Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

Bright, Bold: Harrisburg vintage thrift business holds pop-up shop at Urban Snob boutique

Alana Cornish in Urban Snob

Harrisburg native Alana Cornish is no stranger to style.

After years of working in the fashion industry in New York City, Cornish has returned home and brought her talent with her.

Last month, Cornish opened a pop-up shop in Midtown’s Urban Snob. Her business, NEON Vintage Thrifts, resells vintage and thrifted clothing items that Cornish sources.

“You should own some pieces that you won’t see anywhere else,” she said. “But not everyone wants to do the work of going through racks and racks of clothes.”

Cornish does the work for you, offering a small “collection” of unique items for purchase. As her business’ name alludes to, many of her pieces are bright and bold. On the rack are florals, stripes, lemon yellows and hot pinks. She aims to help customers achieve a “model off duty” look.

“It’s all about making a statement,” Cornish said. “We should stand out. It’s encompassing the idea of confidence and self-esteem.”

During her time in New York, Cornish worked in marketing and advertising for beauty and fashion brands. She currently works for media company Urban One.

Cornish returned to Harrisburg after her mother, Vera Cornish, passed away in 2020. Vera was the former publisher of the Harrisburg-based publication Urban Connection. Cornish had family in the city and wanted to be part of the community that her mom was so connected to. But the time following her mother’s passing was difficult, she explained.

“Thrifting became a way for me to find joy again, to find a passion that that made me feel like me again,” she said.

Dimitra Diggs, owner of Urban Snob, was ready to close down her storefront earlier this year. Her business had taken a hit during the pandemic, and she had already turned much of her focus to online sales.

“I was literally about to take the racks down,” Diggs said. “Then Alana came in and said she wanted to do a pop-up. She breathed life back into the store.”

Over the 10 years that Urban Snob has been in business, there were several times that Diggs changed her store’s hours and format. For the past few years, she had been operating on an appointment-only basis.

While just a few months ago, Diggs hadn’t seen a future for her storefront, she now envisions it as a space for more collaborations with local businesses.

Cornish plans to keep NEON Vintage open at Urban Snob through at least early April, but may extend the pop-up.

She welcomes the fashion-savvy, but for those who need a little extra help, Cornish will jump in with styling advice.

“I want to educate people on how to find their style,” she said.

NEON Vintage Thrifts is located in Urban Snob, 1006 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. Hours are Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit their website, Facebook page or Instagram.

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