S10 Ep15 MEOW VINTAGE: Kathleen Schaaf, the "Big Kitty" of Meow Vintage, located in Long Beach since 1986 - on  crisscrossing the country hunting deadstock and doing vintage her way.

S10 Ep15 MEOW VINTAGE: Kathleen Schaaf, the "Big Kitty" of Meow Vintage, located in Long Beach since 1986 - on crisscrossing the country hunting deadstock and doing vintage her way.

Author: Emily Stochl June 8, 2026 Duration: 54:27

Today we're chatting with Kathleen Schaaf — the owner of Meow Vintage, located right in the heart of Retro Row in Long Beach, California. Kathleen is a vintage legend, someone who has been doing it for a long time, and doing it her way, and I'm so excited for you to hear her stories from four decades in the business.

Kathleen grew up thrifting with her mom, raiding her aunt's hand-me-downs in elementary school, and haunting the cheap, treasure-packed shops of downtown Long Beach before anyone was calling it a "vintage scene". She opened Meow Vintage in 1986 — nearly forty years ago — and has been a fixture of vintage ever since.

But Kathleen's story goes so much deeper. She's a dead stock hunter — crisscrossing the country before the internet even existed, cold-calling merchants and slipping into back rooms and dusty attics from New Mexico to Massachusetts, building relationships with dealers and shop owners that have now spanned three generations. And along the way, she built a parallel career outfitting film and television — from Roseanne and Seinfeld all the way to Stranger Things.

On today's episode, we get into all of it, plus what forty years in the business has taught her about people, quality, and the difference between loving vintage and just selling it. All that and more!

Let's dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

  • [5:05] Kathleen grew up thrifting and accumulated a lot of great vintage.
  • [6:22] The "aha" moment where Kathleen realized she could be a vintage dealer — buying an entire rack of deadstock 60s pointy flats 
  • [9:51] She quickly became a deadstock hunter, criss-crossing the country looking for "new old" stock.
  • [13:36] Opening Meow Vintage in 1986 on Retro Row in Long Beach, 
  • [16:06] Crisscrossing the country before the internet even existed, digging for deadstock.
  • [20:36] What the vintage landscape looked like when she opened 
  • [26:52] She built a parallel career outfitting film and television
  • [36:26] How the vintage industry has changed over the years
  • [43:41] Reflections on Brimfield — what's changed, what hasn't, and the chaos that's part of it.

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

LET'S CONNECT: 

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Every week, Emily Stochl invites you into a conversation that goes far beyond the clothing rack. Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl is built on the idea that every second-hand garment has a past, and that exploring those histories makes our present style more meaningful. Rather than just offering shopping tips, each episode feels like sitting down with a fascinating friend who shares your passion for vintage, digging into the many layers of what it means to wear pre-owned fashion. You’ll hear from a diverse range of guests-from collectors and stylists to entrepreneurs and historians-as they explore not only personal style but also the practicalities of running a resale business, the complexities of the global second-hand market, and the environmental ethos behind choosing used over new. The heart of this podcast lives in those incredible stories: the serendipitous flea market find, the garment that carries a decade of memories, or the simple, powerful act of giving a piece a new life. Emily guides these discussions with genuine curiosity, making each topic accessible whether you're a seasoned thrifter or just curious about sustainable fashion. It’s a thoughtful, engaging look at how what we wear connects to culture, art, beauty, and the kind of mindful consumption that can reshape an industry. Tune in for a fresh perspective that celebrates the character, sustainability, and deep personal connection found in pre-loved fashion.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl
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