Thomas and Reade’s thriftery The Rex Catalog expands from Crossroads to new Mass St. location

Growing up, brother duo Thomas and Reade Rex didn’t imagine they’d end up operating a successful thrift store together. 

Now, at 18 and 22, the two co-manage a curated, vendor-driven, vintage storefront located near the Crossroads Arts District, The Rex Catalog [2645 Madison Avenue].

A long-time collector and thrifter, high school senior Reade already knew the ins and outs of vintage selling after running his own online business. The next step in expanding was finding a co-collaborator. Luckily, his own blood had the marketing experience to back him up.

And after hosting their first popup in July, the brick-and-mortar’s opening wasn’t far behind, landing them in a space on Madison Ave. 

“We came up with the idea of opening a shop largely because there’s a kind of lack of what we do in Kansas City,” says Reade. “Or at least they’re not quite as curated as we are. I’m more into the clothes, while Thomas is on the operations side of things. He’s more in charge of doing things on the back end, whereas I have the relationships with the people that are buying the clothes.”

This partnership allowed them to tap into a wider audience, enhance their brand presence through social media, and navigate the intricacies of the vintage selling market.

“A lot of what I do is online marketing, and shooting pretty much anything that’s video or film related… commercials, music, videos, etcetera,” says Thomas. “I just felt it really had a lot of promise and I knew we should partner up.

Now, with an Instagram account of nearly four thousand followers, the most recent update from @therexcatalog announces the opening of a second location in Lawrence, set to open its doors Feb. 3 at 911 Massachusets Street.

Similarly to the shops original KC location, it’s sister spot will feature pieces from many sellers in the area.

“Since there are various small businesses inside of ours when you’re in our shop, you’re not just supporting us, you’re supporting other local sellers as well,” says Reade.

Beyond the communal appeal of the shared space, the racks boast unique items for those seeking something specific. According to Thomas, it’s not only about the clothing at The Rex Catalog–the ambiance is just as important.

“The store’s decoration heavily features a retro theme or aesthetic that in my opinion definitely provides a more engaging vintage shopping experience,” says Thomas. 

While trends come and go, one thing is for certain: thrifting is here to stay.

“I think the internet has raised awareness about the volume of new clothing we purchase. It’s moved past the fad phase,” says Reade. “Sustainable shopping is gaining momentum, and the vintage movement is on the rise.”