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Thrift Shop Report
My grandma used to give us great stuff when we were kids. We'd ask where it came from, and she'd tell us that she got it from the Weedy-Weedy store. We thought that was a French name. Later we found out that's what she called the thrift shop because you had to WEED through the junk to find the good stuff! Thrift shops can be a great bargain -- but not always. You still need to be a saavy shopper to take full advantage of the savings they offer. Here's a list of stores we've shopped, some pros and cons, and some tips for each. Your mileage may vary.
Belfair - Faith in Action. Okay, I might be biased here. FIA is a great store. Their prices are, for the most part, the cheapest you'll find. Tuesdays are their half price days where most items are 50% off (some of the better items have no discount). Saturdays are the worst day to go unless you get there early -- that's when the antique deals and resellers seem to hit it and wipe out anything of real value. Monday afternoons are good because the store's been restocked on Monday morning and people are holding off buying the good stuff until the half price day. Wednesday afternoons are also a good time because the store's been cleaned out on Tuesday and there's a lot of fresh merchandise out. Books are an especially good deal at a quarter for paperback and .50 for hardback (half that on Tuesdays!). The money gets spent locally and is used for a variety of purposes, with an emphasis on assistance to seniors. Location: kitty-corner from QFC on Old Belfair Hwy.
Belfair - St. Vincent de Paul. An outfit from California took this over awhile back. The store is cleaner and better organized. But, the prices are quite a bit higher -- sometimes higher than retail. Clothing is especially overpriced. The sorting bin tables near the front are the best bet. Paper goods seem to be reasonable, and kitchen items are usually a good deal. Location: halfway down Hwy 3 in Belfair, across from Subway.
Bremerton - Mustard Seed. Look up nice in the dictionary, and you'll find the smiling faces of the people who run this store. It's much smaller than many others, but has a comfy, neighborhood feel. They used to have a huge homeschooling area, but are downscaling that somewhat. Their selection is eclectic and usually interesting. They offer a "free" table outside that's usually full of books and what-nots. They're a for-profit, Christian owned company. Their prices are very reasonable and there are both new and used items for sale. Books their specialty. Location: 330 N. Callow.
Bremerton - St. Vincent de Paul. Another nice store. The SVDPs are all indepedently run, and donate to different charitable causes. I think the main focus of the Bremerton location is their own assistance office which helps low income families in the area. This shop seems to get in a lot of new items, which are conveniently placed on a front table. It's a good source for inexpensive gifts. The sorters seem to know their goods and items are priced high enough to discourage resellers but low enough that they're still a bargain. Good deals include .45 bags of fast food toys, craft items, art supplies, and silverware. Overpriced items are dresses, shoes, and "collectibles". There's an annex right down the street that sells furniture, sporting goods, exercise equipment, appliances, clearance clothes, and large toys. It's generally full of excellent bargains -- if you get there before the furniture dealers snatch them up. Location: 1 mile north of PSNS on Callow, behind Blockbuster.
(East) Bremerton - Value Village. This reminds me a lot of the Goodwill before it got expensive. Not that VV isn't. Mondays are bargain days, where specially colored tags are only a dollar. That's the time to go. On other days, you *may* find a treasure, but their knicknacks, housewares, and dishes are overpriced. Location: across from Sizzler just over the Warren Ave. Bridge. 3449 Wheaton Way.
Gig Harbor - Goodwill. As Goodwills go, this is definitely an upscale one. It is, after all, in Gig Harbor. Prices are inconsistent, with some real bargains to be found if you dig long enough. If you like vintage toys, this is one of the few thrift shops that doesn't charge a premium for them. They seem to have a lot of new things, especially sundry items like soap, sponges, plastic, and bath items. Clothing is somewhat expensive, and jewelry is laughable. Location: At the end of the Safeway parking lot. 4805 Pt. Fosdick Drive NW.
Port Orchard - South Kitsap Helpline. An interesting store with well arranged goods. Great deals on books, clothing, and furniture. Toys tend to be a little higher priced. Seem to always have a full stock. They offer a Tuesday military discount of 25% or more, so bring your ID. Supports Helpline Food Bank. Location: down the street from SVDP (below), behind Key Bank on the waterfront. 1351 Bay St.
Port Orchard - St. Vincent de Paul. Probably the largest thrift shop in the area, there is always a TON of traffic here. On the first weekend of the month, they have a social security sale. Add up the numbers of your SSN and that's your discount. Unfortunately, it's for a different department every month, and only for that department. There's great staging here, with a lot of artistry in their displays. Furniture is grossly overpriced, but hardware and toys are a good bargain. Most of the knicknacks can be bought for peanuts. There's a large selection of clothes at reasonable prices, and a whole section of books to be had for a song (or a quarter, for the kids'). A great place to find homeschool curriculum. Inventory moves very quickly here, so you need to get it while you can. I've heard their money goes to Catholic Charities of Seattle. Location: on the Port Orchard waterfront next to Holiday Inn Express and across the street from KFC. NOTE: There are NO public bathrooms and they have no mercy even on little girls who are desperately trying not to wet their pants :-(. If you bring your children, make sure they "go" first.
Purdy/Gig Harbor S.A.V.E. - SAVE is an interesting little boutique type of thrift shop that benefits Peninsula High School scholarships. I've found quite a few small upscale items there, with pricetags to match. The great thing is, they have huge discount sales every month and start anew. Get on their mailing list to receive their calendar, then stock up on their clothing "bag sales". Location: In front of Peninsula High School, 14201 Purdy Drive NW, GH.
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