The Thrill of the Find: Lunch Break Vintage Sets Up Shop in Swarthmore

Sean Bruton (left) with his daughter Abby, wife Beth, and daughter Alyssa. Photo courtesy of Sean Bruton

Back when he worked in an office, Sean Bruton, the proprietor of a new vintage shop in Swarthmore, always looked forward to his lunch breaks — but not for the usual reasons. 

For the nearly 20 years he worked in the corporate world, Bruton used his midday respite in a singular way. After clocking out, he’d head straight to a nearby thrift store. “The Collingdale Thrift Shop, which has since closed, is where I used to take all of my lunch breaks,” he recalls. “I had an hour each day, and I would thrift for almost the whole time — just to get away from the work day.”

On these thrifting trips, Bruton would pick up anything colorful or stylish or wacky that caught his attention — especially if he knew he was getting a good deal. Then, he’d return to his desk, imagining how these new pieces might fit in with his growing collection of apparel and accessories. The exhilaration of discovering something rare brought excitement to Bruton’s routine weekdays.

“The thrill of the hunt is definitely what drove me,” he says. 

Last spring, when Covid-19 hit, Bruton had been working as a manager at a logistics company for just over a year. He was caught completely off guard when they laid him off. 

The following months were full of uncertainty. But Bruton says he managed to stay optimistic, grateful for increased quality time with his wife and two young daughters. He began to think of this phase of his life as a space for reflection. “I had a chance to re-evaluate,” he says. “I knew I didn’t want to do logistics anymore.”

From Balm to Business

In an attempt to distract himself from the stress of the job search, Bruton decided to bring all of his thrifted goods down from the attic, hoping to sort through the piles and possibly sell some of the items. He was surprised by the amount of secondhand clothing, sports memorabilia, and nostalgic treasures he had accumulated. 

Bruton had occasionally sold items on eBay in the past, but after he was laid off, he says, he began thinking about taking his side business to the next level. He decided to open a storefront where he could display and merchandise his collection.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he says. “I grew up going to record stores, flea markets, and thrift shops, and I’d catch myself thinking, ‘One day, I’m going to have my own.’”

The first step was finding the perfect location. Bruton, who has lived in Springfield most of his life, wanted to choose somewhere close to home with a supportive surrounding community. While researching potential spots online, he came across a listing for 13B Park Ave. in Swarthmore, just down the road. When he arrived to scope out the building, he could picture setting up shop there. 

“I immediately had thoughts of what I could do to the space,” he says. He got the keys a week later. 

After that, Bruton returned to 13B almost every day, steadily transforming it into a retail spot. 

The Store

Lunch Break Vintage proprietor Sean Bruton says he wants to offer something for everyone. Photo courtesy of Sean Bruton

Lunch Break Vintage, named for its proprietor’s thrifting escapes from work, held its grand opening on May 1. Visitors browsed a wide selection of items, including men’s and women’s T-shirts, jackets, hats, and belts, Bruton reports, adding, “I was blown away by how it went.”

One highlight was selling a Charles Barkley T-shirt from the early 90s. “Somebody was really excited about it,” Bruton says. “He had been looking for something like that for a long time.”

The shop carries a variety of newer and older brands — everything from L.L. Bean to Patagonia to Nike. Bruton personally selects every piece of merchandise, often updating them so that they’re ready to find a new home. “I’m getting all of the items and bringing them back to life,” he says. “I’m constantly putting everything in the wash or sewing buttons back on.” 

Bruton’s personal tie to every article of clothing makes for a unique shopping experience. He’s eager to share stories about how each item first came into his possession, whether it’s a Phil Collins band T-shirt or a Philadelphia Eagles starter jacket from the 90s (though he swears he’ll never sell that one). His goal is to stock the store with “something for everybody” regardless of age, style, or budget. 

Shoppers can expect Bruton to strike up a conversation. He even hopes to tailor his inventory to his customers’ interests. “I want to say to people, ‘What’re you looking for?’” he says. “Then I can keep that in mind the next time I’m out looking for stuff.” 

Lunch Break Vintage is down the stairs at 13B Park Ave., Swarthmore. Photo courtesy of Sean Bruton

“A welcoming, joyous vibe” is Bruton’s goal for Lunch Break Vintage — and he says he appreciates that the Swarthmore locals already seem to be embracing his new venture.

“This is the thing I dreamed about, growing up: being part of a community where everybody knows each other and pushes each other to be successful,” he says, adding, “I should’ve done this 10 years ago.”

Lunch Break Vintage will be open for an initial run through July 5 at 13B Park Ave., Swarthmore. Store hours are Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. In-person or virtual shopping appointments are available on Wednesdays for shoppers with accessibility concerns. 

Madelon Basil is a junior at Swarthmore College majoring in English. She is interning at The Swarthmorean this spring with funding from the college’s Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility.