Ragtime Vintage Clothing

I have to say that I love this store from head to toe, the personnel were super nice, and this store had a unique style. I definitely come again.

Very congested and smelly inside… employees are very standoffish and accusatory… never returning here

This is by far the best vintage clothing store in Ottawa. The owners and staff are passionate and knowledgeable about quality vintage apparel (no second-hand fast fashion here). They will gladly help you find unique pieces that you will be proud to own.

I came in to look for a vintage men's vest and a kind and attentive employee quickly helped me find what I was looking for in my size. I also found a beautiful and super original ring in their extensive vintage jewelry collection.

Come to Ragtime with an open mind and some time ahead of you to discover their amazing and plentiful merchandise. Enjoy the retro atmosphere and eccentric vibe. And if you decide to walk in with drinks or large bags, understand that you will have to leave those with an employee while you shop. It makes perfect sense and will allow you to browse more comfortably.

They accuse people of stealing with no proof… I wouldn’t steal this junk even if my life depended on it lol.it stinks in there too very musty smell. John and Shirley need to grow up and stop acting like 12 year olds and also CLEAN THAT PLACE UP.

The store itself was dark and congested. It was the owner yelling at me and my husband about leaving our bag at the cash so we can't shoplift that turned me off! He was very rude. I don't feel that it was a good experience for tourists to come into. This man definitely needs counseling.

Very strange experience. I requested to buy a shirt from the display window and the manager looked at me and stated “it wasn’t marked and they had just set it up for display”. (It’s a Canada day shirt and it was June 29th, see photo below) When I further confirmed I CANNOT buy said shirt, he went a step further and fat shamed me by looking me up and down and going “well it’s a children’s shirt anyways…”
If I could give it a 0/5 I would.

This past weekend was my first time visiting Ragtime Vintage Clothing. I stumbled upon it as I was walking along bank street. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with my experience. I was astonished by the amount of items in this store so I was eager to tour around. As I entered, I was asked if I needed help with anything but then was practically cut off by the employee asking if she could take my canvas bag and put it behind the counter. I was a bit shocked but I completely understood since thief is a big issue (I've worked in retail before so I get it). As I continued looking throughout the store, I felt like I was being watched and I felt uncomfortable since I noticed others with large bags but they weren't asked to put their bags behind the counter.
When I asked for my bag back upon by departure, they couldn't find it right away and asked me to describe it to them. Definitely an extra burden and felt uneasy that they potentially gave my bag to someone else!
Definitely do not go if you get overwhelmed quickly and get claustrophobic. At times, I was practically tripping on items and was squished between the clothing racks because the place was so full.
This store definitely has potential but ensuring respect and trust with customers is essential.

Im often in the Ottawa area and found this place on a walk. Nearly all of the staff I've interacted with there have been rude and have a habit of closely following people of colour around the store (from what ive experienced). In watching them engage with their patrons and public there is clearly some mental health issues that should be addressed. The older woman shouldn't be interacting with the public. Definitely not returning. I feel the owner's response to my review provides a very clear picture of the hostile and unwelcoming environment. A basic attack without addressing the dozens of poor reviews that have been left.

I read the reviews ahead of time but gave this place a chance anyway. My experience was consistent with many of the reviews. I also read the responses to the reviews which seems like the feedback isn’t being well received and seems unprofessional.

Really interesting vintage clothing can be found here, and a different experience compared to other thrift stores I visited thus far. The staff seemed down to earth & trying to help at times but don’t confuse helpfulness with staring/following/intruding your space. I felt like my boundaries are consistently crossed while shopping here even after making them clear. I have a hard time making choices on what I’d like to buy when I feel this way.

I have shopped at Ragtime since I was a teenager and it was a little shop upstairs on Elgin street. Ragtime is a world in itself. Treasure hunting there has always been a pleasure. The atmosphere is calm and relaxed. The staff have always been helpful and polite. Now, I bring my daughter to shop at the store. I may have created a monster lol.

I’ve been to Ragtime on two occasions now.
Both times, I was warmly welcomed and asked if I need help with anything. The employees were not pushy or rude and they were able to quickly find what I was looking for. They were even kind enough to give me suggestions (which were perfect).
Although it is very full and can be a little cramped, this just shows how much stuff they have to offer. And it’s comforting to see a locally owned business booming. So where it can feel a little stuffy, that is simply one of Ragtimes charms.
I greatly enjoyed my experience with the items found and with the people there.

Went there just to browse and found the exact old style clothing I love and is hard to find at a reasonable price. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. I'd suggest having an idea of what your looking for since the layout can mean a lot of browsing.

I had come into the store with my friend group, as we’re attending a roaring 20’s themed dance in a few weeks. As we looked for dresses, two of my friends were passive aggressively body-shamed by someone named Maya in two separate instances. My first friend grabbed a dress and Maya looked her up and down snidely commented “By the way, that dress is a size two”, implying that it was absurd for my friend to try it on (the dress fit perfectly, by the way). My other friend was simply holding a dress and she went up to her and said “Make sure not to break the zipper”, discouraging her from trying it on altogether. She also treats people of colour terribly, following my friends around the store and watching them while not paying any attention to the white customers in the store. One of my friends, for example, grabbed a dress she wanted to try on and Maya said she’d put it in the back to hold it for her, only to put it right back on the rack. She would also tell us not to drag anything on the floor and give space to white customers despite us already doing so. Near the end of our visit, my friends and I were quietly talking about how disrespected we felt, and she was listening in and standing very close to us. Eventually, she interrupted our conversation to say that it offended her that we were upset and frustratedly scolded us for “reading reviews” before coming in because it “gave us the wrong impression”, when that’s not what happened at all. We only read reviews for the store AFTER being disrespected to see if this was a common occurrence at the store. One of my friends chose to talk to her about our experience and she was very condescending, acting like my friend was being aggressive and unreasonable when she wasn’t. Maya eventually apologized, but her “apology” was filled with excuses and felt really insincere. Me and one of my friends were able to find dresses for ourselves, but ultimately, our experience was completely sullied by Maya’s treatment of us. I doubt any of us will be coming back. I recommend at least getting Maya to change her behaviour because if her claim that she’s been working here for 15 years is true, this store has a blatant problem of pushing racism and body-shaming aside.

If I could give a -1 ️ I would. Terrible customer service, the employees are unprofessional and some are racist.

Super chill, eccentric environment. Sure to find something for everyone as there are cool things high, low, left and right. I found a dress and my partner found some cool shoes. Only reason I didn’t give a 5 star is because the employees were a bit rude and seemed like they didn’t wanna be there which kinda dulled the experience a bit, but I would still go back nonetheless lol

Horrible customer service! The owner is a condescending individual and his employees are no better. The staff is incredibly rude and unprofessional. If you need proof, look at reviews of other people’s experience here and the owners reply that is almost always immature and unprofessional.

The 1 star reviews are so funny to me.this place was so cool and the employees were basically my personal stylists! They deserve a bigger space to display all the items they have to offer because there are just SO MANY

Please don't let the negative reviews scare you off; go check Ragtime for yourself and make your own decision. I haven't been in Ragtime in years and got to go today. My whole experience was positive. Customer service was stellar! He was genuinely friendly and helpful the entire time I was there. I went in mostly looking for 1920s and flapper style outfits which he showed me. I love that the wardrobe tags tell you which year they're from and their style, that just goes to show Ragtime owners are really passionate and knowledgeable! I was able to try on three outfits; unfortunately, none of them quite fit me (if they did, I'd have bought some!) but I'll be sure to return again. I have fun photoshoots in mind and will try to see if any of the 1920s rentals fit me when I'm ready to get them done because they looked really nice. I did get to go home with a pair of gorgeous brass and silver studded shoes that go perfectly with my 1920s outfit and clutch I picked up earlier in the day! Prices are incredibly reasonable considering quality of items and how they are antiques! I can't wait to go back again!

Today I went in to the store for the first time to buy an outfit for this weekend. At first. I have to agree with a lot of the comments on this review site that I felt I was first being watched in fear I was going to steal something. I can only guess that they must have issues with theft at this store.

Once the staff realized that i was serious that I was going to buy something, the trust started to kick in and I got to meet a wonderful employee named Nicole. Nicole was beautiful. She was patient, kind and totally attentive to my needs, she looked and looked for combinations of outfits that would work for me and my goal to dress up this weekend. She was friendly and wanted to get to know me. She even got as excited as me when we found the right combo. I would not hesitate to visit Nicole again. She gets five stars!

So, my only constructive feedback for this store is to read the comments about how uneasy people feel when they come into the store when you constantly watch them. I realize the store is small and packed but you have to trust your customers and make them feel at ease. Smile, say hello, and if people want to browse, let them without feeling you have to be on top of them. I am sure the customers will appreciate it. I can tell you I first felt this way until I started working with Nicole. Thank you Nicole, you are a breath of fresh air.

March 11 update. I have changed may review down to one star. I am saddened by the inappropriate response by the owner of this establishment to the both positive and constructive feedback on this review. At the end of my purchase the employee asked me to write her a review, she said the owner "John" encourages the employees to ask for reviews. It was my mistake to agree. Since my experience at this store my wife and I have recommended people to go to the store if they needed outfits to dress up for occasions. These recommendations will immediately stop.

I had a warm welcome and found amazing pieces, thank you so much for all the great advice
Ariane

The replies from the owner speak for themself. Stop acting like a child and focus on running a business. Neeless to say, wouldn't recommend coming here. Pathetic. Cheers x.