Duncan

Despite having restarted my blog and having been here for nearly 6 weeks, I seem to have forgotten to add Duncan where we've spent quite a bit of time thrift shopping.

Before making one's way here, be aware that the community is fairly poor and there isn't exactly much selection of exciting inventory here.

The downtown core of Duncan is home to 4 charitable thrift stores and 2 private ones.  HATS or the Hospital Auxilliary Thrift Store is a small volunteer-run store on Station Street at Craig (NE corner).  It has mainly clothing and some housewares and collectibles.  Reasonable prices.

At the west end of Station where it intersects with Jubilee and Government is WINGS III (Women In Need Getting Stronger) which appears to be a private store operating for a charity.  It's small and has an eclectic boutique feel to it.  Nice items though prices are a little high.

On Kenneth between Jubilee and Craig is the Sassy Lion, operated by the local Lions Club.  It's a smaller shop that has the usual assortment + furniture.  Reasonable prices.  Day-old bread from the excellent bakery is sometimes available for a donation.

On the west end of Ingram Street between Jubilee and Boundary is the Duncan United Church thrift store.  Generally open only on Fridays, it is very small and seems to only have a few items on display with the rest saved for some sales.  Well worth a visit if you can combine with St John the Baptist Anglican's Hand in Hand store in Cobble Hill. It has lot parking.

A little bit north on Canada Avenue is Cowichan Family Services.  It is again a small store with an assortment of items.  There is a small parking lot in front.

Street parking in Duncan is free but can be very limited because it is free and for long periods (3 hours except in the few 15 minute spots).

Along the highway are the Salvation Army and Bibles for Missions.  On the SE corner of the highway and Trunk is the Salvation Army.  This is probably the smallest in B.C. and the only store in its division.  It is frequented by the poorer segment of local society but it is still worth perusing.  I found a very nice Bialetti espresso maker just as it was put on the shelf.  The excellent bakery also makes bread available here for a donation.  Free lot parking.

A little north at the intersection of Alexander (SE corner) hidden in the depths of the parking lot is the local Bibles for Missions.  It's the smallest BFM store that I've come across in B.C. and again reflecting the local populace, the least well-stocked and somewhat more expensive.  Still interesting.  Lots of free lot parking.

The three private stores are interesting.  Just north of the BFM on York is the Good Neighbours.  It's the biggest thrift shop (lots of clothes) and very messy (not as bad as the SPCA in Richmond).   Some say it is a bit expensive (it is) but there may be things of interest.  You have to dig through housewares and books. Lulus on Canada Avenue between Ingram and Kenneth is a small shop, a bit messy, and also expensive.  Hidden at the west end of Station Street across Government is a thrift shop housed in the lower floor of a large house.  There's lots of household items but they're fairly expensive and the place reeks of tobacco smoke (smoking owner).

I've previously mentioned the Duncan Seventh Day Adventist thrift store about 1 mile west of the hospital on Gibbins Road, and the free store at the Bings Creek dump at the west end of Drinkwater.

Vancouver Island thrift shop listings:
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/listing-of.html

A few "new" ones in Duncan, Parksville and Nanaimo.

Visited a few thrift shops that I've known about but openings times haven't coincided with our visits.

West of Duncan on Gibbins Road - a few hundred meters past the hospital - is Duncan Seventh Day Adventist church's thrift shop.  This one is hard to visit as it is rarely open, just Thursdays and 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month from 11-15.  It is run by volunteers, small but well organised has interesting items at very good prices.  Lots of lot parking.  Proceeds go to local and international aid.

In the old part of Nanaimo on Fitzwilliam Street at Wallace is the St. Andrew's United Church shop. Located in the basement, it also volunteer-run.  Small.  Free lot parking.  Only open M, W, Th 0930-13.



On the south end of Parksville on the old highway, at the strip mall just north of the 1st set of traffic lights is the Second Chance thrift shop where proceeds go to assist rehabilitation and community  reintegration of people with brain injuries. Lots of nice collectibles here as they have partnered with a estate sale/clearance business.  Very good prices for china sets.  Free lot parking.  Only open W-Sa.

Cowichan

The Cowichan valley, which I will define as Mill Bay to Ladysmith, hosts a fair number of thrift stores.

Beginning in the south at Mill Bay, there is the Salvation Army store on the Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Road just west of the TC highway.  It's a small store with the usual assortment.  Free lot parking.  Part of the lower mainland and Victoria division, it participates in the promotions of this division.

On Cobble Hill Road near Lovers Lane//Chapman Road if the Hand-in-Hand store of St John the Baptist Anglican Church.  This store is open only on a Friday between 10 and 14h.  Selection is limited to a few collectibles and clothes.  Everything appears to be saved for a Saturday in September (either the 3rd or closest to the middle of the month.  Some special event locally as a lot of thrift stores have sales on this date) when a lot of inventory is brought out for sale.  A lot of nice items at good, marked prices.

Next stop is Duncan which hosts 7 stores.

Right on the highway (east side) are two stores.  At Trunk Road is the Salvation Army while a couple of blocks further north is the Bibles for Missions at Alexander Street. The Salvation Army is a small store with o.k. prices.  Small selection of everything though quality seems to reflect the relatively-poorer area.  The Bibles for Missions is one of the smaller ones and just doesn't have too much.  Seems to be focussed mainly on clothes but has some collectibles and housewares.  O.K. prices but higher than other BFMs in B.C. Both have free lot parking while the BFM also has free street parking.

In the downtown area of Duncan are 5 stores.

On Station Street between Canada Avenue and Craig Street is the local Hospital Auxiliary.  This well-displayed store is small but has a good amount of collectibles, clothes and housewares.  Free street parking though it can be limited.

At the end of Station Street (junction with Government and Jubilee) s is WINGS III which is a abused/battered women's charity.  This small store is more of a boutique with fairly nice quality items and has higher prices.

On Kenneth Street is the Duncan Lions store.  This small store is nicely organised with lots of collectibles, clothes, housewares and furniture.  Prices are very good.  Free street parking.

The local United Church is open on Fridays.  The store is small with the usual clothes, children's ware and collectibles.  Only a small amount of inventory is on show while the rest is saved for the September sale.  Good prices.  Lot parking.

On Canada Avenue (between 1st and 2nd avenues) is the Cowichan Family Life store.  Good amount of collectibles, clothes and housewares.  Prices are o.k.  Lot parking.

Out on is the Seventh Day Adventist on Gibbins Road though the opening hours are not advertised. Will advice when I find it open. Lot parking.

Couple of small, private thrift stores too, one just north of the Bibles for Missions and another across the road from WINGS III.