Introduction
If you're one of those who thinks that Pasaje Junín is just a pedestrian corridor full of watch shops and "formal" clothing stores for a downtown appointment, you're missing out on the best shopping experience in Medellín. While the whole city fights over "sustainable" clothing in hipster stores in El Poblado, those of us who know how this works have been going down the stairs to the basements of Junín for years to find Italian leather jackets, brand-name jeans that cost an arm and a leg at the mall, and unique pieces that no one else will have.
Don't get it wrong: this isn't "used clothing" like the kind sold by the kilo in the neighborhoods. This is a vertical flea market, organized by floors, where merchandise comes from remittances, from luxury store liquidations in the United States and Europe, and sometimes (only sometimes) from things that "fell off a truck." In August 2026, this circuit remains one of the city's best-kept secrets, and today I'm going to tell you all about it.
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El Pasaje Junín and its basements: geography of the non-obvious
To understand the Junín tunnel, you first have to understand that downtown Medellín is a vertical labyrinth. Calle Junín, which connects Parque Berrío with Plazuela San Ignacio, has facades that look like office buildings from the 1950s. But behind those facades, and especially below them, there's a world you can't see from the sidewalk.
The second-hand shops are in the basements of the buildings facing Junín and the adjacent streets (La Playa, Carabobo, and the famous pedestrian "Pasaje Junín" that goes up towards the Teatro Pablo Tobón Uribe). There's no giant sign saying "vintage sold here." You have to know that, for example, the building where an optician operates on the first floor has a basement you reach via a narrow staircase, and inside there are 200 square meters full of clothing racks.
The historic shops are the ones that have been operating for 20 or 30 years. The owners are men and women who started selling American clothing in the 1990s and today are wholesalers supplying other stores in the city. The trick is knowing that the best inventory isn't on the front shelves, but in the "storerooms" in the back, where they keep what they haven't put out for sale yet. If you ask confidently, they'll show you.
Fun fact: most of the clothing that arrives at these basements comes in bales (bundles) of 50 to 100 kilos purchased from importers at the border with Panama. A shop can open a bale and find 30 jackets, of which 5 are recognized brands and the rest is generic clothing. The owners already have "eagle eyes" for spotting the valuable piece before putting it on the rack. That's why, if you arrive early (before 10 am), you can see the bale "unwrapping" process and have the first option to buy.
Top 5 second-hand stores where luxury brands come at clearance prices
Here's the list nobody publishes. These are the stores I visit at least once a month and where I've found everything from an Armani blazer to brand-new Dr. Martens boots in the box. Prices are reference prices from August 2026 and may vary depending on negotiation.
1. El Almacén del Túnel (Calle Junín # 52-35, sótano 2)
This is the best-known among those in the know, and the hardest to find if you don't know what you're looking for. You go down a staircase next to a watch shop that sells leather straps. The basement is huge, with low ceilings and fluorescent lights. The specialty here is coats and jackets. I once found a Burberry trench coat in perfect condition for $180,000 COP (in a luxury store it would cost over $4,000,000 COP). They also have a section of brand-name jeans (Levi's, Wrangler, Diesel) ranging from $25,000 to $80,000 COP depending on condition.
The owner, a man in his 60s named don Álvaro, doesn't talk much but is honest. If you ask him if a jacket is original, he looks at you and tells you the truth. Most of his merchandise comes from remittances from New York, so the sizing is American (large sizes available).
2. La Cantera Vintage (Calle 54 # 48-20, local 12, sótano)
This place is smaller but more curated. The owner, Marcela, is a woman in her 40s who studied fashion design and personally travels to the United States to select merchandise. Here you won't find generic clothing: everything is selected. The evening dress section is spectacular, with pieces from the 80s and 90s in silk and velvet. Prices are higher than in other shops (dresses from $90,000 COP), but the quality and selection justify it.
Marcela also has a display case with accessories: leather bags, belts, and vintage jewelry. It's the perfect place if you're looking for a piece for a specific event and want something no one else will be wearing.
3. El Sótano del Reloj (Pasaje Junín, edificio Coltejer, piso -1)
The Coltejer Building is the most iconic in Medellín (that red tower visible from all over the city). What few know is that in the basement there's a small second-hand shopping center that's been operating for over 30 years. The most famous shop is "El Sótano del Reloj," named so because it's right below the building's main entrance.
The specialty here is men's shirts and blouses. There are hundreds of shirts from brands like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Lacoste, all original, at prices between $15,000 and $40,000 COP. They also have a section of silk ties and pocket squares that collectors seek out. If you work in an office and want to dress well without spending much, this is your place.
4. Moda Circular Medellín (Calle 55 # 49-10, local 8)
This is the most "modern" of the circuit. It's a brighter shop, with music, and with a hipster neighborhood store aesthetic. The difference is that here clothing is organized by color and garment type, making the search easier. They have a shoe section that's the best in the tunnel: boots, dress shoes, brand-name sneakers, all in good condition and disinfected.
Shoe prices range from $40,000 to $150,000 COP depending on the brand. I found a pair of Italian leather ankle boots by Geox for $70,000 COP that were $350,000 at the mall. The owner, Daniela, is young and understands trends: she selects clothing thinking about what's worn today, not just what's "old."
5. El Rincón del Coleccionista (Calle Junín # 50-28, segundo piso)
This isn't exactly a basement, but it's on a second floor reached by a spiral staircase. It's the place for those looking for specific collector's pieces: motorcycle leather jackets, limited-edition jeans, 80s and 90s rock band t-shirts, and original military clothing. The owner, a man named Carlos, is a collector himself and has encyclopedic knowledge of every garment.
Prices here are negotiable but not giveaways. An original leather jacket from the 70s can cost $250,000 COP, but it's a piece that lasts a lifetime. Carlos also buys clothing, so if you have something to sell, you can bring it and he'll make you an offer.
How to spot an original garment from a replica: labels, stitching, and smells that give them away
The million-dollar question: how do you know if what you're seeing is original or a well-made Chinese imitation? The tunnel shop owners have a code of honor: most don't knowingly sell replicas, but there are street vendors who slip into the corridor to offer "high-quality replicas," and that's a different thing. When you're inside the stores, you can trust, but it's still good to know how to detect. Here are the keys:
Labels never lie (if you know how to read them)
- Composition label: luxury brands always put the fabric composition in the language of the country of origin and in English. If it only says "100% cotton" with no further details, be suspicious. An original Ralph Lauren garment, for example, has a label with the lot number and country of manufacture.
- The care label: originals have washing instructions in 4 or 5 languages. Replicas usually have only Spanish or only English.
- The brand label: look at the logo. Luxury brands have a precise registration of their logo. If the "o" in "Polo" isn't perfectly circular, it's a replica. Bring a magnifying glass if necessary.
Stitching reveals quality
An original garment has straight seams, with uniform stitches and no loose threads. Turn the garment inside out and check the internal seams: luxury brands "overlock" (reinforce) internal seams impeccably. In replicas, internal seams are sloppy, with large and sometimes crooked stitches.
The button trick: original brands use quality buttons, sometimes with the logo embossed. If the button is cheap plastic and has no logo, it's a replica. On leather jackets, check the zipper: originals use brands like YKK or Lampo, which have the name engraved on the piece.
Your sense of smell is your best ally
Smell the garment. No, seriously. Original second-hand clothing has a characteristic stored-clothing smell, sometimes mothballs or old perfume. New replicas smell like chemicals, glue, or low-quality dye. If a "brand-name" garment smells like plastic, be wary.
Additional tip: in the tunnel stores, original second-hand clothing usually has a "clean clothes" smell because the owners wash it before putting it up for sale. If you find a garment that hasn't been washed, it might have just come out of the bale. That's a good sign: it means it's recent and no one else has tried it on.
