Vancouver closure: MCC on Fraser 31 March 2022

 The MCC (Mennonite Central Commitee) thrift shop on Fraser St @ 43rd Avenue has announced that it will close at the end of March (31 March 2022).  No news if there will be a new location.

Vancouver: Wildlife Thrift 2nd shop

The Wildlife thrift shop has opened a second location in the Marpole neighbourhood. 

1510 W. 70th Avenue @ Granville.  Open Daily 10-20h.

Animal welfare

There are a number of animal welfare organisations that operate thrift shops.  The SPCA doesn't really count as operating shops as the organisation licenses its name out to small operators in return for a cut of revenue. The Kelowna branch (or auxiliary) however does offer a monthly bazaar and lunch sale at the First United Church.

The SPCA has these franchise shops in Sidney, View Royal, Vancouver (2), North Vancouver, Surrey (Cloverdale), Richmond (Updated March 2017: Richmond has lost the smaller SPCA shop), New West and Port Alberni (updated 9 December 2016).

Other animal welfare shops include the Wildlife one in Vancouver, a horse rescue/welfare one in Langley, a cat one in Sidney (which also has an SPCA shop a street or two over).  There is also a horse rescue on in Falkland but it has never been open whenever we've passed through.

Back in the Lower Mainland - downtown Vancouver shops

Went back to the Lower Mainland on Monday.  Since it was Thanksgiving, we didn't expect anything to be open.  Driving to our hotel, we drove pass the Wildlife Thrift Shop on Granville Street (at Drake, north or northwest quadrant depending on your point of view) and were rather surprised to see it actually open.

Quickly checking in, we went there to find that this shop is open everyday, including apparently holidays, from 1030-1830.  It's been in operation for some 20 years and occupies a surprisingly-large space (medium-sized) for a city with astronomical rents and business taxes.  Since most households in the area are new, you don't find much collectibles here.  Almost everything, which is predominantly clothing, is fairly recent.  There are some housewares and furniture.  Prices seem a bit high but it is Vancouver. Very limited street parking.

We headed to check out the West End Seniors Network.  Hidden in the mall on Denman Street between Comox and Nelson, it is a nice store but is, perhaps due to donations from those who have long-ago downsized, limited to newer housewares and clothes.  Not much in the way of collectibles.  Very limited street parking.  Pretty expensive underground parking.