Members of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce joined city officials and other dignitaries on Wednesday morning to officially welcome Outdated Threads to its new location in Centre Market. Store owner Nic Provenzano cut the ribbon to become the chamber's first new member business of the new year. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

WHEELING – Vintage casual attire and other old-school treasures are among the featured items for sale in the newest shop to open in Centre Market.

Outdated Threads officially opened for business at 2263 Market St. last weekend in the space formerly occupied by Ziklag.

On Wednesday, members of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce joined city officials and other local dignitaries in welcoming Outdated Threads with a ribbon cutting ceremony – the chamber’s first of the new year.

Owner Nic Provenzano said the new store specializes in vintage, throwback items – particularly casual clothing – which has become very popular in recent years.

“I look for any ’90s-and-before clothing like T-shirts or sweatshirts,” Provenzano said. “I try to curate with sports teams and pieces that I specifically like and that I think other people would like.”

Provenzano’s inventory comes from a variety of sources – and he goes to great lengths to find the hard-to-find treasures that make customers raise their eyebrows.

Outdated Threads carries unique vintage treasures like this classic, hard-to-find Wheeling Thunderbirds sweatshirt. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

“You find the good stuff in attics,” he said, noting that he picks for the store’s special niche of vintage finds everywhere from thrift stores to forgotten boxes in basements. “It’s hard to find the really good pieces and the older stuff in stores because a lot of people are looking for it. The market’s starting to flood with people who are wanting to do it, so it’s harder. But it keeps you competitive, and it makes each piece you find kind more of a ‘one-of-one.'”

Outdated Threads has mostly clothing items like T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and hats, but it also has some other classic old-school items, too, like collectible Marlboro gear and other pieces of memorabilia.

A native of Wellsburg, Provenzano said the new location for the old-school boutique is perfect, noting that the Friendly City is clearly in the midst of a renaissance.

“The people of Wheeling are great, and the city itself – it’s coming up to be something special, and I’d like to be a part of that,” he said. “Center Market is a beautiful area with a lot of foot traffic. I don’t want to sell online. I like to personally sell each piece – I like to talk to people when they come in. It’s awesome.”

Owner Nic Provenzano opened Oudated Threads in Wheeling’s Centre Market at 2263 Market St. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Each unique item has a history and a story behind it, he noted, urging anyone interested in vintage attire and old-school items to stop by the store.

“Shop sustainable – shop local,” Provenzano said.

Outdated Threads is open from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays. For more information, check out the shop’s official social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Outdated Threads, located at 2263 Market St. in Wheeling’s Centre Market, specializes in vintage T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce’s Mike Howard scours the sweatshirt racks at Outdated Threads in search of old-school treasures. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

Outdated Threads, located at 2263 Market St. in Wheeling’s Centre Market, specializes in vintage T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more. (Photo by Eric Ayres)