Thrift & antique shops
Thrift stores can hold the key to finding great second hand items at a fraction of their retail cost and there are a few really good thrift shops around StL that I love and had to share:
1. Goodwill on Bayless & hwy 55. I rarely find great bargains on the clothes they offer, but on household decor items and books, this is a great thrift store to go to. They receive a ton of inventory from Target and it's always marked down considerably and still in the original packaging!
2. Refabulous on Meramec & Virginia Ave 63111. This little shop has name brand clothing in all sizes at great bargain prices. I like two things about this store; it's very clean and super organized. You really feel like you are shopping in a boutique and not a junk store. No toys or electronics, but a must for great deals on clothes. Also stop in one of the other thrift /antique shops on the same street, you never know what you might find!
3. Family Value Thrift Store on Lemay Ferry Rd. Another excellent store, larger in selection, great for a bargain hunter. They carry clothing, electronics, decor, toys and books. They also offer a shoppers reward card that you can earn discounts on throughout the week and use every Sunday for up to 50% off your total purchase.
4. Value Village on Watson Rd. Less impressed with their customer service than other area thrift shops, but a bargain hunter can't be picky in that department! A wide array of clothing and household items, organized in a decent manner.
5. Antique Row on Cherokee Street. Most people think antique automatically means expensive, not true. I browse these shops anytime I am looking for unique gifts or a special item for the house. You wouldn't believe some of the amazing deals I have found! My mum-n-law was looking for a large hutch or china cabinet for her dining room, I scored a lighted buffet w/ glass doors for $40! The quality of the piece was amazing and she still loves it today. I'd suggest making an afternoon of browsing, there are several stores, great diners, and you cold even enjoy a tour of the infamous Lemp or DeMenil mansions!
6. Mom and Pop stores along South Broadway. There are a ton of new thrift stores popping up along Broadway that offer a similar experience to Antique Row. Hop from store to store and then stop in one of the eateries for lunch. It's a great mix of thrift shops and antique shops.
The best advice I can give on scoring great bargains at these stores; flip flop your seasons when shopping for clothes, summer clothing is always cheaper in winter and winter clothing is always cheaper in summer. Ask about return policies and try electronics out before you purchase them. Most shops have a wall of outlets just for this purpose. At the antique shops, try to strike a deal on the larger priced items, most shop owners are reasonable and looking to move inventory, but be prepared to fall in love with some higher priced pieces. In that case, leave your contact information with the store owner and tell them to give you a call if they ever decide to lower the price.
This is just a small sampling of thrift stores StL has to offer and new ones keep opening all the time. Anytime I travel to a different area of the city I keep my thrifty radar on and take mental notes of newbies. Feel free to comment with any other great shops you can't live without!
Tomorrow; Summer Time in the City: 60 things to do for FREE.
Deals of the Day
Freebies:
Free paint at Earthbound Recycling
location: 25 Truitt Dr Eureka MO 63025
www.EarthboundRecycling.com
Check back tomorrow for grocery sales & coupon deals
Events:
Legally Blonde premiere @ The Muny
location: Forest Park
date: June 20th
time: 7 pm the free seats gate opens, show starts at 8:15 pm
cost: FREE or you can purchase tickets - www.muny.org
Family Summer Series - 10 free family films
location: local Wherenberg Theatres
date: June 1st - August 4th, Wens & Thursdays
time: 10am
cost: FREE
(Marmaduke is playing this week @ Ronnie's)
Music & Movie Series
location: Laumeier Outdoor Music Amphitheatre
date: June 24th
time: 7pm
cost: free
description: local musicians perform, followed by a family friendly movie for a night of free entertainment under the stars!
www.laumeiersculpturepark.org
Marine Week
June 20th - 26th
ongoing events all week - for a complete schedule of events visit:
http://www.marines.mil/community/marineweekstlouis/Pages/events.aspx
I really hate how laumeier always have those free movie nights on Fridays.... I really wish they would do it one saturday when my whole family could go... Thrift shops are my favorite too... Never know what you will stumble upon... :) Great Post!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Becky!
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