Joliet Opens Vintage Clothing Store: 'You Ever See American Pickers?'

JOLIET, IL — As downtown Joliet remains on the upswing, Shayne Kelly has officially moved his Prison City Vintage clothing store from Plainfield Road in Crest Hill. Monday marked his first day of business, and he made 107 sales in downtown Joliet's historic Barber Building, owned by his landlord, Joliet real estate investor Mike Petry.

"For summer, we're open every day, noon to 8 p.m. and we'll stay open for the Joliet events when they do them too," Kelly told Joliet Patch's editor during Wednesday's interview.

Prison City Vintage is at 68 North Chicago St. — directly across from a downtown Joliet favorite, the Chicago Street Pub.

You will find plenty of vintage of clothes at Prison City Vintage. Plenty. And Kelly's churning his stock constantly.

"A lot of inventory is the 1970s to 2000," Kelly explained. "But you could find stuff as old as 1900 in here. We're on a buy, sell, trade model. We do house calls and we pay cash."

Many of his vintage T-shirts are from music concerts, NASCAR events and Harley-Davidson. Prison City Vintage offers several T-shirts and sweatshirts for the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and several notable college sports programs.

Of late, Kelly has been adding antique furniture to his inventory.

"We've already sold a lot," he remarked.

In the coming days, Prison City Vintage will be adding a wall inside the store to pay homage to the city of Joliet.

"Our wall will be filled with a Joliet aisle," he said. "Anything Joliet related we keep as a collectable."

Kelly has a number of clothing items from Joliet West, Joliet Central and Joliet Catholic Academy, but he's in search of anybody willing to donate old Joliet East High School clothing or keepsakes.

"And I collect Plainfield stuff," Kelly said. "I graduated from Plainfield Central but grew up in Joliet on the northeast side."

Kelly said he also graduated from Lewis University in Romeoville.

Since opening Monday, Prison City Vintage has "gotten a lot of people coming to the Will County Courthouse. They've stopped in and they love it," Kelly said.

In addition to the clothes and antiques, "We do a lot of wall hangers as well."

"I'm hoping to carry vintage ashtrays and hoping to carry our own set of merchandise that we make," he proclaimed.

As for clothes, Prison City Vintage aims to be stocked with "colleges, pro teams and old places that don't exist."

In recent days, Kelly drove to Heyworth, in McLean County, because, "I was out digging. We go all over the Midwest searching and putting items into Joliet. You ever see 'American Pickers?' It's a lot like that, but it's closets and barns. We do it all."

The name Prison City Vintage is intended to pay homage to Joliet's connection to the iconic "Blues Brothers" movie from 1980.

"Prison City Vintage, it's a tie back to the Blues Brothers and the old prison, which of course, is what Joliet is known for," Kelly said.

Kelly said he plans to keep Prison City Vintage open 363 days a year. That's right. It will only be closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"We'll be here, and we're open 363, so when people need to get away from whatever they're doing, we'll be down here. I just believe in being open. Joliet needs this, especially downtown.

"I hope that we can bring young people, like-minded people, to downtown and make it thrive," Kelly said of Joliet's downtown.

Why did Kelly move from Crest Hill to downtown Joliet?

"It was a no-brainer," he replied. "It's what I've always wanted.

Pointing how downtown Joliet continues to gain positive momentum. Kelly mentioned the additions of Richardson's Restaurant, the Audiophil's Record Store, The Juncture vintage clothing store across from the Joliet Slammers stadium and another nearby attraction, The Internode Greenery & Home, owned by Michele Arana, at 81 N. Chicago St.

Prison City Vintage is on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. And you can also visit the Prison City Vintage website, featuring a weekly online drop of more than 60 items of merchandise.

One of the customer reviews from the website states, "Prison City Vintage offers a fantastic selection of vintage pieces spanning all our favorite decades for all bodies. The owner Shayne is super friendly and helpful, as is James! Great shop, great product, great prices."