CONTENTS
|
|
CONTENTS
BY LIZ BROWNShopping for gifts at thrift stores is more fun than spending a harried day at the mall. You're likely to encounter fewer crowds and more unique (and less expensive) wares. Besides, it's another form of recycling, and many of the stores are run by nonprofit organizations, increasing each gift's good-deed value.
A wealth of potential treasures awaits the patient shopper at these low-budget outlets. A cheap frame can be painted and finished off with your most recent painting or a personal photo. A vintage set of silver kitchen canisters can be filled with coffee and tea. An inexpensive, wooden end table needs just a coat of paint or some artwork and varnish to become a personalized and memorable gift. A fine pair of Dickies work pants rarely disappoints.
There aren't many undiscovered thrift stores left in Portland, but there are still a few good deals to be had. Vintage and retro clothing stores with at least some inexpensive options abound. Magpie (324 SW 9th Ave., 220-0920) and Avalon Antiques (318 SW 9th Ave., 224-7156) are neighbors, as are Ray's Ragtime (1021 SW Morrison St., 226-2616) and Lush Budget Vintage (1031 SW Morrison St., 227-1311). Poker Face (128 NE 28th Ave., 231-4366), Retread Threads (2700 SE 26th Ave., 230-8042), and Hattie's Vintage (2721 SE 26th Ave., 235-5305) have swank duds for the hipsters on your list. Goodwill and Salvation Army (various locations) stores come to mind for cheaper wares, but the prices have crept upward in recent years, and the merchandise tends to get picked over pretty quickly. The following is a list of a few inexpensive vintage shops and worthwhile, no-frills thrift stores in which you'll find one-of-a-kind gifts. (Shopper's hint: Keep a box of wet wipes in the car for use after a day of rummaging through used stuff.)
Ruby De Luxe (3540 SE Division St., no phone) is one of the best vintage stores in town. It opened its doors just over a year ago, but its low-key façade and off-the-beaten-path location have kept it a bit of a secret. Named after a 1920s box camera, the cozy space is filled with quality dresses, shirts, coats, shoes, jewelry and housewares--most from the '30s, '40s and '50s. The only drawback is its limited hours: Thursday through Saturday from noon to 5 pm. Recent finds: pretty vintage umbrellas, leather and suede jackets for less than $30, men's gabardine shirts and old anatomy textbook diagrams for 50 cents.
Kitty Princess Boutique (3356 SE Belmont St., 233-2567) is no secret, but the quality items and reasonable prices make it an essential addition to this list. Everything on the racks has been carefully mended--no holes or broken zippers here. Women's dresses, skirts and blouses (most from the '50s and '60s, ranging from $5-$30) comprise the bulk of the inventory. You'll also find cool purses and a small yet worthwhile men's section. The real bargain hunter should head for the $3 rack or rummage through the inexpensive T-shirts and scarves. Don't leave without trying something on. The dressing room is the most eclectic and charming of its kind. Recent finds: men's olive Farrah pants for $10, a white faux fur stole for $10 and a gray, lined, wool shift dress for $10.
The Gold Door (1434 SE 37th Ave., 232-6069) is oft-overlooked in the hectic Hawthorne district. The front of the store is dedicated to Day of the Dead items and new jewelry, but the rest is filled with fairly inexpensive vintage pieces. The focus is on housewares, furniture (most of it is kept in the basement) and notions. Check out the display case in the back corner for some interesting stocking stuffers from the first half of the century. Recent finds: glow-in-the-dark framed puppy prints, hat boxes, plastic fruit, a metal record player cart and embroidered tablecloths.
Value Village (18625 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie, 653-7333) is a good bet for anyone willing to spend time sorting the good from the ugly. The huge store has clothing for everyone, including a men's uniform section, decent jackets and a few racks of new, reduced-price apparel. The household and furniture sections aren't the thriftiest, but sale days (each day at least one tag color is 50 percent off) make all the difference. Mellow hits of the '70s, '80s and '90s serenade you as you roam the aisles. Recent finds: Depression-era wood-framed chairs with burgundy brocade seat cushions at $25 each, dark green Sta-Prest men's work pants for $1 and floor lamps under $15.
The Bargain Station (4330 SE 82nd Ave., 774-0948) is a ramshackle old store a little grubbier than the shops mentioned above, but the store size and selection are almost equal to its more upscale counterparts. Finding deals requires some scavenging, but the opportunistic shopper will be rewarded. Different tag discounts are featured every day. There are women's day, men's day and seniors' day discounts. Furniture is 25 percent off on Sundays. Recent finds: a '50s chrome Mixmaster with white Fire King mixing bowl for $12.95, spanking-new Ratt Out of the Cellar and Kenny Rogers Velcro wallets for 75 cents, women's cardigans at $3-$10 and 10-speed bicycles for $19.98.
The Vancouver Goodwill (6425 E 4th Plain Blvd., Vancouver, 360-695-4669) proves that some of the best selection and bargains can be found out of the city limits. It is far enough from Portland to be overlooked but close enough to make it worth a trip across the river for an afternoon. (There's a Value Village nearby, too.) Recent finds: the Fun Machine home organ with bench for $25 and a moss green women's French vintage blouse for $3.
