Cheap Charlie’s

Walking into Cheap Charlies is like Déjà vu all over again. I go in and walk straight past the super tall dude who never comes out from behind the counter. He may be Charlie.
I head down the back toward the hardware and when I’m halfway up the isle, the dude at the front counter will call after me asking what I need. I stop, turn around, go back and tell him hardware, and he will say up the ramp to the right. I already know this.
When i get to the ramp, an older dude will appear from behind a row of shelves to help guide me towards the hardware isle. He could be Charlie.
After deliberating for 10 minutes over whether to buy a tool for $ 5 that i know will break after 3 uses, but I think I’ll only ever need to use twice, or buying something better from the Polish guys a couple doors up for $ 45 that I’ll probably only ever use once, I head back to the front counter.
Now there will be another dude hanging out there holding a bunch of lottery tickets looking up at a screen with the winning numbers, which he doesn’t have. My money’s on this dude being Cheap Charlie.
They say you get what you pay for and at Cheap Charlies its true. I come here for stuff that doesn’t need to hold up to repetitive usage. If you need tools to last, probably not the best place, but if its something youre just going to use once, or don’t want to spend too much on, Cheap Charlies is the go.
I’m giving it 3 stars since it is always seems to have what I need, and for a good price.
Even though I know what I buy will probably break after a few uses, it’s the consistency that counts. Same every time.

Yes, this place is filthy. Yes, there are certain things I wouldn’t buy from here (like a blow up mattress like one poster). But it is cheaper than the average store and they probably do have what you need.
I stupidly went to a fancy kitchen store to get mason jars but I should have gone to Charlie’s as they are cheaper. Yes, they might be dusty. Yes, you will need to ask for help finding things. But I love this place and it’s always an adventure to visit! You’ll find things you didn’t know you needed. I really hope they manage to stay in business a lot longer!

Ok ok. This place is a mess. Buuuuut amongst its mess there. s some gems and unnecessary chachka you may be looking for. Like a $ 2 plate stand? One day I came in looking for a plate stand… instead of looking for it I asked the petite indian man working the register…
He immediately answered «ah, I think I only have one, this aisle (pointed at the aisle), in the right side, midway of the aisle, at eye level, oster brand»
I followed his directions and indeed there was one waiting for me at eye level. I think he is the encyclopedia of his store.

I bought an item at this store and the item was not functioning right, so I called and asked if I could get a refund, and explained to the guy that what he sold me was broken; and he simply said” I don’t do refunds «.
That’s absurd! You can’t possibly sell me something overpriced that is broken and not reimburse me the money!
With this said, don’t buy from this place, it’s not worth it.

Okay, yes, it’s pretty filthy, and it’s definitely not as cheap as the name suggests. But no matter what I’m looking for, they have it. And they’re close by.

This place is a filthy death trap. It’s literally two cardboard boxes away from being on TLC’s Hoarders. The make-​up is legit from 1992 and an ironing board is $ 50. It’s a miracle this place is even in business. All this being said– they do somehow have everything, granted a crappy overpriced version of everything but everything nonetheless.

Yes it’s a total dump, but a solid 3-​star dump. Thank god Cheap Charlie’s is still here and not replaced by a CVS or Duane Reade (fuck you, West Williamsburg). I patronize Cheap Charlies regularly. They often have what I need (like an extra-​long shower curtain) though sometimes not. It’s got one of the better selections of stuff in the neighborhood. Sometimes things are more expensive here than at other stores, but their selection is better, unless you want shampoo or soap (stay away!). Maybe the only place to buy martini glasses? What the hell, Four stars!

Cheap Charlies is jampacked with gross, broken, and/​or useless junk at prices FAR higher than any other discount store I have ever set foot in. Ugh!

The essence of the Greenpoint dollar shop scene. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose — a true bazaar. And, boy, what a stock!

What a dump.
If they ever make Falling Down II: Lost in New York, this would be a pretty good place for Michael Douglas to make a pit-​stop.

you want me to pay 50 dollars for a trash can? hell no. there is nothing cheap about that charlie. NOTHING!

This place sold me used vasoline. I figured it was new, and when I got home, it had a smaller lid inside to hide the fact it was used. There are many other 99c stores on Manhattan ave that are great (unfortunately, there used to be more…), but this place is nasty.

This is my discount store of choice in Greenpoint. Not as awesome as Winn Discount in Cobble Hill, which has anything and everything, this place still has most things you’d need for the kitchen, bath, home, and office. It’s somewhat cluttered and dusty, but the prices are low, and the staff is consistently nice. Great for staples — and I mean things you regularly buy, not the office supply.