Secrets of the City

Where to you go to get to thrifting?

That’s quite the sentence you got there max. Is English new to you? (Like I should talk…)

When I’m in the need of fine fashions, I go to the goodwill on Fairview in St Paul. Occasionally, I frequent the more upscale shop in Roseville.

Even though I live near a Goodwill, Savers, and and Silver Angel, I do most of my thrifting at Value Village in Richfield on 65th & Penn. They usually have a pretty good selection.

I try to not go too often, however, because I’ve already got two shelves full of moldy 15-cent books.

I love that there are two books you find at every thrift store: Alvin Toffler’s Megatrends and Richard Bach’s Illusions. What does their (omni)presence say about thrift-store donors?

In Russia, new is English to you!

What a country!

Unique Thrift @ 42nd & Winnetka in No Hope. Warehouse Distritct Salvation Army.

Um, please don’t hit me, but what exactly is a thrift store?

I’ve noticed all thrift stores also carry Whipped Cream and Other Delights by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Band. Based on that, I must assume it was the most popular album ever made.

It’s a store for buying thrifts, which are a kind of arctic rodent used in weaving. People use their fur to make vests.

I go to the ARC Value Village in Brooklyn Center. I usually buy clothes only for myself there and have gotten some good deals. You have to be selective and they do have some better named labels there. I have bought winter coats for myself there. I really can’t afford to buy a new winter coat at a store.

The Unique Thrift near Larpenteur and Rice in St. Paul is my destination. It’s in a lousy part of town and it’s pretty scummy, but it’s huge and they have some monster deals.

Does Ragstock count?

Remember when they were endangered? Boy, they sure came back with a vengence!

I’ve found my best finds have been at nicer thrift shops in nicer neighborhoods.

What you get at the Goodwill in Maplewood is going to have a lot of dingy/worthless product whereas you may score some old school designer duds at the Savers in Bloomington (my experience). I also like Second Debut in St. Louis Park.

My thrifting has been dissipating because it’s difficult to find stuff smaller sizes (2, 4). You can only tailor so much…

How about Via’s? I drive by it everyday but haven’t ever stopped in…

Um, please don’t hit me, but what exactly is a thrift store?

you have got to be fucking kidding

Via’s is good but it is a vintage clothing store and not a thrift store. There was a feature on those in the Strib this morning, including Via’s.
Vintage stores sell clothing and sometimes housewares. Antiques and collectibles stores sell antiques and collectibles. Thrift stores sell the stuff that often winds up in both of the former.
Thrift stores are almost always operated by charities (Goodwill) or give part of proceeds to charity (Savers). Some are non-profit, some are for-profit.
I too like Unique Thrift (but watch what you say about St. Paul or we’ll call your home city scummy). I’d also recommend the West Seventh and Phillips St. Vincent de Paul stores, Animal Ark thrift on East Seventh in Dayton’s Bluff, Steeple People in Whittier, and Dress for Less resale shop at Larpenteur and White Bear for clothes. I’d give mixed reviews to the various Twin Cities Goodwill and Salvation Army stores, as well as to Savers.
And I miss the old Uni and Dale DAV Store.

Well at home, the thrift store is aka the convenience store, or what used to be known as a Ben Franklin. Ya’llr talking about goodwill, which is sorta the catchall name for all goodwill stores, kinda like kleenex or band-aid. So that’s got me more confused, is a thrift store a store that sells cheap stuff or a goodwill?

Mrs. Lungs speaks well of a shop near the old (now torn down) Apache Theater near St. Anthony Village neighborhood. She gets a lot of neat stuff there — in fact, I’m wearing a nice polo shirt from there now.

The latter.

I go to Tatters.

The trick with that place is to have lots of patience. 2 out of 3 times, there will be something that almost works but not quite and then on the 3rd try, you’ll find something awesome for pennies on the dollar.

For the record, kev., in these parts the former was referred to as a five-and-dime store. With inflation, they are now dollar stores.

I’ve noticed all thrift stores also carry Whipped Cream and Other Delights by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Band. Based on that, I must assume it was the most popular album ever made.

Close, Max…but I actually researched this a few years back and found that Alpert’s Magnum Opus WC&OD is a close second behind the winner and all time champion #1 most popular no-resale-value LP ever. At least Herb had good cover art.

I’m wearing a nice polo shirt from there now.
Bob…I hope Mrs. Lungs washed it first. That thrift store mothbally smell is dreadful in the heat of summer.

I’m from St. Paul too, nfh, but that part of town is definitely scummy.

It’s right next to the Lamplighter Lounge, for Pete’s sake.

For the record, kev., in these parts the former was referred to as a five-and-dime store. With inflation, they are now dollar stores.

I don’t count inflation.

I bought a toothbrush and paper plates at the dollar store next to my house and came out $4 for the poorer. Further proof that when you do count inflation, everything just gets more expensive.

You say that like it’s a bad thing.

“Mrs. Lungs speaks well of a shop near the old (now torn down) Apache Theater near St. Anthony Village neighborhood. She gets a lot of neat stuff there — in fact, I’m wearing a nice polo shirt from there now.”

That is a Unique Thrift. 37th Ave and Stinson, basically. That’s close to my new neighborhood. Haven’t stopped there yet though.

Maybe it doesn’t count as thrifting, but I loves me some Axeman action.

I love the Unique Thrift store. It’s actually one of the best I have been to.

I recently learned that Unique is much more willing to take discarded items than Value Village, which will not take large sporting goods (anyone want some c. 1987 neon green Rossignol skis?) or electronics.

I love that there are two books you find at every thrift store: Alvin Toffler’s Megatrends and Richard Bach’s Illusions. What does their (omni)presence say about thrift-store donors?

Actually, as a former thrift employee and lifelong thrifter/garage saler, the book that is most prevalent is “The Client” by John Grisham. This book is on every thrift store shelf – at least one copy. It is at every garage sale. It is on your shelf right now, even if you would swear on a stack of bibles you’ve never owned a John Grisham in your life. John Grisham is everywhere.

Toffler’s “Future Shock” is actually more common. Along with “What Color is Your Parachute” in all of its numerous additions.

I predict the next thrift store book staple to clog the shelves…”The Secret”.

I’m wearing a nice polo shirt from there now.
Bob…I hope Mrs. Lungs washed it first. That thrift store mothbally smell is dreadful in the heat of summer.

You should try the Unique Thrift — not only is it well organized, but the clothing is refreshingly clean, by thrift store standards. I have only been in once, but scored an Andrew Fezza 100% wool sports jacket (houndstooth) originally from Dayton’s/Marshall Fields for $15. It’s my “back up media jacket” in the office in case I need to dress up for Jason’s Station on short notice.

Terri, the daytime bartender at the 331 Club also raves about the Unique Thrift.

ooooh Axman is fun. You never know what you are going to find there.

They do have a lot of skis! Also: Weird old electronics.

My bookclub just read “A Dirty Job” where all the “death merchants” are owners of thrift stores and used music and book stores. People got their souls by purchasing “soul vessels” at these stores. Great book!

As we discussed the book, it was decided none of my bookclub members could ever recall stepping into a thrift store. I always suspected they were soulless.

I second Animal Ark in St. Paul. I love that there are usually some dogs roaming around the store.

Axman is a thrift store? My old roommate got a brand new Rawlings baseball bat there once, with the inscription “Travis & Melissa” on the barrel.

I love me some axeman.

I keep meaning to stop at Axman in SLP now that the Cedar Lake Trail detour takes you right by it on Minnetonka Blvd. Is that one as good as the original store on University Av in St Paul?

Axeman is not a thrift store, they are a surplus store. They are closer to a Banks. The things in thrift stores are generally used, while Axeman they are generally unused.

did you just say “100% wool sports jacket (houndstooth)” and, “daytime bartender” ?

Grandpa…is that really you?

anyone want to buy a slightly used Miken Freak ‘98 slo-pitch softball bat that’s a month beyond warranty? retails for ~$230, but I’ll sell it to you for $5 as is and I’ll throw in some duct tape so that you can put it back together. try not to use it in cold weather.

wait…does animal ark re-sell used pets? Is that called Re-Tail. ugh…sorry.

For the record, kev., in these parts the former was referred to as a five-and-dime store. With inflation, they are now dollar stores.

Woolworth’s was the original “five-and-dime.” (Even had “5c” and “10c” in their signage.) But I would never have put them on the same level as the modern-day dollar store. Woolworth’s was a cool store to wander around in, and their Neopolitan ice cream sandwiches were fantabulous.

F.W. Woolworth history

Grandpa…is that really you?

Yes, it’s really me, you misrable little brat. Now go bring Grandpa his 7 & 7 and turn on “The Price is Right.”

no they don’t sell pets but they are still pawsitively awesome

you started it

Terri, the daytime bartender at the 331 Club also raves about the Unique Thrift.

Further proof Bob has a drinking problem.

Axman: Where to go when you can’t decide whether you want to be an electrician or kill your wife.

Did someone mention Bank’s? I used to love that place, and didn’t feel as bad shopping there when I noticed that the lot was always full of luxury cars. Guess even rich folks love a smoke-smellin’, fire-charred bargain.

I got my dining room table at Banks. Solid Oak with 2 leaves. Huge for $35. Problem was, it didn’t have any legs. I built solid oak legs for it for about $35 and Voila solid oak dining room table!

There is a brand spanking new thrift store in Eden Prairie off of Mitchell Road. It’a called the Prop Shop. I bought a nearly new Polo Rugby shirt for $5. In the men’s section nearly everything was Polo or Nautica or A&F and nothing was over $7.

Color me disappointed that I was so roundly beaten to mentioning Ax-Man. It may not be a “thrift store” in the common sense, but it’s got plenty of that “cool shit to sift through” vibe. Why don’t I go there more often?

What Kevin calls a “Goodwill” is what I called a “Salvation Army”, long before realizing that The Salvation Army is an actual religion and not just a bunch of kooky people who run thrift stores on their 50 week hiatus from singing and ringing bells between Christmastimes. I’d say that “thrift store” is a generic, non-proprietary term… like “sterile bandage” or “facial tissue”.

Woolworth’s is the original five-and-dime. Wal-Mart started as one, too — but managed to consume most of Woolworth’s business, along with most of Sears and Penney’s. I believe CHAMPS Sports is still a Woolworth property, though.

I only shop at high-end stores

I do not go thrifting. The last time I was in a thrift store (tagging along with others) I saw a guy change his pants at the register.

I go to the Goodwill on County Rd B in Roseville at LEAST twice a month. I dig their M/T/W half-off whatever-color tag sales.

In recent weeks I score the following: Lucky jeans for myself, Diesel jeans for Mr. Ranty, Doc Martens, three pairs of Sketchers in varying styles, a huge BCBG Max Azria (lime green) purse on which I get constant compliments, and of course the requisite work-gear like plain jeans and sweatshirts. (Actually I use most of the shoes mentioned for work too, but they look nice for the first couple of wears before I destroy them with paint and other construction crap.)

And that’s just clothes. Don’t get me started on all of the (house) staging items I’ve thrifted because it will take five pages of text.

Sorry. I just wanted to see if they would fit before I bought them.

er, I meant “scored.”

Are the clerks at Tatters any less rude than they were a decade ago, when I vowed never to go back there?

Unique on Winnetka also has great vintage electronics sometimes. Unfortunately someone there knows what is what and they are usually priced accordingly. Even still, a B&O turntable for 100 bucks is a steal.

E-Bay where I can shop J. Riggins.

Yep.

J. Riggins!

There’s a new Goodwill in Eagan that’s good for household items (fans, knife blocks, etc.). I used it to replace cheaply a lot of small items I didn’t feel like bringing when I moved to Minnesota last year. Perhaps because the store is new, it doesn’t seem to have as much “why the heck would anybody want this” junk as other places. And one bonus for moving here: prices are better than at the Goodwills in California, which tend to be pricier than the other charity thrift-store chains.

As long at The Rat can afford to buy new, he will. Doesn’t want to wear used clothes.

Thrift shopping is a good thing- it’s a joy to find a treasure and to spend your money somewhere other than Target/Walmart/Macy’s or any other big box corporate entity. Why not reuse?

I gotta place my vote with the Arc’s Value Village people. It’s fun to shop in their stores and they got the good stuff.

Help! I need a wedding dress for the Bride of Frankenstein costume I plan to wear for Halloween. Is there a good wedding dress thrift store out there?