Fallout 4: The Ultimate Guide to Back Street Apparel Location

Intro

If you’ve been wandering the Commonwealth aimlessly, you’ve probably walked right past Back Street Apparel without giving it a second glance. From the outside, it looks like just another bombed-out storefront in the Financial District.

But if you skip this place, you are missing out on one of the best early-game loot drops for melee builds and a classic example of Bethesda’s environmental storytelling. Whether you’re here because Preston Garvey marked it on your map (again) or you’re just out looking for trouble, here is the world-class breakdown of how to clear, loot, and understand Back Street Apparel.

The Lowdown: Location & Danger Level

Location: Between Diamond City and the Charles River. It’s practically neighbors with Hangman’s Alley (the best Survival Mode settlement, fight me).

Enemy Type: Raiders.

Boss: Clutch.

Danger Level: Low to Mid. Doable at Level 5, but the turrets can shred you on Survival if you aren’t careful.

How to Clear It Like a Pro

The interior is tight, vertical, and full of blind spots. It’s a “Killhouse” scenario. Here is the optimal strat:

1. The Entry Fragger

As soon as you load into the interior, DO NOT RUSH. There is a hallway immediately to your left. The Raiders here love to funnel you into the main showroom where they have the high ground.

Pro Tip: Toss a frag grenade or Molotov into the main room immediately. It flushes them out of cover.

2. The Turret Trap

This is where new players die. There is a Machinegun Turret mounted high up, often facing the entrance or covering the stairs. If you run in swinging a baseball bat, you’re Swiss cheese.

Gamer Strat: Peek the corner, use VATS to target the turret’s barrel or sensors, and drop it before engaging the foot soldiers.

3. Verticality

The Raiders are on the balcony. Shotguns are king here. If you have a companion, send them to draw fire in the center while you flank up the stairs.

Why You Are Actually Here

You aren’t here for the dirty suits. You are here for the permanent buffs.

The Holy Grail: Grognak the Barbarian

This is the only reason you need to visit. Located in the upstairs apartment area (boss room), sitting on a table near the TV/Safe, is an issue of Grognak the Barbarian.

Effect: Critical Hits with unarmed and melee attacks do +5% damage.

Why it matters: This stacks. If you are running a melee build (Blitz perk + Sledgehammer), this magazine is non-negotiable.

The Stash

There is usually a Stealth Boy located in this location (often in the safe or on a shelf). If you are playing a rogue/sniper build, pocket this for emergencies.

The Safe

There is a wall safe in the upstairs office (usually locked, varying difficulty). It’s great for farming pre-war money and ammo. Hackers: There’s a terminal nearby to unlock the storage cage if your lockpicking skill is trash.

The Lore

Environmental storytelling is where Fallout 4 shines, and Back Street Apparel has a funny little narrative if you pay attention.

The Raider Logic: The Raiders here, led by a named boss called Clutch, have taken over a high-end fashion store. Unlike other gangs living in sewers or subways, these guys are living in (relative) luxury. You’ll see them wearing sunglasses and sometimes cleaner clothes than the average wastelander. They are trying to be the “cool kids” of the Raider factions.

The Boss: Clutch Clutch isn’t the hardest boss, but she (or he, usually spawns as female) usually carries decent armor for the early game. The interesting lore bit? If you check the terminals in other Raider locations (like the Corvega Assembly Plant), you can sometimes find correspondence between Raider gangs. Clutch is known in the Raider network; taking her out actually disrupts the local gang ecosystem.

Hidden Details & Secrets

The Trap-Door Mechanic: Be careful on the stairs. There are often tripwires or bathroom scales rigged to explosives. Spam your V.A.T.S. button while walking to highlight mines before you step on them.

The River Entrance: Did you know there are two ways in? Most people use the front door, but there is a back entrance facing the river promenade. It’s arguably a worse tactical entry point because you walk right into the firing line, but it’s a good escape route if things go south.

Sleepwalker: In Survival mode, there is a mattress in the upstairs room. Use it. It’s one of the few safe save points in this immediate grid of the city.

Finally

Back Street Apparel is a quick 10-minute dungeon, but it’s essential. It offers a permanent perk, a Stealth Boy, and a great location to farm .308 ammo and combat armor early on.

Rating: 8/10 Loot Goblin Stars. Don’t skip it.