adults, and hand sanitizer. She holds items that have been tried on for 24 hours before returning them to the floor and limits shopping to eight people at a time. When the weather permits, she opens the shop’s garage doors for additional air circulation inside the space.
“We are happy to call the Catskills our new home base to grow and expand in a world we are just feeling out now,” Villard enthuses. “Everything happens for a reason, as they say, and we are trusting our new spot and that this area calling us is the newest path on our journey. Come visit!”
Worship
2440 Rte 28, Glenford