In November 2019, Ben Hyle opened a nostalgic vintage clothing store on Madison Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio. Highland Throwbacks sells high-quality, secondhand clothing and has become a part of the Lakewood community by sharing its streetwear with the city.

Started as a small business in Akron, Ohio, the store later relocated to Lakewood. Drawn by the city’s close community and its many small businesses, Hyle wanted to become part of Lakewood’s entrepreneurial scene.

“I wanted a bigger location near Cleveland. In the search, I just fell in love with Lakewood. Found an awesome spot and went all in,” said Hyle.

Akron wasn’t enough for the small-business entrepreneur; he envisioned more for his store, and Lakewood, he found, was the perfect place to do it.

Hyle had an idea for how to sell to the young thrifter audience that wanted its own collection of clothing without paying prices it couldn’t afford. He drew inspiration from a former streetwear shop on Cleveland’s east side called Heart and Soul, which sold thrifted and vintage clothing, though many items were out of reach for younger shoppers.

“My boss, Ben, [had] just started thrifting, and he made the point that everybody wants to leave with something,” said John Monczynski, the manager of the Lakewood location and a vintage clothing enthusiast. “So if you’re 16 and you can’t buy an $80 shirt, it sucks.”

Hyle wanted to offer the city a more affordable option for a cool vintage store. Monczynski explained that Hyle initially approached the owner of Heart and Soul with the idea of adding a lower-priced rack of thrifted items, but the proposal was turned down.

“They weren’t receptive, and that’s what kind of sparked the idea for him to start his own store,” said Monczynski. Now, Highland Throwbacks has been thriving for more than seven years, offering vintage clothing to emerging generations.​

Many people visit Highland Throwbacks to find their own style of clothing. “Vintage clothing is just better. It’s cooler, it’s cheaper (for the most part), it really allows someone to explore their style and dress differently than mall shoppers,” said Hyle.

Highland is a unique shop in the way that “everything’s pre-picked. It’s touched by one of our employees. It’s chosen by one of our employees,” said Monczynski.

The curated selection ranges from vintage jeans and crewnecks to hoodies and classic Cleveland sports merchandise. The store has something for everyone, even featuring a $10–$15 rack in the back of the store to ensure that anyone who comes in to visit can make a purchase.

Along with the items hand-picked by staff, the store also allows clothing lovers from around the area to bring in their finds and sell them. The staff member on duty negotiates with the seller until both parties are satisfied and walk away with a profit.​

Highland Throwbacks isn’t picky about what kinds of clothes it accepts. “We love it all, and personally, I think having a little bit of everything really helps people express and explore their style,” said Hyle.

Anyone can stop in to sell, shop, or just look around. Highland is designed to be a place where every vintage lover in the area can find something for themselves.

This selling process is how Diego Colton, a trainee at Highland Throwbacks, became involved with the store. He was a frequent seller, often visiting Goodwill bins to collect pieces he thought looked cool and could sell at the Lakewood shop. Eventually, because of his knowledge and love for retro pieces, he got a job at the store and recently began training.

The vibe of the shop is what draws people back in. Many have their own interests in the store, and for Colton, it’s, “definitely the history and the nostalgia, just the throwback feeling of all of it.”

Highland Throwbacks has become a trendy vintage store that has been a staple in Lakewood for years. The Lakewood community loves to stop in — whether they’re out on a daily walk, passing by, or even traveling hours just to visit this one-of-a-kind shop.

From old arcade machines and worn-in shirts with vintage logos to Cleveland sports merchandise, atmosphere and nostalgia are what Highland Throwbacks brings to the Lakewood community.