Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali + Jordan Virden.
Hi Ali + Jordan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We’re twin sisters, lifelong treasure hunters, and honestly, vintage feels like something we grew up around. Our Nonna collected beautiful pieces from her travels around the world and had a deep love of antiques. Our mom has always collected antiques and painted, so creativity and old things were always part of our home. And our grandma Tazzie had the funkiest pieces in her Towson apartment, which definitely shaped our love for color, character, and anything a little unexpected.
In 2020, we decided to turn that passion into something more and started selling vintage online while balancing our full-time careers. What began as a creative side project quickly grew into a real business and an incredible community of people who shared our love of vintage.
In 2024, we opened our first brick-and-mortar location, Twin Thrift Vintage, in Ellicott City. Since then, we’ve expanded with a second location in Olney and have continued growing a brand centered around colorful, curated vintage finds that make people smile.
Jordan and I both still work full-time, so building Twin Thrift Vintage has been a true labor of love. Every display, every sourcing trip, every social media post, and every customer interaction has been something we’ve built together. More than anything, we’re proud that we’ve created a space where people can slow down, treasure hunt, and leave with something that has a story to tell.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not! Like most small business owners, we’ve learned almost everything by doing.
One of our biggest challenges has been balancing Twin Thrift Vintage while both working full-time. Our days don’t end at 5 p.m.—they usually continue with sourcing inventory, creating social media content, merchandising the shop, planning events, or getting ready for a weekend market.
As our business has grown, we’ve also learned how to grow beyond the four walls of our storefront. In addition to our brick-and-mortar locations, we regularly vend at markets and festivals throughout Maryland, from Ellicott City to Frederick. Those events have introduced us to entirely new communities, helped us build relationships with customers face-to-face, and brought people back to visit our shops.
We’ve also had to learn how to advocate for our business. That has meant building relationships with local media, sharing our story, and finding ways to champion not just Twin Thrift Vintage, but other small businesses in our community as well.
And then there’s social media—which has probably been one of our biggest learning curves. We’ve spent a lot of time figuring out what resonates with people, and we’ve found that authenticity and humor consistently outperform trying to be overly polished. Recently, one of our Instagram Reels reached more than 100,000 views, earned over 3,500 likes, and was shared more than 1,000 times. That kind of engagement has helped introduce Twin Thrift Vintage to people who may never have found us otherwise.
Every challenge has taught us a new skill. Looking back, we’re grateful for all of it because it’s made us more adaptable, more creative, and more confident as business owners.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Twin Thrift Vintage?
Twin Thrift Vintage is a twin-owned, women-owned vintage shop with locations in Ellicott City and Olney, Maryland. We specialize in colorful, curated vintage home décor, glassware, art, furniture, clothing, and one-of-a-kind treasures that help people express their personalities and create homes that feel uniquely theirs.
What sets us apart is that we’re not trying to recreate the perfectly neutral, minimalist aesthetic that’s everywhere right now. We embrace color, nostalgia, whimsy, and the joy of finding something unexpected. Whether someone is looking for a vintage cocktail glass, a funky lamp, a piece of art, or a conversation-starting collectible, we want them to feel like treasure hunting is part of the experience.
Our brand is rooted in storytelling. Many of the pieces we sell have lived previous lives, and we love helping customers imagine where they’ve been and where they’ll go next. That philosophy carries through everything we do from the way we merchandise our stores (organized by rainbow!) to the way we show up on social media with humor, authenticity, and a little bit of chaos.
We’re especially proud of the community that’s grown around Twin Thrift Vintage. Our customers don’t just shop with us they send us photos of how they’ve styled their finds, stop by just to say hello, attend our events, and share our content with friends. That sense of connection means everything to us.
More than anything, we want people to know that vintage is for everyone. You don’t have to be an expert collector or have a specific design style. If you’re curious, love a good story, or just enjoy finding something that makes you smile, there’s a place for you at Twin Thrift Vintage.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” We certainly weren’t.
Neither of us had a background in retail or owned a small business before Twin Thrift Vintage. We figured things out one step at a time, asked a lot of questions, made mistakes, and kept showing up.
One thing we wish we had known is that your first version doesn’t have to be your final version. Your branding will evolve. Your merchandising will evolve. Your social media will evolve. Your business will evolve. The important part is starting and being willing to learn.
We’d also encourage people to share their story. Customers aren’t just buying products anymore, they’re supporting people. Some of our biggest opportunities have come from introducing ourselves, building relationships with other small business owners, talking to local media, participating in community events, and simply saying “yes” to opportunities that felt a little outside our comfort zone.
And finally, don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Building a business takes time. Celebrate the small wins, stay consistent, and remember why you started in the first place. Those little moments eventually add up to something much bigger.
Pricing:
- Jewelry starts around $5.
- Vintage glassware typically starts around $10.
- Clothing starts around $8.
- Many home décor pieces range from $10–$40.
- We also have a rotating selection of $2 treasures, including napkins, taper candles, matchboxes, and other fun little finds.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.twinthriftvintage.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twin.thrift.vintage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TwinThriftVintage
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/twin-thrift-vintage-ellicott-city
