Saturday, 13 August 2016
Central Richmond
Most thrift shops in Richmond and located around either the north end of No. 3 Rd or down in Steveston. A very small one, Richmond Family Place, came to my attention. On Ash Street at Debeek school (Between 3 and 4 Road, Francis and Blundell, it is also very cramp due to space. Mostly clothes and some housewares. The volunteers try to keep it organised. Parking in the school yard.
West, or south Delta
The municipality of Delta is a weird entity. Divided by Burns Bog, it has tonier suburbs to the west (Ladner and Tsawwassen), and a less-desirable neighborhood called North Delta to the east, which borders of Surrey. West Delta is home to 4 thrift shops, two each in Ladner and Tsawwassen.
There are two in Ladner. On Elliott Road where River Road ends is the Finds Children's thrift. It's a small shop, apparently very well-organised, that has children's clothes and toys. Free street parking.
On Delta Street between Bridge and 48th Avenue is the famous Delta Hospital Auxilliary's thrift shop. This shop has grown to occupy 3 shop fronts in a strip mall, one for housewares, one for clothes and one for furniture and fine wares. Well-staffed by volunteers, it is very neatly organised and has an apparent high turnover of goods. Fine items are saved for a collectibles sale every few weeks that reportedly draws in big crowds and lines. Prices appear to be very good. Very busy small strip-mall parking out front but there is free street parking available.
Down in Tsawwassen, one finds two thrift stores on 56th Street. On the west side between 16 and 14B Avenue is Delta Hospice's Hospice Cottage thrift shop. Medium-sized, it has a good collection of goods which can be of quite high quality. There's always a display of fine china collections and sets. Lots of other items too and fairlu well-organised by the volunteers. Very reasonable prices. Parking lot.
Across the road between View Crescent and 12th Avenue is the Delta Youth Support Link shop. This is a small shop so has a limited number of items. Neatly-organised, it has the usual assortment. Very reasonable prices. Strip mall parking.
List of Delta and south of the Fraser river thrift shops
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/blog-page_3.html
There are two in Ladner. On Elliott Road where River Road ends is the Finds Children's thrift. It's a small shop, apparently very well-organised, that has children's clothes and toys. Free street parking.
On Delta Street between Bridge and 48th Avenue is the famous Delta Hospital Auxilliary's thrift shop. This shop has grown to occupy 3 shop fronts in a strip mall, one for housewares, one for clothes and one for furniture and fine wares. Well-staffed by volunteers, it is very neatly organised and has an apparent high turnover of goods. Fine items are saved for a collectibles sale every few weeks that reportedly draws in big crowds and lines. Prices appear to be very good. Very busy small strip-mall parking out front but there is free street parking available.
Down in Tsawwassen, one finds two thrift stores on 56th Street. On the west side between 16 and 14B Avenue is Delta Hospice's Hospice Cottage thrift shop. Medium-sized, it has a good collection of goods which can be of quite high quality. There's always a display of fine china collections and sets. Lots of other items too and fairlu well-organised by the volunteers. Very reasonable prices. Parking lot.
Across the road between View Crescent and 12th Avenue is the Delta Youth Support Link shop. This is a small shop so has a limited number of items. Neatly-organised, it has the usual assortment. Very reasonable prices. Strip mall parking.
List of Delta and south of the Fraser river thrift shops
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/blog-page_3.html
Saturday, 6 August 2016
Maple Ridge, again, and SW Richmond a.k.a. Steveston
The PoA had reason to go to Coquitlam center to pick up some stuff so decided to go to Maple Ridge again. We hadn't been there in almost 30 years and now we've been twice in a week.
Mission? To check out the 3 thrift stores that were closed on Sunday.
First store was the 2nd Cynthera, the Boutique one on Lougheed at 224nd St (SW corner). This store does fit the boutique description and is very well organised with very nice stuff. Fair prices though nothing that we wanted. Free off street parking.
The Bibles for Missions further down the road, north side between 225 and 226, is the second branch in B.C. we've visited. This one is medium size but still smaller than the Kelowna branch. Fairly well organised. Prices are very very good. Free off street parking.
Back to Dewdney Trunk Road, the Hospital Economy Auxilliary store (south side between 223 and 222 - opposite the main Cynthera) is a small store but very well organised. Very good prices. Street parking or park at the Cynthera mall lot and walk over (there's a cross walk between the two).
Next stop was Steveston which is home to 2 thrift stores. First visited was the local Hospital Auxilliary which is in the old United Church building at Chatham and 2nd. Nice store, medium size. Seems to have been picked over and needs restocking. Free street parking but this may be hard to find on busy weekends.
At Moncton and 1st and 1 Road is the other branch of SOS Children. Seems to be more clothes than anything else. Some housewares but not much, similar to the Vancouver store. Street parking. Prices can be very good.
Mission? To check out the 3 thrift stores that were closed on Sunday.
First store was the 2nd Cynthera, the Boutique one on Lougheed at 224nd St (SW corner). This store does fit the boutique description and is very well organised with very nice stuff. Fair prices though nothing that we wanted. Free off street parking.
The Bibles for Missions further down the road, north side between 225 and 226, is the second branch in B.C. we've visited. This one is medium size but still smaller than the Kelowna branch. Fairly well organised. Prices are very very good. Free off street parking.
Back to Dewdney Trunk Road, the Hospital Economy Auxilliary store (south side between 223 and 222 - opposite the main Cynthera) is a small store but very well organised. Very good prices. Street parking or park at the Cynthera mall lot and walk over (there's a cross walk between the two).
Next stop was Steveston which is home to 2 thrift stores. First visited was the local Hospital Auxilliary which is in the old United Church building at Chatham and 2nd. Nice store, medium size. Seems to have been picked over and needs restocking. Free street parking but this may be hard to find on busy weekends.
At Moncton and 1st and 1 Road is the other branch of SOS Children. Seems to be more clothes than anything else. Some housewares but not much, similar to the Vancouver store. Street parking. Prices can be very good.
Friday, 5 August 2016
East Vancouver
Though larger (and less affluent) than the west side, east side Vancouver is surprisingly short of thrift shops. Not that everyone has been visited but there just aren't many.
The MCC have one store in Vancouver which also used to house a Ten Thousand Villages fair trade store (only one left on Granvile Island and one in Victoria). The sole MCC is on Fraser and 43rd (SE side) is a long-standing medium-sized establishment though there is less German goods these days. Small, well-organised display of collectibles, lots of housewares, some furniture and other assorted goods. Volunteer run. Prices are creeping up but that could be due to rent. Like the SA, I would never begrudge their prices. Free street parking.
Found another small one a little further up Fraser (between 26th and 27th on the west side) called King's Way which is a church-oriented thrift store (services held in the store). Only open 2 days a week and very sparse inventory (as it also serves as a meeting hall). Free street parking if you can find it.
Around the Main/Broadway/Kingsway triangle are 3 thrift stores (used to be 4 but one moved). The biggest is the Salvation Army on 200 block East 12th on the north side between Main and Kingsway. Quite large, it has the usual plus a lot of furniture. Quite picked over as it is popular. As with SA prices, it is high but not as high as same places. Street parking, some free, some paid depending on location.
On Main Street (west side) between 11th and 12th is a branch of Saint Vincent de Paul. This small shop has a small selection of everything, with display of china collections more prominently lately. Prices are about the same as the SA. No bargain for for a cause. Free and metered street parking around.
On Broadway (north side) just west of Main is Aunt Leah's. A very small boutique with mainly clothing. Limited/no parking on street right outside (bus stop) but it is around close by.
The VGH thrift shop used to be opposite on Broadway but the rent went up to some $11k a month so the shop has relocated to 2500-block East Hastings, north side 2 blocks east of Nanaimo. Small/medium shop, it is well organised. Prices can be very good. Picked up an assortment of Riedel glasses here worth at least $50 for $4. Free street parking.
Further west on Hastings is the second St Vincent de Paul ~1700-block (east of Commercial on the south side). A medium-sized shop, it has the usual though the items seem to be from less-affluent households, or has been picked over. Free street parking. A VV is just east on the block.
At 600 East Hastings (at Heatley Ave. NW corner) is the Union Gospel Mission shop. The UGM may give away a lot of its wares as there never seems to be much except for clothing at this medium sized shop. Free street parking.
Back down on Main Street between 27 and 28th (west side) are two thrift stores. First one is the BC Womens and Childrens Hospital which is a small boutique with cloths and shoes only. Dressier better quality, it would appear. Metered street parking, or maybe free.
Down on the corner of 28th is the YWCA store. It's also small with a small assortment of everything. Free street parking?
The sole SPCA outlet is on Victoria Driver (west side between 35 and 36th avenues). A medium-sized shop, it is the typical shambles though not as bad, by far, as its west side counterpart. Prices can vary with housewares being the cheapest and games overpriced, it would appear. Lots of clothes, electronics (more than most), housewares, etc. Free street parking.
The MCC have one store in Vancouver which also used to house a Ten Thousand Villages fair trade store (only one left on Granvile Island and one in Victoria). The sole MCC is on Fraser and 43rd (SE side) is a long-standing medium-sized establishment though there is less German goods these days. Small, well-organised display of collectibles, lots of housewares, some furniture and other assorted goods. Volunteer run. Prices are creeping up but that could be due to rent. Like the SA, I would never begrudge their prices. Free street parking.
Found another small one a little further up Fraser (between 26th and 27th on the west side) called King's Way which is a church-oriented thrift store (services held in the store). Only open 2 days a week and very sparse inventory (as it also serves as a meeting hall). Free street parking if you can find it.
Around the Main/Broadway/Kingsway triangle are 3 thrift stores (used to be 4 but one moved). The biggest is the Salvation Army on 200 block East 12th on the north side between Main and Kingsway. Quite large, it has the usual plus a lot of furniture. Quite picked over as it is popular. As with SA prices, it is high but not as high as same places. Street parking, some free, some paid depending on location.
On Main Street (west side) between 11th and 12th is a branch of Saint Vincent de Paul. This small shop has a small selection of everything, with display of china collections more prominently lately. Prices are about the same as the SA. No bargain for for a cause. Free and metered street parking around.
On Broadway (north side) just west of Main is Aunt Leah's. A very small boutique with mainly clothing. Limited/no parking on street right outside (bus stop) but it is around close by.
The VGH thrift shop used to be opposite on Broadway but the rent went up to some $11k a month so the shop has relocated to 2500-block East Hastings, north side 2 blocks east of Nanaimo. Small/medium shop, it is well organised. Prices can be very good. Picked up an assortment of Riedel glasses here worth at least $50 for $4. Free street parking.
Further west on Hastings is the second St Vincent de Paul ~1700-block (east of Commercial on the south side). A medium-sized shop, it has the usual though the items seem to be from less-affluent households, or has been picked over. Free street parking. A VV is just east on the block.
At 600 East Hastings (at Heatley Ave. NW corner) is the Union Gospel Mission shop. The UGM may give away a lot of its wares as there never seems to be much except for clothing at this medium sized shop. Free street parking.
Back down on Main Street between 27 and 28th (west side) are two thrift stores. First one is the BC Womens and Childrens Hospital which is a small boutique with cloths and shoes only. Dressier better quality, it would appear. Metered street parking, or maybe free.
Down on the corner of 28th is the YWCA store. It's also small with a small assortment of everything. Free street parking?
The sole SPCA outlet is on Victoria Driver (west side between 35 and 36th avenues). A medium-sized shop, it is the typical shambles though not as bad, by far, as its west side counterpart. Prices can vary with housewares being the cheapest and games overpriced, it would appear. Lots of clothes, electronics (more than most), housewares, etc. Free street parking.
The North Shore.....
Housesitting brought us to the North Shore for a day. Decided to make our route by venturing over the Lions Gate bridge which was our first time in a year.
First stop was the Salvation Army store in West Van (SE corner of Marine Drive @ 16th). This is a walk-down basement premise. Has a range of stuff and a lot of hard-up West Van matrons shopping there. It's medium size but maybe looks small because of the basement. Prices are quite high so I wonder if the SA prices for market? Was expecting a lot more stuff from old English ladies but maybe they're all long-extinct and homes cleared out. Nothing struck us. Free (for now) street parking.
On to North Van. 1st stop was the local SPCA on Pemberton (west side a little bit down from Marine Drive). Well-organised with a good number of collectibles but also very expensive. Almost private store prices (I guess it is really a private store).. Free street parking.
There is a food bank on 15h just off Pemberton that has been identified as a trhift shop by some web sites but isn't.
Way out east near Deep Cove is the Mount Seymour United church on Parkgate (the 1st street on the north side before Mount Seymour Parkway). It's only open on Thursday from 11-20. Small, it has your average selection of stuff but very cheap at that. Picked up two Riedel stemless martini glasses for $1. Lots of lot parking.
The Lonsdale area has 3 thrift stores. The first of two Salvation Army stores is on Lonsdale south of 3rd (SW corner). Medium sized, it has a fair amount of items, well-organised, but SA prices, though not as much, it seems, as West Van's.
On 3rd Avenue (north side) just west of Lonsdale is Good Stuff Connection. Not sure what it supports but it was small and it was closed. Seems to be mainly clothing. Street parking.
On 15th Street (north side), also just west of Lonsdale is the Lions Gate Hospital Auxilliary. Small amount of everything in this small thrift store but not much of what we wanted so no prices. Street parking.
The 2nd Salvation Army is on Fell at 15th on the north side of Marine Drive. This is a medium sized shop that has a fair amount of housegoods. Your typical lower mainland SA prices. Free lot parking. Bit disorganised and crowded compared to some other SAs.
There is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore but I appeared to have had a faulty/outdated address so missed it.
Also rumours of the Edgemont Village United Church having a thrift store.
First stop was the Salvation Army store in West Van (SE corner of Marine Drive @ 16th). This is a walk-down basement premise. Has a range of stuff and a lot of hard-up West Van matrons shopping there. It's medium size but maybe looks small because of the basement. Prices are quite high so I wonder if the SA prices for market? Was expecting a lot more stuff from old English ladies but maybe they're all long-extinct and homes cleared out. Nothing struck us. Free (for now) street parking.
On to North Van. 1st stop was the local SPCA on Pemberton (west side a little bit down from Marine Drive). Well-organised with a good number of collectibles but also very expensive. Almost private store prices (I guess it is really a private store).. Free street parking.
There is a food bank on 15h just off Pemberton that has been identified as a trhift shop by some web sites but isn't.
Way out east near Deep Cove is the Mount Seymour United church on Parkgate (the 1st street on the north side before Mount Seymour Parkway). It's only open on Thursday from 11-20. Small, it has your average selection of stuff but very cheap at that. Picked up two Riedel stemless martini glasses for $1. Lots of lot parking.
The Lonsdale area has 3 thrift stores. The first of two Salvation Army stores is on Lonsdale south of 3rd (SW corner). Medium sized, it has a fair amount of items, well-organised, but SA prices, though not as much, it seems, as West Van's.
On 3rd Avenue (north side) just west of Lonsdale is Good Stuff Connection. Not sure what it supports but it was small and it was closed. Seems to be mainly clothing. Street parking.
On 15th Street (north side), also just west of Lonsdale is the Lions Gate Hospital Auxilliary. Small amount of everything in this small thrift store but not much of what we wanted so no prices. Street parking.
The 2nd Salvation Army is on Fell at 15th on the north side of Marine Drive. This is a medium sized shop that has a fair amount of housegoods. Your typical lower mainland SA prices. Free lot parking. Bit disorganised and crowded compared to some other SAs.
There is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore but I appeared to have had a faulty/outdated address so missed it.
Also rumours of the Edgemont Village United Church having a thrift store.
North Richmond
There are actually thrift stores in Richmond though not many. Had a reason to divert through there so made a point to stop and find 3 (saw all 3 but couldn't find the 1st we saw due to parking).
First stop was on 7300-block Elmbridge Way where the local mental health's Pathway Clubhouse thrift shop is. A very small affair, there's your range of goods but not very much as it is tiny. No fix on prices because we didn't see anything of interest. Parking is paid, street.
Next was at the top end of Minoru Boulevard where there's the SPCA thrift store franchise (two, both apparently related). This one is hard to find as it is recessed deep into the lot (north side of Paramount Furniture). This is a medium sized store but there's virtually no work done on keeping it organised. A big, hazardous pile of goods where you go in and dig through. Lots of hidden gems. Got a whole bunch of items (4 cups and saucers, 4 Riedel champagne glasses) for only $5 (no pricing so look/dress poor!) and that's cheap so well worth having a look and dig. Free lot parking.
There is another SPCA shop on Alderbridge Way (north side). Saw it open, west of Garden City but well before No 3 Road, but no parking out front. Went to the back road to park but couldn't find it again. Will save it for another day.
First stop was on 7300-block Elmbridge Way where the local mental health's Pathway Clubhouse thrift shop is. A very small affair, there's your range of goods but not very much as it is tiny. No fix on prices because we didn't see anything of interest. Parking is paid, street.
Next was at the top end of Minoru Boulevard where there's the SPCA thrift store franchise (two, both apparently related). This one is hard to find as it is recessed deep into the lot (north side of Paramount Furniture). This is a medium sized store but there's virtually no work done on keeping it organised. A big, hazardous pile of goods where you go in and dig through. Lots of hidden gems. Got a whole bunch of items (4 cups and saucers, 4 Riedel champagne glasses) for only $5 (no pricing so look/dress poor!) and that's cheap so well worth having a look and dig. Free lot parking.
There is another SPCA shop on Alderbridge Way (north side). Saw it open, west of Garden City but well before No 3 Road, but no parking out front. Went to the back road to park but couldn't find it again. Will save it for another day.
Monday, 1 August 2016
Maple Ridge
An opportunity to get some stuff took us to Maple Ridge on Sunday, and remarkably some of the thrift stores were even open.
Heading down the Lougheed highway, the urban centre has two shops on the main drag. The first, coming from the west before 224th Street, is the Cynthera botique which appears to be small (it has a narrow shop front). Cynthera is a charity assisting women in need and has two thrift shops in Maple Ridge. This is claims to have higher-end goods.
At around 225th street on the north side is the local Bibles for Missions. The shop is a double front. Street parking for both of these.
On parallel Dewdney Trunk Road are 3 thrift shops (two of which are open on Sundays). The first one we visited was the Ridge Meadows Hospice shop on 224th Street (NW corner of the intersection with DTR). Medium size, it has a fair number of items, with not that much in the way of clothes, surprisingly. Nicely laid out. Large parking lot.
Heading back west between 222nd and 223rd, there's the Cynthera shop on the north side and the Economy Cottage Auxilliary (hospital auxilliary?) shop almost opposite on the south. This Cynthera is on the small side but is nicely laid out. The Economy Auxilliary seems to be small (Single shop front). Cynthera is in a mall so there's parking, and you can walk across the Economy Auxilliary (otherwise street parking only).
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| Cythera Boutique |
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| Bibles for Missions - Maple Ridge |
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| Ridge Meadows Hospice |
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| Economy Cottage |
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| Cythera Thrift |
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