Port Alberni

We were in Parksville visiting our usual shops when we made a decision to visit the shops in Port Alberni just to see what's there.  I am glad to say it isn't dismal, as the town used to have well-paid employment in the past but the town is looking a bit forlorn like many other de-industrialised towns.

Heading into the north part of town in the old Alberni on Johnston between Adelaide an Elizabeth, there is The Attic thrift shop of the West Coast Hospital auxiliary.  It seems to be a small store set in am old strip mall, narrow but it is deep with a room in the back so almost medium sized..  Friendly volunteers have organised it well.  Very good prices.  Free lot parking.

Down in Port Alberni, up on the hill around 3rd and Argyle are a host of thrift shops.

Cornerstone Thrift

Just a few shops north of the junction is Bread of Life's Cornerstone thrift shop.  Medium size, it is a bit rambling.  Good prices. Very friendly staff and apparently the main cashier sings a lot.  Free street parking.

Port Alberni Salvation Army

South just over a block is the Salvation Army that has moved (from Argyle) into what must have been an old shop.  It is a little too big (big size of medium) for its size (needs more stuff?)  Some furniture sold here. Free street parking.  Good prices, better than your average SA in B.C.

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Port Alberni SPCA

On Argyle just east of 3rd is the Port Alberni SPCA store which is smaller than most of the other SPCA ones.  It is fairly well-organised and stocked.  We didn't see anything of interest so can't comment on the prices.  Free street parking.

Parksville and Qualicum Beach

Made a trip down to Parksville and Qualicum.   We'd visited some of the stores in August and September but didn't make it to Qualicum Beach.  I noticed that I had not reviewed previously-visited stores in Parksville and Comox/Courtenay.

Both communities are among the most elderly in B.C. but it would seem that most retirees must have already downsized as one does not find more in the way of period collectibles than expected.  Books are an exception and are what one finds here with the thrift shops having much more books than your average.

In Parksville on Hurst Avenue, one will find the largest thrift shop on the Island.  The SOS thrift shop is it in terms of floor size and stocking.  It may not be the largest in B.C. (by area, that must be the new MCC shop in Abbotsford) but it must be among the biggest by available-to-shopper inventory.  On two levels, it pretty much has everything.  Clothes and books upstairs, housewares, collectibles, electronics, children's stuff and other odds 'n ends downstairs.  Be prepared to dig through to find bargains.  Not the cheapest prices but pretty reasonable.  Very crowded and popular whenever we've visited.  Free lot parking though that is usually full.  Free street parking available.

The Salvation Army has two thrift shops in Parksville.

                                                                                                                      

The main shop in a small mall just off the highway is medium sized and has quite a large book area, There's collectibles, housewares, clothing, a lot of books.  No furniture.  Prices are generally higher but lower than SA shops in the big cities. A bit dark and dreary but decently organised. Free lot parking.

The Salvation Army Boutique, for those who have visited in the past, is still there but has shrunk significantly in size for various reasons.  What remains is ladies' fashion which is clean and very well organised,   Almost more like a ... boutique, except prices are low and most of everything is used.  Everything sorted by size so it isn't such a mad hunt.  Mens' and childrens' wear have all been shifted to the other store.  Free street parking.

The Second Chance store, which I wrote about in September, has apparently extended its opening days, now open on Tuesdays (used to be Wednesday to Saturday) and is also open late 2x weekly.

Qualicum Beach has a smaller Salvation Army store which also has a separate book store virtually next to the main store.  One enter to find collectibles and housewares, with an electronics, shoes and odd 'n ends on the lower level. The main store has a boutique section which one may miss if not looking.  The adjacent book store is well-organised and has interesting titles.  Free street parking.

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.