By: Christian Oberly, Special to Follow South Jersey
PITMAN, N.J. — Walking into Grunge Magic is like stepping inside of a nostalgic ‘90s-themed toy chest. The walls are all different colors, like some kind of Crayola crime scene. There are kitschy artifacts and vintage threads all around—and if the cardboard cutout of Elvira doesn’t get you, then the pack of wide-eyed Furbys will.
The shop (or “thrift store,” as Google labels it) is located on 2nd Avenue in Pitman and opened just six short months ago on November 30, 2024.
The proprietor, Erin Wadsworth, said opening her own store was a dream-come-true for her. She sits behind the point-of-sale, clad in mom jeans and raspberry beret. In the corner, a supply cabinet is adorned with mushroom stickers, and perched upon it is an off-brand Muppet (one of her more mysterious treasures, and decidedly not-for-sale). Above her, a cherub is painted on the wall holding a tote bag that reads, “Thank You For Shopping Small.”
Grunge Magic didn’t happen overnight. Wadsworth first cut her teeth as a single-table vendor at the Philly Punk Rock Flea Market and Pitman Craft Show years ago. In 2019, she upgraded to renting space at Carnival of Collectibles, a quirky antique mall formerly located in Sicklerville where she sold knick-knacks and vintage clothes under the name “Dreambutter.” Over time, she kept upping the ante, expanding her footprint to include a stall at Oddball Vintage in Absecon and another in Pitman’s own Uptown Antiques. These, however, were under a new name: Grunge Magic. As Wadsworth refined her “brand,” she decided that Dreambutter sounded too much “like a lotion or candle company.”
But where did the name Grunge Magic come from?
“I tried to think of two words that describe the main ‘genre’ of what I’m selling and came up with grunge and magic, put them together, and liked the way it sounded,” Wadsworth said, clapping her hands together to illustrate the combination.
But why a thrift store?
“It started with my own love of thrifting. I loved treasure hunting and finding really unique stuff—and was just finding too much unique stuff,” she said, waving her arms to indicate all of her eclectic wares, “and I just wanted to share it.”
Wadsworth was partly inspired by a shop in New Hope, Pennsylvania named 13th Vintage. Back in 2010, she’d started making an annual pilgrimage there with a friend. Over the years, getting to know some of the people who ran the thrift stores she loved to visit helped push her into taking the plunge on opening her own shop.
“I started talking to small business owners, and realizing that they were real people and not these, like, crazy superheroes. They’re down to earth and they just worked hard, and made it work—and I can work hard and make it work.”
Wadsworth continued, “I love Pitman so much. I think Pitman is the coolest town, with all its little shops and the energy of it. And I live here, and [I thought] it would be amazing to have my own shop in Pitman, [so] I made that my goal. I started saving up money. I had a five-year plan. I really wanted to put aside [enough money] to get a spot, but I would see sometimes online, ‘retail space available’ and every time I would call just to see how much it would cost, give myself an idea. And then I called for this spot—and the price was right.”
This was only about two years into her “five-year plan,” but at that point she said, “Alright. We’re doing this.”
Inspired by those small business owners she had met, Wadsworth said, “I want to do this too… they get to curate and be their own boss. [Curation] is my favorite thing—has always been my favorite thing. Even when throwing parties or having guests—setting the mood, environment, music, that’s my favorite.”
Beyond merely curating, her shop has a slight environmental ethos, too.
“It’s better to buy second-hand, rather than filling up a landfill with [fast fashion].” Her work gives legions of Furbys and troll dolls a second chance, too.
In addition to her thrift store finds, Wadsworth also partners with artists making handmade crafts to stock her shop. Stuff like stickers, prints, cards, candles, bookmarks, earrings, journals, etc. (Despite the “thrift store” label, it’s not just a clothing or antique store.)
One collaborator in particular is Leann Carlson (@Leann.TheIllustrator). Carlson (a Rowan University graduate) has staked out her specialty in screen printmaking—especially with upcycled clothes. Not only does Wadsworth sell clothes bearing Carlson’s designs, but the walls of Grunge Magic also feature some handsome cherubs painted by Carlson.
Wadsworth, originally from Mullica Hill, has lived in Pitman for about 12 years. First in a studio apartment, then renting half of a duplex, and now with a house of her own. She was initially drawn to the town—like many others—by the Bus Stop Music Cafe. The beloved venue, which closed in 2016, had been a fixture in the community for bringing people together to celebrate good music and good company for more than ten years at their weekly open mic night.
“Pitman has the best of both worlds, in one direction you have this small town where you know everybody. And in the other direction you have Alcyon Lake, which is just beautiful,” she said.
There’s a brief interruption in our chat as we overhear a customer announce to their friend, “I’m going to spend all of my money here.”
But, what about the future?
She’s come a long way since she initially mapped out her vision for Grunge Magic two-and-a-half years ago. Looking ahead, she dreams of having a bigger storefront, possibly turning Grunge Magic into more of an “experience” with open mics, art classes, arcade machines, movie nights, game nights, and more. A way to bring back some of the camaraderie that made her fall in love with the town all those years ago.
Wadsworth credits Lori Huston of Oddball Vintage, Drew Davis of Gem Life Collective, and Kristen Harris of Seeds of Love Yoga with giving her direction and advice as she set up her business. And, of course, her supportive partner, Scotty Stevens. (Himself the front man for Pitman’s own Cooperstomp.)
Grunge Magic is located at 2 Second Avenue in Pitman, NJ, and is open weekly, Wednesday through Saturday.
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