Although stooping, or curb mining, has been practiced by city dwellers for a long time, the trend got a modern twist after 'Stooping NYC' turned it into a fun, treasure-hunting, community-based adventure. Today, the page has reached another milestone of amassing more than 400k dedicated scavenging enthusiasts who eagerly await new castaways to appear on their feed.
In today’s consumerist society, 'Stooping NYC' is an extremely refreshing outlet. The creators who run the account show an example of how we all can contribute to the good of the planet by giving new life to discarded furniture, electronics, plants, and toys, and saving them from a trip to the landfill. What's more, they connect thrifty New Yorkers with a bonanza of freebies that fill their apartments, as well as their hearts, with joy.
"Knowing what stoopers need and what makes them excited, we try to prioritize items we receive that fit into those categories," they told us a while back. "But we really try to post as much as is physically possible (there are only 2 of us and we want to make sure we share as much as we can with the amazing Stooping NYC community)."
Bored Panda reached out to the couple behind 'Stooping NYC', who prefer to remain anonymous, to find out how the community is doing lately. When asked about their project's incredible growth, the founders said, "It’s amazing! It gives us so much joy. We love this community and the positivity it puts out into the world."
As the number of sidewalk sleuths continues to grow every day, the couple believes that curb mining is on a path to becoming even more popular. "Not to mention there will always be a need for new cool stuff," they added.
When it comes to the appeal and success of the platform, it seems to come from the couple’s efforts to appeal to a broad range of people. "From those who follow us and stoop as a means to save items from landfills, to those grabbing goods out of nostalgia (having thrifted as kids), to people who want the most unique apartments with money-can't-buy pieces, to those who love the gamification of a real-time scavenger hunt across the city."
By religiously sharing pictures and locations of amazing goods sitting out on the curb, they provide their community with a fun and free service. And the witty and informative captions they pair every post with are definitely a part of the draw.
"Additionally, we have created content segments that make Stooping NYC an easy and exciting account to follow from afar, with fans in Europe, Canada, Argentina, Italy, Spain, Australia and Asia following every #stoopingsuccess to be a voyeur into the way New Yorkers live," the couple added. "The idea is so simple in so many ways, and we are amplifying it on a platform (IG) that is pretty universal, so all those things combined have contributed to our growing success."
Of course, the founders also noted that the idea of reusing and upcycling items itself has become aspirational for many. Whether consciously or not, stoopers contribute to the environmental benefits of buying less stuff by salvaging sidewalk castaways in a way that is interactive.
"As a total result, we continue to see more and more followers flock to and use our account to furnish their lives, saving things from landfills and ultimately encouraging a new generation to live more sustainable lives."
#15 Tell Me You’re An Upper West Side Cat Without Telling Me You’re An Upper West Side Cat
If scrolling through this list inspired you to venture into the concrete jungle and feel the thrill of the hunt, the founders of this quirky NYC community were kind enough to offer some advice. When asked about the best times to explore the city’s sidewalks, "End of the month is always huge, but every day seems to be stooping days (with rain as the exception). Trash days are also determining factors sometimes too."
Speaking of the places curb miners can scout incredible finds, the couple said that the best locations are Upper West, Upper East, East Village, Soho, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Windsor Terrace, Bed Stuy, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Ridgewood, and Astoria. "But certainly not limited to those!"
Furthermore, remember that the journey doesn’t end when you spot a quality piece patiently waiting to be picked up, as "getting the item home is half the fun!"
#17 It Is National Hot Dog Day So A Relish Colored Chair Feels Appropriate
If you’re a beginner stooper looking for ways to jump in on this eco zeitgeist train, the founders wanted to let you in on some stooping etiquette rules. "No mattresses," they said. "Make sure something is actually free before sending it to us (we’ve had to make a few apologies!). And then we love a fun item or a fun sign or story as much as we love a great item!"
And lastly, be sure to "turn your notifications on and get ready to goooooo," because the most priceless gems put out for the taking get scooped up real fast.
