Reviews of Ragtime Vintage Clothing (Costumes)

Pizza Lord

The guy who owns this place is an utterly horrendous human being. Very rude to customers, unhelpful, and dismissive. The pitiful collection of overpriced, cluttered and odoriferant costumes make it hard too even walk in there. He claims to be only interested in vintage stuff although he's got an array of modern clothing and shoes. I will most certainly never be returning to this establishment, or it's abrasive and ride owner.

Ainslie Moors

Such a fun store!

Steve S

Amazing selection of used and vintage clothing. Spend a while in here and explore all the hidden gems.

Fiona Ham

Simply the best. Great Store for experienced vintage clothing shoppers.

Emily Leonoff

I have heard a lot about the crusty gentleman that owns this store and boy did he not disappoint. Took him no less than four seconds (no exaggeration) before his abject rudeness made me want to turn and just walk right out, but I really needed to see about selling a few pieces so I stuck around. Because there isn't an inch of free space in the store he grabbed my bag of my grandmother's vintage items, stuffed himself into a corner of the shop and very roughly started throwing them over a random rack with zero respect for them. I am getting married in a few months and am having a vintage themed wedding and was looking forward to perusing the store for some major finds (aka: big sale). After today I'm not spending a penny in that place.

Karine Guyon

Extremely rude custumer service, which is really too bad because I think that there is a great selection. My partner was treated very poorly there and was told he was annoying for negotiating and the guy at the cash was even raising his voice. Unfortunately we will have to take our business somewhere else. Respect and patience is key in keeping a business thriving. Ragtime, change your attitude, it sucks and people talk. Very unimpressed.

Mixel Laquoa

Owner seems so unhappy working in his business

Kris Duhaime

An almost insurmountable amount of thrift to claw through for any occasion. The staff are courteous & friendly.

Lucy Butler

I admit- I might have a soft spot for this place. Ragtime was the first vintage clothing store I ever laid my eyes on as a teenager in Ottawa and it still feels like a magical boutique when I step inside. Sure, sure- the merchandise is everywhere- you can't see the walls and the aisles are only wide enough for 1 person-- but this Mom and Pop shop has owners who know everything there is to know about vintage clothing- and care deeply about it as well. Expect to pay $100-150 for a beautiful wool coat with fur trim-- but know that the original lining is still there, no missing button or moth eaten holes, and if you're lucky you'll get a story about who the coat belonged to as well. A great business to support if you love gorgeous old(er) things and an even greater place for a teenager to get lost in and fall in love with vintage clothing for the first time.

Reed Haw

The stuff in the store was actually wonderful, and the collection there is absolutely astounding, however, the service has done nothing less than piss me off. I found that they were rude and rushed, constantly and obtrusively pushing for us to purchase more and more items that we really didn't want. The manager (who I assume is the "crusty old man") was fairly nice, but abrupt.

Chad Cecil

good selection, interesting folks

Jaymie Dylan

I've found great vintage clothes here for a reasonable price (dresses between 20-60$ for example). Staff is generally very friendly, but it's so tight and crowded with clothes it's hard to just browse. The changing rooms are really hot in summer.

Marley

Cute little store packed to the brim with fascinating articles of clothing

Ruth Pittman

The salesman did not smile, stared at me and was very very rude. It was claustrophobic and smelled of dirty rags and was dark and dingy. Read the other reviews, he has accused people of stealing, he is a very unpleasant character.i got a creepy vibe.

Delcourt olivier

Amazing place, need more space to exhibit the thousands of stuff... Very welcoming and passionate people.

Sarah Read

Love Ragtime! Really great selection of boots, jackets and Tshirts. And yeah it's a vintage store not a Goodwill of course it's going to cost more, you just gotta know what to look for.

Colleen Gildert

Variety of selection. Knowledgeable staff.

Lauren Griffith

Accused my young sister of stealing because they had misplaced an item in their over-crowded shop. Intimidated her online afterwards. Very rude owners.

Bryce Dymond

No better place for gently used clothing and Apparel. The place is a maze and a spectacle.

John Trude

Love this place. It's not for everybody. It's a specialty shop dealing in vintage clothing and the personalities can be... eccentric. I remember the first couple of times I went "the bearded man" didn't say a word to me. No matter.. I'm introverted myself and I don't generally ask many questions. I'm looking for well-made things I like.. the actual year it was made or the designer etc. isn't so important to me for the most part. There are exceptions but I've usually researched it myself in those cases. Third time I went, I got a friendly "so you found some stuff" at the checkout and he walked over at one point before that and let me know I could feel free to use the change rooms as there are better mirrors there. Every time since he's greated me when I walked in and always asks if I need any help. I hadn't been there in 6 months but went there very recently (found three awesome shirts) and got a sincere "thank you so much" in addition to some small talk at the register. The point? Perhaps he just needs to warm up to you. Otherwise I don't think he means to be rude, he's just going about his business. I understand the way these shops work is NOT the way most retail stores do nor am I saying it's your responsibility to accept that. It is what it is. Personally I like the guy, and that's secondary to Ragtime being a store I really enjoy frequenting. Sorry to hear some have had bad experiences. Understood that's frustrating. The store is for a niche audience and doesn't cater to today's trends for the most part. However, for those really into vintage clothing (or finding some amazing costumes at a reasonable rental rate), it's a great place and one of the only spots around Ottawa that has a good selection of vintage clothing for men as well. Oh, and for the quality of clothing (and design of a lot of that stuff) the prices are not bad at all. There are a ton of real bargains there, to be honest.

Natasha Reesor

Rude staff, crowded store

Imran Ahmed

Lots of quality clothing. If anything I was overwhelmed by the choices!

Damien Bouyou

Could be an interesting place but the staff is not friendly at all. So don't bother going in...

الشيخ عيضة بن طناف المنهالي

I’ve popped into this store several times throughout the years. They carry an interesting assortment of clothing and other items. Unfortunately, I never found anything worth buying. Most items in there are too small for my size. Never had any problems with the management, but I am aware of issues other people have had with them. ????

Mark Gibson

Bad bad bad experience. I was selling goods on consignment there for years. I asked if my couple items had sold and the owner said No, so I said I would come and collect them because I was moving away out of Province. He reluctantly said Yes then called me back and said I could only take my posessions if I paid him $5. (I had about $30 worth of stuff there) This is called extortion so an agument ensued. I ended up saying I was coming to collect my things and hung up the phone. I was dialing the police when he called me back again and said to take my stuff and never come back. When I went to pick up my items he threatened to call the police on me for being rude over the phone. Then he banned me from the store. I said when you threaten me with extortion and theft I will speak to you accordingly. Then he called it a storage fee... They sell overpriced retro goods, but I urge you not to support this greasy man. He also didn't return all my items. All this just to scam $5.

Benjamin Karstad

Awesome little place. Great selection of vintage and new items. From cufflinks to bowties to suits to hats, Ragtime has you covered. My one issue is that, due to the cramped quarters, it is sometimes difficult to take items off of the rack.

Tamimi Ahmad

They have a very bad attitude dealing with customers. They were not like that a while back, terrible customer service. Even though they have a good selection of vintage clothing; but very over priced. Also, the store is overpacked with stuff these days, not curated well enough. On top of that the salesperson wants to stand on top of your head to micromanage your shopping experience. If you like feeling claustrophobic, this is your spot.

Maria-Helena Pacelli

Content warning : fatphobia, body shaming & clothing, mansplaining & microaggressions So i went to ragtime today to try on dresses for a vintage themed nye prty. I found a nice one but there was this gorgeous sequin i had my heart set on trying. It seemed smaller than the other one (which fit very loose as the style was in the 1920s). The owner didn't think it would fit me well. He pressed me to be careful with it and of course I assured him I would be. However, in the few minutes that passed while i waited for a change room the conversation went from "be careful it's very delicate" to "will you pay for it if you damage it" (i said of course and i have no intention of doing so) to him telling me it would be too small and that he would rather i not try it on at all even if i would rather take my business elsewhere. I started to believe him and feel that there was no way i could try on this dress without damaging it even if i was very, very careful. In the end as i held it and admire the sequins and beads he finally took it from my hands saying he would really rather i not try it on. After all, even though i wear clothing on this body everyday, he "has been doing this a long time and knows it wont fit". Despite assuring him that it seemed it might fit and that if it didnt i would not force it and had no intention of damaging such a beautiful dress. I even thought of doing it i front of him so he could supervise. In the end he took the dress from my hands. He said many people damage things and they are left with damaged goods. Because the dress didnt already have torn threads and missing sequins (it did). He said he has a "right to protect his merchandise". Because apparently my body is a threat to his merchandise (not if it is inhabited by a conscientious person). He said it wasnt personal. Because its about the size of the dress (but another woman tried it on before me). Was this a cruel instance of fatphobia or am i completely unable to judge whether it was reasonable to try on a dress without damaging it ? Am i really so big that trying on a dress would cause it to break or do i convey carelessness that was otherwise a threat to this dress ? Perhaps that not knowing where i can fit my body is a symptom of being overweight that i am unaware of ? I left the store in tears and dont feel festive at all. I wish i hadnt been humiliated so i could have taken home the other outfit. In moments like this i wish i had a feminist army to call and back me up in the store. But he will continue his business as i sit at home in tears ashamed of my body. I have to ask myself if my perspective is distorted and maybe i really am so overweight now that i should be careful with clothing that doesnt belong to me. But then, regardless of size it doesnt seem right that someone should be treated like they would be careless or even reckless when there is no evidence that they would be. After all, it was "a very valuable dress" and my dignity isn't a factor in the store's bottom line.

Krista Carrigan

Very rude customer service. Wow...i am still shocked. I have not ever felt that uncomfortable shopping. I had to leave...which is too bad cause it did look like a neat place.

Brendan Butt

Always a cool experience to be go hunting here

C Ferd

The manager was rude and I think he's very racist!. I WENT INSIDE WITH MY bag HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING until it was 8 MINUTES LATER he told me it's the store policy please leave your bag at the front desk. The prices are like the *Guess &Gucci Stores it's to high for a second hand store I personally wouldn't suggest anyone to go there. I think the store is Fraud

Patrick Lalonde

great little shop, lots of good finds, new stuff comes often

Derrick Smiley

Changed the price 10 dollars from one day to the next on a sweater my gf was interested in. Won't spend another dime there.

Francisco Alvarez

Highly curated second hand clothing and accessories. The owners are diligent in choosing what goes up in their store. Always able to find high quality items at very reasonable prices. They also have an excellent halloween costume selection.

Mr. Jenn Farr

Ottawa's answer to Love Saves the Day this shop is literally packed to the rafters with treasure. Rent a WWI helmet to enhance a child's history project or get gussied up in tails, ruffle shirt and top hat for a night of revelry. Best selection of quality vintage in town. Quirky. For serious shoppers only.

Allie

Magical place. The store is packed with beautiful items. I understand that everyone has a different point of view but the reviews on here are really disappointing - I've always been asked if I needed help, had a fitting room started to free up my hands, and been thanked. It's no one's responsibility to boost your self esteem - sorry you didn't get smiled at?

Michael Morin

This place is bursting at the seams with vintage clothing, accessories and costumes.

Michelle Hughes

Overall I really like Ragtime. I love their selection, the clutter, that "old" smell (so much better than moth balls as you would smell at many other second hand shops including Value Village!!). And the prices are by far the cheapest I've ever seen at any other vintage shop in Montreal, Toronto and the UK. And after reading some of the posts my first comment is that Value Village and Ragtime are not synonyms! If you want run of the mill second hand clothes then go to Value Village if you want hip genuine vintage clothing from a certain era, then go to Ragtime. Secondly, which many people find annoying including myself, many stores have this "leave your bag at the cash" policy. You may feel that the owners are assuming that you are a shoplifter and that they are discriminating against you, but if you have had many items stolen at your independent store (not just some generic franchise), wouldn't you want to protect yourself? Especially since many of their items are on consignment, so if stolen Ragtime would be held responsible. One of the reasons why I am not giving a full five stars here is because I agree that the dude at the cash seems a tiny bit miserable. However, I have suceeding in speaking with him and in reality he is rather nice. I think when there's many people in the store he gets a bit stressed out or something. And the older talkative lady who works Saturdays is SUPER friendly!

Kent

Bit pricey but worth it for finding old school clothes that are back in style. The interior is very tightly packed with all the clothes and quite hot due to the weak or non-existent air conditioning. Definitely will be coming back here!!

Anna Kollenberg

lots of nice finds, but kinda pricey. young men working there between 4-5 were very nnice and helpful. for some reason the stuff hanging from the ceiling wasn't for sale?

Bernard Walker (GuidedByCthulhu)

I used to enjoy hitting up ragtime 10 years ago, but my recent visits were less than pleasant. The staff is downright rude; it appears to be more of a hang out for the staff and their friends than it is a business. As always, the clothes are packed too tight, and it's near impossible to find things. There are far less actually vintage clothes to be found here these days either - they have clothes from H&M on the racks! Honestly, skip this place. Go to Toronto, there are many better places there.

Sara Carrillo

They have some really nice stuff, very crowded. All of the stuff comes from other thrift store the the buyer gets and sells for outrages prices. Wont be shopping there again.

Alexandra K

This place is a waste of time. I went here for some browsing and found that most of the stuff is either forever 21 or other popular brands that you can buy at the mall. It's also super hard to look at anything because it's so rammed in there. Better finds at value village.

Atlice

Came in with my friend, use to bee my favourite store to visit every time I went to Ottawa, asked my friend to leave b/c he was black, never going to this store again.

Alex Fichera

They don't keep track at all of the items people bring in to sell. I brought a few things in and they told me as much. Then when I went in to pick up my money they told me all of my items had sold and that my account was done. I walked out past one of my items still on the rack. Not sure if this was general disorganization or flat out lying but I haven't been back since.

Jennie Stratton

Okay, now I do love a brightly lit, sparkling vintage shop with carefully organized pieces all tidy and cute on the racks, BUT I also love a crazy, mysterious vintage shop with heaps upon heaps of wonders, hanging willy nilly, with all kinds of curious objects nestled here, there, and everywhere, tucked into secret corners, spilling out of baskets, and crammed onto random hooks, to make you stand in awe and wonder for a few minutes before you start gleefully digging through the labyrinth of colour and texture. Ragtime is a wonderfully dizzying 360 degree experience of vintage everything, that you won't soon forget, tucked into a heritage building, and teeming with delights and curiosities. I find something extraordinary every single time, and I wouldn't change a square inch of that place if I could.

Meaghan Tellier

Really cool vintage store. Great collection if you have the time to browse through all of the mish mash.

Michelle Hennessey

This is the only place you can find such a large stock of retro & vintage clothing in Ottawa. Unparalleled selection. Be respectful and you will be respected.

Robert Ewart

Good selection. Normally, vintage stores tend to stock towards women, this shop has probably one of the stronger men's selection I've seen recently. Set some time aside and deep dive.

Kelly Boville

A lot of clothing in a very small space

Ghislain Racine

Very interesting store for anyone interested in finding vintage clothing or a particular piece! Some of the clothes are on the pricy side and the store kinda feels crammed although some might argue that adds to it's charm!

lheudomi

Oufff, what a bad attitude. Very commanding. He can do a police officer role and a sales representative. I had my visor. I had to raised because I can't see. Way to much stuff. Can't walk. Can't even find the way out or the fitting room. Don't waist your time. You will find nothing interesting. Feel like buried alive. Oufff. A one star for that for sure.

Daniel Nadeau

Here's the story: the staff at Ragtime are cool people. Cool people often dismiss, tease and/or torment the uncool. It is part of the system. Anyone who has received bad service from Ragtime, sorry, but you were acting very uncool that day. And if you pull a 'they are service people and should be nice to everyone' you have no idea how speciality stores work. They are pros at clothes, don't ask for personality. As for the store itself, best 2nd hand men's clothing in Canada. And I've checked. Couldn't say for the ladies but they have great scarves and jewelery. It is reassuring to me to see bad reviews of a great place though. This means it might remain cool for the foreseeable future. Stay frosty, John.

Ana Anyway

I went to the store a few weeks ago, looking to purchase a fur coat (I was ready to spend between $1000 to $1500 during my visit) and when I saw a coat that interested me (and it was MY SIZE) a VERY AGGRESSIVE OLD MAN WITH BAD MANNERS came to take the coat away from me. He told me that I was not allowed to touch or try the coat and that I was too fat for the coat (I am a size 0) and I know for sure that the coat was the right size. This kind of behavior is simply unacceptable and I also do not understand how they plan to sell their coats if customers are not allowed to touch or try them. I already own 4 mink fur coats, I know how to care for them and I am fully aware of how delicate they are, during my visit I was very respectful to the merchandise and the staff, I do not understand why they threat their customers this way. I ended up going straight to darling vintage after this bad experience and I purchase a beautiful coat for $1100.00+tx, the service at Darling Vintage was excellent and I strongly recommend. FAGTIME VINTAGE, YOUR LOSS.

Its Justme

I'd give zero stars if possible. The manager was rude and refused to help me set a price on a high end item. Instead he indicated as seller I should know. He said he never heard of Jeno de Paris a well known long-standing Canadian designer. He is either ignorant or trying to rip off customers. I sold the item to another store (The Clothes Secret - Droop Ragtime and call Clothes Secret) minutes later over the phone after sending a picture and made $280. Ragtime is ripping you off! Go to Clothes Secret.

Brittany Banks

Very packed and cool shop. Prices are all over the place so some things are very reasonable while others are outrageous. Worth it to find hidden gems though. Only thing is that the main owner follows young customers around like they are going to steal something even when they give him things to put aside for purchase. Not a place to haggle or ask for discount on bulk. Still very cool though. No air conditioning so it is very hot, but the store does have a debit machine. Not really any clothes bigger than a medium.

Lucy Lu

I have gone to this store twice. The first time I went in I was scared to ask for help. ( I had already read a lot of reviews). The young girl that worked there was awesome! The older gentlemen was polite, the older woman was a little out there! My second visit it was the same three people. The young girl was once again great! The older gentlemen was polite. The older woman was quite annoying! I had asked if they could offer a better price on what they were offering and the correct response would have been yes or no. Not we pay a lot of money for this stuff from all around the world, rent is expensive, taxes.....blah blah. Well we all pay a lot of money in taxes, rent, etc. but some money is better than it sitting there for another few seasons. It never hurts to ask. The store has a bit of a smell but it isn't that bad. You have to expect that from an older building and all the clothing they have in there. A good wash will help deodorize it. The clothing that they have is pretty cool, as everything there is always pros and cons to everything.

Conrad C

Shout out to Paul and the great people at this store. They have an awesome selection, and are genuinely interested in their products and customers. Definitely checking this place out again next time I'm in Ottawa.

Nicole Not Nichole

Just finished reading all the reviews on this place. I can’t, in good conscience, support a bigot’s business. I hope the owners read these reviews. I hope they realize that there are real consequences (loss of future business) as a result of their toxic behavior.

Nicolas P.

Wonder world of bonanzas for those who like the smell

Dan German

Walked by this afternoon, drawn into this little gem on Flora st off Bank st. Ragtime has a certain eclectic charm to it. If you have a few extra moments to dig I promise you will walk out with a treasure or two ...even if it's just the memory of the visit. Friendly staff. Very knowledgeable and pricing is quite reasonable.

Andrew Robbins

Great staff and crazy amount of vintage clothing.

Rebecca Anisman

Truly one of the last of its kind- Great authentic vintage at fair prices. I always leave with a gem of a piece. Staff is also very knowledgeable. Look forward to what I find next!

Louis Manlangit

Huge selection of vintage clothing, friendly employees

E Overduin

STAY AWAY!! Extreme rudeness towards me and my daughter. The manager followed my daughter around and cornered her and tried to physically search her against my protests. We were simply browsing. It was a terrifying experioence for my daughter and even felt dangerous to me. I repeat. STAY AWAY!!. I feel these people are unbalanced and dangerous.

Brent F (Dethface)

Awesome store. Staff were super courteous and helpful. Lots of cool finds.

Clara Simones

I used to love coming into Ragtime. I have been going there for 5 five years and have found some really great items there. HOWEVER recently they hired some new staff that have completely turned me off from shopping there. They are EXTREMELY rude, pushy and make me very uncomfortable while shopping there. After my most recent experience I don't think I will return.

Philippe Cote

Definitely expect to pay more than in thrift stores, but all the looking and digging is already done! They have beautiful clothes! Also a very friendly staff!

Rosalind Ashe

Amazing store. I have been to vintage shops all over the world and this one is very memorable.

Brendan Luck

Look. The ownership might not be for everyone. Don't go here if you expect a minimalist store with preppy employees that will tend to your every need. But if you're looking for quality pieces of vintage clothing, you can't go wrong with Ragtime. I moved away from Ottawa, and I find myself missing the experience of being able to browse through the wonderful articles this store had (in spades, I might add). This was my go-to store for finding beautiful vintage jackets. Their mens outerwear was stunning! Show some appreciation for the clothing and for the owners, and in return they'll do the same. Simple.

Taylor Griffith

I reviewed this store about a month ago and gave it my 1 star rating because as a young girl I was accused of stealing here when I was just trying to find my favourite vintage store with cool finds. This experience was very traumatic for me, and when I came across the store on google recently I left my review in regards to that experience. To my surprise, the store owner answered my review making up some story about me not wearing a mask in their store and not following Ontario's laws about it. I have not been in this store in years and you are making up lies about me and my character to protect your store from a 1 star review. Completely unprofessional.

Lou Lou Lacroix

Love this place what a great find

Tyler

Some unique finds. The place feels like a cross between a time capsule and a costume room of a classic theatre. However, the last two visits I’ve spent a fair amount on an item only to find holes/functional issues later. (I know, look at things thoroughly before you buy - but it is a pandemic and time is important.) Last time I was in, he was accusing the person in front of me of stealing. They handled the accusation very well but the older man behind the counter was extremely rude.

Summer Bisson

Honestly I was going to come here and shop but based off the owners responses to reviews alone I will take my business elsewhere. A lot of reviews say youre rude, your responses to that proves so! Customer service !!

Belinda Warren

I went here once, walked in, and immediately found myself completely overwhelmed from the amount of stuff everywhere, and I do mean absolutely everywhere! Even though they do have a pretty organized system, they have Soo much clothing hanging literally everywhere you look, on walls and racks, and even from the ceilings, that it is a total mind blow... I could only stay for about 10 minutes tops because I was becoming surprisingly claustrophobic, but if you love a store for having tons of stuff, then this place is definitely for you. If you tend to be uncomfortable in tight spaces, then this store is Not at all recommend. No problems with the staff however, but I was only in there for literally minutes, and I did find them pretty helpful..

angelika julie

horrible, rude owners. make you feel uncomfortable the moment you enter the store.

Tori

The woman who owns this place is incredibly rude and needs to retire. She physically tied my restaurant leftovers tightly around my wrist because i refused to leave them behind the counter. I used to be a regular until this happened. Also got mad at me for taking a selfie in a coat. Get over yourself lady...Ridiculous

Alexandru Dobrescu

The store is so cramped and over packed with stuff it's hard to browse any of the items they have.

Cindy Li

I've been shopping here for years, and I've referred both friends and family alike. Last time I was here, I picked up a sweater from a high end, but obscure designer and I remarked on it to the sales person. When I went to pay, I was told by the owner, Shirley, that I wasn't leaving the store without paying more for the sweater than what was listed on the price tag. It was an extra $12, which hardly breaks the bank, but I was treated very rudely and was told that it was very expensive to run a store and they deserve the revenue, how they don't have time to check the value of all their items, and how since I knew the value of the sweater I should pay more, etc etc. I was told almost verbatim "This sweater isn't leaving my store unless you give me more money for it. It's my store, I can change the prices whenever I want." It was appalling, unethical, and petty. I was shocked. Who conducts business like this? I have spent over $1000 at Ragtime in the past throughout the years. I will never give them my business again, and have told my friends to stay away from this place. No one should support a business owned by such petty and immoral people. It would be best that you all stay away from this place. I hope that $12 was worth it, Shirley.

Anastasia Lomakina

The vintage store is pricier than a thrift store, however you are getting a better atmosphere and in my opinion a far better selection than the piles and piles of clothes you would need to rifle though in a thrift store. The store also has a neat selection of accessories and I always love popping in because I always find a piece I fall in love with!