Tee Shirts @ Thrift Shoppe
There have been a few times in my life where I could afford a little luxury, and it was good. Most of the time, though, things have had to work within a pretty tight budget. Cleopatra had her salad days, I’ve had my ramen days. Thrift shops are still one of my favourite places to go when I have that “need” to shop. It’s like poking around thorough grandma’s attic for hidden treasure.
There’s not much I won’t consider buying second-hand, but I draw the line at underwear. I do buy socks, but usually to make them into toys. Sometimes you can catch designer shoes, clothing, or accessories at ridiculously low prices—especially if you shop thrift or consignment stores in upscale neighbourhoods. Rich people throw out the best stuff. I don’t always buy things, but I love to look, cuz you never know when you’ll run across something clever or useful or just completely bizarre (my favourite thrift store currently has a big ol’ totem pole for sale, and I’m still kicking myself for not buying that light up waterfall picture with pseudo motion and looping stream sounds).
Metro Vancouver contains a wealth of recycled clothing, household goods, and books (not to mention other stuff), and I’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s available. The area around Main & Broadway has three good thrift shops, one of my favourite used book stores, and a smattering of trendy shops and consignment stores all within several city blocks (convenient to bus lines). I highly reccommend walking, just so you can smell the food. Breakfast, pizza, dim sum, lattes, filipino, vegetarian, street corner hot dog vendor—whatever you need, honey. If you’re looking for fun and games, Guys & Dolls billiard hall is in the vicinity, or you might stop in and play a card at Planet Bingo (don’t forget to bring your lucky Troll doll).
Thrifty Shopping Tour — Main & Broadway
The map below shows a small portion of the Mount Pleasant community in Vancouver, marked with a few favourite places. Start at the Sally Ann @ Sophia & 12th. It’s the biggest shop, and if you buy anything, you’ll be carrying it downhill mostly. If you do bring your car, parking isn’t difficult to find.
Bus Routes
Bus via Broadway: Take the #9 or #99 bus to the intersection at Main Street. There’s a Cuppa Joe coffee shop on the corner. If you look down the hill on Main Street, you’re facing North (toward the mountains—the Lion’s ears). Turn around and walkup the hill (South) on the left side of Main Street, and turn left on 12th Street at the Town Pantry gas station. The Sally Ann is at the corner of 12th and Sophia, right before you get to Kingsway.
Bus via Main Street: Take the #3 bus to the intersection at 12th Avenue. Walk East on 12th (towards Kingsway). The Sally Ann is at the corner of 12th and Sophia.
A quick thrift trip.
The Sally Ann — Salvation Army Thrift Shoppe
There are Sally Anns all over Metro Vancouver, each with a slightly different flavour. If one doesn’t have what you’re looking for, try another.
- Books — A nicely organized selection with a table and chairs for perusing your finds at leisure.
- Clothing — A steady stream of donations creates variety, and there’s plenty to choose from.
- Furniture — Always a good selection of sofas, shelving, and appliances (large & small), plus the occasional decent antique or retro piece. Good pricing.
- Housewares — Hit and miss, but an excellent source for old china sets and teacups.
- Other Junque — Take a look in the glass case at the register. Neat jewelry and little things.
- Bargain Basement — You really have to like digging through crap to enjoy this section, but sometimes the treasures you find are worth the trouble. Loads of dishes, housewares, kids toys, and weird sh*t that doesn’t make it to the upstairs collections. All sales “as is” and final, but CHEAP!
Urban Source
3126 Main Street — website
- Loads of fun things like film canisters, leather scraps, cool postcards, stickers, colourful plastic discs, and my favourite find: 3 old ViewMasters.
- Crafter’s Treasure Chest: If you are in a crafty mood, this is a cool place to look for things to glue onto other things. Urban Source collects cast-offs and remmnants from manufacturers, sorts them into barrels, and you can dig through at your leisure.
- Grab Bags: Stuff a small, medium, or large paper bag with whatever it is you want (some items have limits, so check the signs) and pay by the bagful. If you have crafty kids or work with scouts or church groups, it’s a fine supply source for making interesting projects (mobiles, collages, scrapbooks, etc.).
Bellagio’s Gelato Shop
3075 Main St
- Cash only, but a glorious assortment of frozen delights to choose from. Always worth a stop when I’m in the ‘hood.
Saint Vincent DePaul Thrift Shop
2743 Main Street
- An ecclectic mix of interesting things (the usual housewares, books, clothes, with occasional furniture and little antique doodads).
- A good place to find encyclopedia sets, sewing scissors, and holiday ornaments. A lot of stuff in a really small space, so it’s kinda like digging through Grandma’s basement.
- Prices are cheepity cheap.
Temple of the Modern Girl
2695 Main Street
- Tucked in near the street corner, you’ll find this fun vintage clothing store. I go there for the tchotchkes mostly, and the clothes range from sweet and cool to loud and weird.
VGH Thrift Shop
120 Broadway East
- The Vancouver General Hospital thrift shop is two floors of bargains, but as yet it is not overflowing. Downstairs you’ll find clothing and furniture, upstairs are housewares and books. It’s not fantastic, but prices are good, and it’s worth a look if you’re in the area.
Willl our compulsion to own the things other people discard ever wane? Almost everything I love and treasure (at least in the whatknot department) has been loved by someone else. I also have an underwear line. Do Not Cross! Ever! Unless it belonged to your sister, then the exception rule is invoked. I give my sisters really cool underwear. Just ask them.
It’s true. Some of my best bras first came from my sisters. I confess I sometimes do buy bras and corset tops from thrifties. I decorated a bunch of them for Burning Man. One of them was covered in colored pompoms with a funny looking bird sticking out in the middle.
my fiance and i are traveling to vancouver for a destination wedding and interested in DIY-ing our wedding decorations. any tips on a sally ann where we can find some great vases or jars for flowers? we definitely don’t want to fly up there with those in our suitcases. thanks!
What’s in stock will vary widely, so there’s no guarantee, but the Salvation Army store on 12th is a good bet for glassware, especially if you look in the bargain basement. Michaels Arts & Crafts probably has the largest selection of silk flowers (plus ribbons and pretty stones and all that), and there’s one close to the airport (9711 Bridgeport Rd). Real flowers are abundant. Roses, gerbera daisies, and bouquets of all kinds can be found at green grocers and larger markets as well as florists all around town. Good luck and best wishes 8)
I recently had an unpleasant experience with the VGH Thrift shop. I bought two chair from them, but had to return later to pick them up (I was on foot at the time). When I returned to get them, one of the chair had been replaced with a chair that was damaged. The staff, who are all volunteers, said they couldn’t do anything about it and that their manager was out of town. One volunteer in particular was particularly unpleasant.
I’ve been wondering if this is a one-off or a chronic problem. Have you heard of anyone else having problems with this store?
My experience with thrift shops is that you never know what you’re going to get. Sometimes volunteers go out of their way to be helpful, and other times you kindof get jerked around. Blame it on the moon. Hope future thrifting is more satisfying for you. Good luck!