Vancouver: My Sister's Closet

I was in Vancouver for a not-so-pleasant appointment and while on my way there, came across a new-to-me thrift shop, one that assists abused women and focuses exclusively clothes and shoes.for women as well as men.

I didn't go in but it seem to be very nicely organised, more like a boutique than your run-of-the-mill thrift shop.

www.bwss.org

Saanich - Gordon Head Lions Club in the Gordon Head United Church annex

I managed to visit all the rarely-open small church-based thrift shops in Victoria in these past few weeks.  The latest and last is the Gordon Head Lions Club thrift shop, formerly the Gordon Head United Church thrift shop.  It operates in the basement of the annex to the church.  Don't go to the main floor as that is a day care centre. 

The shop is on Tyndall Street and you'll see signs pointing towards the United Church.  It is fairly small, just two rooms with one dedicated to clothing and shoes and the other to housewares, collectibles and other things.  Not a big destination place but the prices are very good.

Sign as you drive in the church's parking lot

Thrift shop is in the annex beside the church

The hours - but it's closed in the summer

More contact information

Thrift shop in the basement - don;t go upstairs as it is a day car centre

Victoria - St Andrew's Presbyterian Church

We visited yet another of the infrequently-opened thrift shops today.  This time it was St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in the heart of Victoria.  The thrift shop is open just two days a month for 2 hours each day, and is closed for the summer.

It is also one of the most difficult to locate and find access. The church itself on Douglas Street is easy enough, but the entrance is around the corner on Courtney.  Getting to the front entrance, you will find a locked door even though the signs are out on the street and in front of the church. 

Front entrance on Douglas Street

Sign to the thrift shop at the front entrance

Sign at the Courtney Street entrance

When you get to the thrift shop entrance, you'll find a locked door which gives you the impression they forgot to open, or closed early.   The answer, press the buzzer button on the left of the door and the door will be buzzed unlocked.  Go in and go down the stairs to your left.

Locked door - press the buzzer on the left to get in

The shop is located in the basement and is rather small, with one room with housewares and collectibles, and another with mainly clothes and more housewares.  Friendly but elderly volunteers are happy to assist.

Oak Bay - Oak Bay United Church

We finally got to visit one of the multitude of primarily United Church thrift shops in the Victoria area.  It's only open on Fridays and the 1st Saturday of the month, and is closed in summers and from mid-December to the beginning of February which may make it a little difficult to schedule a visit (there are 4 church thrift shops, all open on different weekdays of the week).

The main thrift shop in a small annex building stocks exclusively shoes and clothes.  Housewares and other goods are sold in the auditorium annex of the church, and may only be open 1 day a month.  We happened to drop in on a Friday before the 1st Saturday of the month and fortunately the garage sale was open.

Located at the cormer of Mitchell and Granite south of Oak Bay Avenue.

Annex offering clothes and shoes

Note the special monthly sale

Monthly sale in the auditorium

Abbotsford - Healing Grounds

When I was out in Abbotsford this past spring, we searched for a thrift shop called Healing Grounds on Bevan Road, but only found an empty shopfront in a mall.

I recently received mail from a volunteer that the original location was closed due to a flood, and that the new location - just adjacent - has opened with help from Habitat from Humanity.  This shop will stock the non-home improvement products - clothes, books, housewares, sports equipment, home decor, etc. - that are not offered at the ReStore on Fraser Highway.

Give them a visit.

https://www.facebook.com/restoreabbotsford%20/videos/1539530672808051/?video_source=pages_finch_thumbnail_video