Entry No. 55 — the Pittsburgh file — filed under: vintage-clothing
Eons Fashion Antique
Richard Parsakian opened Eons in 1986 out of a home collection and has been on Ellsworth Avenue ever since, stocking clothing from the 1880s through the 1980s that is meant to be worn rather than displayed. The knit tie wall runs past sixty pieces, 1950s through 1980s, and is one of the larger such collections in the region. Roughly a tenth of the business comes from the entertainment industry: Colleen Atwood pulled from here for The Silence of the Lambs, Deborah Scott for Titanic. There is also a rotating rack of authenticated vintage designer garments, which is where the prices climb. Parsakian co-published Pittsburgh's first LGBTQIA+ newspaper in the 1970s and was named the Three Rivers Business Alliance LGBTQIA+ Leader of the Year in 2023; the shop has been an open room for that community since it opened.
→ Three more vintage, record & maker shops in Pittsburgh — never the same twice
The story
Richard Parsakian opened Eons in 1986 out of a personal collection and has been on Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside ever since — forty years in one storefront, which in vintage retail is close to geological. The premise hasn't moved either: authentic clothing and accessories for men and women from the 1880s through the 1980s, priced and merchandised to be worn rather than admired behind glass. The shop's own line is that it is "not simply a place to shop – it is a place to discover," which is marketing, but the racks back it up.
What is physically there: women's dresses, blouses, coats and eveningwear running Victorian to disco; men's suits, sport coats and outerwear from Edwardian through the 1980s; hats, handbags, belts, scarves and costume jewelry. The knit tie wall passes sixty pieces, 1950s through 1980s, and Eons calls it one of the largest such collections in the region. A separate rack holds authenticated vintage designer — Thierry Mugler, Azzedine Alaïa — and that is where the numbers climb. Roughly a tenth of the business is entertainment work: Colleen Atwood pulled here for The Silence of the Lambs, Deborah Scott for Titanic, and the shop supplies theater and dance alongside collaborations with Pittsburgh Opera and the Andy Warhol Museum.
Parsakian co-published Pittsburgh's first LGBTQIA+ newspaper in the 1970s and was named the Three Rivers Business Alliance's LGBTQIA+ Leader of the Year in 2023. The shop has been an explicitly open room for that community since the day it opened, which is a longer run than most of Ellsworth Avenue has managed at anything.
What it's like
The hard constraint first: the door locks at 5, every single day, weekends included. Monday to Friday from noon, Saturday from 11, Sunday from noon. This is an afternoon, not an after-work errand — arrive by 3:30 if you intend to actually try things on. Street parking runs along Ellsworth and several bus routes stop at the door. Inside is dense rather than curated-sparse, so expect to work the racks with your hands. Vintage sizing is small and wildly inconsistent between decades; ignore the tag and use the fitting room. The knit ties are the cheap way in. If you are selling rather than buying, walk-ins are fine during hours, but call (412) 361-3368 first for anything the size of an estate.
The move: This is a daylight date — the door locks at 5 every single day. Get there by 3:30, then play the rule where neither of you shops for yourself: you pick a full look for them, they pick one for you, sixty-dollar ceiling each, no vetoes on anything but fit. Ties are the cheap way to win. Walk it two blocks to Walnut Street for dinner afterward and wear whatever you just bought.
📍 Before you go Open Mon–Fri 12–5, Sat 11–5, Sun 12–5. Every day ends at 5, so this cannot be an after-work stop. Phone (412) 361-3368. Street parking on Ellsworth; several bus routes run past the door. If you are bringing a collection to sell, call first so they can set aside time. Vintage sizing runs small and inconsistent — try things on rather than trusting a tag.
- 📍 Pittsburgh
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 5850 Ellsworth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Hours: Added 2026-08-26 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Apteka — A mile down Penn Avenue and it opens at 5 on the exact evenings Eons closes at 5 — the all-vegan Central and Eastern European handoff is almost suspiciously well timed.
- Center for PostNatural History — Under a mile away on Penn and the same species of institution: one person's very specific fixation, given a storefront and taken entirely seriously.
- Amazing Books and Records — About a mile and a half south in Squirrel Hill, and the other great Pittsburgh exercise in patient rack-flipping — though check its Sabbath-shaped hours before you plan the order.
More weird in Pittsburgh
Good to know
What are the hours, and can I go after work?
Monday to Friday 12–5, Saturday 11–5, Sunday 12–5. Every day ends at 5, so no — unless your workday ends unusually early, this has to be a weekend or a half-day.
How much does anything cost?
The spread is wide. Knit ties and everyday pieces are the low end; the rack of authenticated vintage designer — Mugler, Alaïa — is where it turns into a real purchase. The web store ships free over $99 if you would rather scout first.
How do I get there and where do I park?
5850 Ellsworth Ave. in Shadyside. Street parking on Ellsworth, several bus routes stop right out front, and Walnut Street's restaurants are a couple of blocks away for afterwards.
Do they actually do film and theater work, or is that just a story?
About 10% of the business is entertainment. Colleen Atwood pulled from here for The Silence of the Lambs and Deborah Scott for Titanic, and they supply theater, dance, Pittsburgh Opera and the Warhol. For a production pull, phone (412) 361-3368 ahead rather than arriving cold.
Can I sell them a collection?
Yes — they buy vintage outright. Bring items in during business hours for small lots; for a full closet or an estate, call (412) 361-3368 and make an appointment so someone can go through it properly.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site
last checked: 2026-08-26