AWhen brothers Thomas and Reade Rex open the doors of their relocated and expanded vintage clothing store in West Bottoms, Kansas City this weekend, the event will be the culmination of years of hard work, passion and a shared vision — as well as significant customer support and loyalty, they said.
“We have always done things together,” said Reade Rex, co-owner of Vintage Rex“From childhood projects to running this company, it’s always been something that came naturally to us.”
Rex Vintage Clothing Store in West Bottoms; Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
The duo’s move to the second floor of 1420 W. 13th Terrace – directly above the antique shop Good Ju Ju — marks a milestone for her business, which quickly outgrew its previous Westside location. An overwhelming response from customers looking for unique fashion finds transformed the quiet corner store into an experiential destination.
“We are scaling our operations and really focusing on what we do best,” Reade said.
“We’re excited to be in a much larger space,” added Thomas Rex. “The last few events at our old store were so crowded that people had to wait outside to get in. Now we can accommodate the same audience but actually give them freedom of movement.”
The grand opening on Saturday is expected to feature a DJ, local vendors and a sale designed to attract both new and returning customers, Thomas said, all in a new event space and upstairs retail space. After the debut event, the brothers plan to use the event space for pop-ups and sales.
“Anyone who is a fan of our current store will be impressed with this new space,” said Thomas. “We hope to attract many new customers through this grand opening. It’s going to be a great time.”
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Sales area at vintage clothing store The Rex Catalog in West Bottoms; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Event space at vintage clothing store The Rex Catalog in West Bottoms; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Rex Vintage Clothing Store in West Bottoms; Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
New space, same vintage atmosphere
Rex Vintage’s new location not only offers more space inside for new upgrades such as changing rooms, but also matches the aesthetic for which the brothers’ brand has become known.
Raw brick walls, wooden beams and a vintage industrial feel complement the retro atmosphere of the store.
Reade Rex adjusts a lightbulb before the grand opening of Rex Vintage in West Bottoms; Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
“This space fits our aesthetic really well,” Reade said. “It’s a little rough, just like what we do, but we’re taking the same theme as our previous store: minimalist, retro, and always with a unique twist.”
The Rex’s journey to their new space began when they discovered a real estate listing on Craigslist.
“This room used to be a shop called Porcelain monkey“We took a look and just knew it was the right thing for us,” Thomas said.
Rex Vintage originally began as a passion project during Thomas’ high school years, inspired by his mother’s love of antiques and secondhand shopping. Reade later joined to run the business side so Thomas could focus on curating the unique selection of vintage clothing.
The brothers’ hard work and dedication quickly paid off: their first store opened in October 2023, followed by the opening of a second location in Lawrence, Kansas, earlier this year.
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Thomas Rex, Rex Vintage; Photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Affordable, selected clothing
Entrance to The Rex Catalog, a second-floor vintage clothing store in West Bottoms; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Rex Vintage focuses on affordable, select vintage items and serves a niche in Kansas City, Thomas and Reade said, noting that it is a consumer group that has not been well served.
“There’s a gap in the market for what we sell,” Thomas said. “There are other vintage stores, but we definitely fill a niche that didn’t exist before. We’re kind of a hybrid between a thrift store and a vintage store, offering cool, curated items at an affordable price.”
Reade echoed his brother’s sentiments, emphasizing the store’s commitment to adding value.
“Our goal has always been to create a curated secondhand experience where you can find cool vintage items at an affordable price,” he said. “That’s what people really like, and that’s what we continue to offer in this new space.”
