2022-08-26T19:59:47-04:00

The New Canaan Thrift Shop is nothing short of amazing!

August 26, 2022December 20, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

The New Canaan Thrift Shop is remarkable, impressive, and unique in many ways. It is not just impressive because I found one of my all-time favorite bargains ($65), a Pottery Barn bedspread for a fraction of the cost. The quilt was something I had wanted for a while but was not willing to spend the $300 to buy it new. It was in excellent, nearly new condition, and I am thrilled with this purchase. It is also remarkable because every time I go there, The New Canaan Thrift Shop has a wide variety of merchandise that is nothing short of amazing. I commend the volunteers on the eye-catching displays and the boutique feel of the shop.

They have three levels and carry men’s, women’s, shoes, teens, children’s, babies, and toddlers’ clothes. They have an office section, a pet corner, luggage, linens, housewares and beautiful crystal, dinnerware, and serveware. Their clothes are reasonably priced for the names that you are getting. They carry Vineyard Vines, McLaughlin, Tory Burch, Coach, Ralph Lauren, and many other high-quality clothing brands, and their sales are great.

They have a fantastic selection of toys, games, puzzles, and children’s books. Their unique sports section contains golf clubs, skis, snowboards, lacrosse sticks, tennis racquets, ice skates, and other sports equipment – all good quality for a fraction of what you would pay in a sporting goods store.

What is impressive about the New Canaan Thrift Shop is that all the proceeds support the patient care Fund of Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Fairfield County, a member of the Waveny Lifecare Network. As someone whose family used hospice when my mom was sick, I know how incredible, compassionate, and kind the hospice community is. I am in awe of the New Canaan Thrift Shop for supporting and helping their community with their proceeds. While at the thrift shop, I was happy to meet with Stella Clarke, the Executive Director of Community Engagement and Volunteering. Stella is an extraordinary woman devoted to the Waveny Care Network and its mission to help families at the most challenging time of their lives. I commend Stella, Ulrike (Store Manager), and all the dedicated volunteers I met.

The history of the New Canaan Thrift Shop is fascinating. While 2 Locust Ave is not its original location, the building they are in now has quite a history. It was constructed in 1840 by prohibitionist Joseph Scofield. He wanted to lease the building to the Young Men’s Total Abstinence Society. That did not work as planned, as the movement did not go very far. And in 1856, Scofield sold the building to Russell Hall, who sold coffins and furniture, and for years, it was known as “The Old Morgue,” as it is historically known in New Canaan. The building was sold, and fast forward to 1928 when the building was sold to the Veterans Club. In 1930, The Visiting Nurse Association volunteer Thrift Shop was founded to raise funds to support the charitable mission by selling used clothing. So here we are almost a hundred years later, and they are still going strong and more vital than ever.

The New Canaan Thrift Shop is well worth a visit!

New Canaan Thrift Shop (https://www.loc8nearme.com/connecticut/new-canaan/new-canaan-thrift-shop/7027323/)

2 Locust Ave.

New Canaan, CT 06840

(203) 966-2361

Monday to Friday 12 pm – 4 pm

Saturday 9 am – 1 pm

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!!

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day

August 16, 2022August 16, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/1 Comment

August 17th is National Thrift Shop Day. We all know that I think it should be a national holiday. I love my thrift shopping – both shopping and writing about it. Why do people love thrift shopping? Why do I love thrift shopping? The thrill of the hunt is looking for that great find. The chance to create your style and make a fashion statement. The ability to save money by not shopping in expensive department stores. Secondhand and vintage clothes are better quality than today’s fast fashion. Even thrift stores have sales. Help your community by supporting local thrift shops that use their proceeds to help people in their communities. It gives you a chance to keep updating your wardrobe at reasonable prices. If you dislike a purchase, you can donate it right back.

Most importantly, by thrift shopping, you are saving the planet and keeping clothes out of landfills. These are just some of the reasons why we all love thrift shopping. I have been thrift shopping for over forty years, and it brings me great joy and is my passion. There is no better way to enjoy a few hours than by going to a thrift shop and just looking through all the racks hoping to find those unique pieces that I will buy and love for years to come.

Happy National Thrift Shop Day!!

Thank you for reading – if you like my blogs, please like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tonionthrifting/

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!

West Coast Thrifting – Let’s Visit Beacon House Thrift Shop in San Pedro, California. Shop More, Spend Less, Save Lives!

December 9, 2021January 6, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

I thought it would be nice to see where our West Coast thrifters are shopping. Thanks to Zach at Thrift Store Communications of Beacon House Thrift Shop, we can visit Beacon House Thrift Shop in San Pedro, California.

Beacon House Thrift Shop is a social enterprise program of the Beacon House Association of San Pedro, a state-certified, residential substance abuse recovery program for men and a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Residents of the Beacon House are provided with food, shelter, counseling, peer group support, educational opportunities, and career training through our social enterprise programs, including working at the Beacon House Thrift Shop. This allows the men to develop the life, career, and social skills they need to build a foundation in recovery while preparing them for a vital reintegration into the job market and a bright future when they return to their family, home, and community.

Beacon House Thrift Store pricing is quite competitive with their East Coast counterparts. Jeans range from $7.99 to $19.99, and tops range from $4.99 to $14.99. Dresses are priced from $7.99 to $19.99 and suits from $9.99 – $24.99.

Depending on the quality and brand, the prices may be higher on a specific item.
Red tags are considered higher quality items and tend to be the best bang for your buck.
They have weekly color sales. For example, yellow 25%, blue 50%, and green 75%, while orange is full price. On Sundays, this rotates.

There are sales every weekend where when you buy a minimum of $50, you get 25% off your entire transaction. This is on top of all the color sales. That is pretty amazing and well worth visiting if you are in the area.

Beacon House Thrift carries a wide variety of electronics, household, hardware, tools, sports equipment, and memorabilia.

Follow Beacon Hose Thrift Shop on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/beaconhousethrift/

The Long Beach store has 13,000 square feet. It is located at 3220 E Anaheim St Unit 3240 in the Belmont Center, Long Beach, CA 90804. Both stores have abundant inventory.

I would highly recommend visiting both locations when you are in these areas in California. You are not only getting great buys but helping a phenomenal cause.

Beacon House Thrift Shop

812 S Pacific Ave

San Pedro, CA 90731

Both stores are open daily from 11AM – 7PM and closed on all major holidays.

Until next time, Happy Thrifting!!!!!

Thrifting is back and here are some standouts to share with you.

November 22, 2021June 18, 2022/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

One of my favorite passions is thrifting as you all know. Here are some thrift shops I have come across recently. I will write in-depth about them soon but I just have to share these gems with you.

Please call first as some thrift shops change their hours or close during the holidays.

Deer Hill Thrift Shop in Danbury. It is part of the First Congregational Church of Danbury. Located at 164 Deer Hill Ave. What a great surprise. Maybe I was just lucky the day I shopped. I scored Calvin Klein kitten heels on sale for $5.00. A Talbot’s sweater for $8.00 and Chico’s cargo pants for $4.00. I have a feeling that this one stays well stocked. They are open Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The phone number is (203) 792-3110.

Carousel Thrift Shop, a thrift shop affiliated with the Southport Congregational Church is another gem with lots of high-end merchandise and priced accordingly. They are located at 524 Pequot Ave, Southport, CT 06890. They are open Tuesday thru Saturday from 11am to 3pm. The phone number is (203) 255-6629. https://www.loc8nearme.com/connecticut/southport/southport-congregational-church/6491122/

The Hillside Thrift Shop is located at Zion Episcopal Church, at 55 Cedar Street, Dobbs Ferry NY, right before the intersection with Main Street. Just go up the driveway, where you’ll find ample parking, and go through the little red door with the thrift-shop sign. Open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 4:00 and accept donations on Mondays from 10:00 to 12:00. The phone number is (914) 693-9320.

St. Bartholomew’s Thrift Shop reopened and just as great as ever. Lots of Eileen Fisher merchandise too. They are located at 82 Prospect Ave., White Plains, NY 10607. Open Saturdays 9-1 and Thursdays 3 pm – 6pm. The phone number is (914) 949-5611.

Ridgefield Thrift Shop. (Please read my blog about the RTS) Top rated. Top merchandise. Unbelievable prices. They are located at 21 Governor St, Ridgefield, CT 06877. They are open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 12pm – 4pm. The phone number is (203) 438-3328.

All of these thrift shops help those in need and are a great reason to shop at one, two, or all.

Thrilled to be back to thrifting and lots more to come. Please send any thrift shops suggestions to toniononthrifting@gmail.com. I would love to hear what your favorite places are.

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!

Thrifting is back and I have a rare gem for you. If you go to one thrift shop in Connecticut, make it the Ridgefield Thrift Shop!

May 12, 2021May 13, 2021/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

Every once in a great while, you have an extraordinary thrifting experience. I am thrilled to share this one with you. I was completely blown away by the Ridgefield Thrift Shop. Not just by the shop itself, but also by the volunteers who devote their time there. Patricia Hellman, President of the Ridgefield Thrift Shop gave me a tour of the thrift shop. I also had the pleasure of meeting some of the amazing volunteers and see how passionate they are about their work.

Let’s talk about the shop. We are talking 5,000 square feet of retail space PLUS an additional 5,00 square feet of storage in the basement. The selection is abundant. Some of the designers I came across in the store were Tory Burch, Dooney & Burke, Trina Turk, Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, Badgley Mischka, Ralph Lauren, Coach, and too many more to list. I saw Manolo Blahniks flats that were in very good condition and were priced at $20.00. There was an abundance of Vera Bradley totes – all sizes and colors and it was just in time for Mother’s Day. Everything I looked at throughout the store was in pristine condition. The displays throughout the store are stunning and show all the hard work and dedication of the volunteers. Even the dressing room is gorgeous!

The most remarkable thing about the Ridgefield Thrift Shop is the prices – absolutely ridiculous (in a great way) and I still can’t believe how affordable everything is. Inventory flies off the racks at these prices and they are constantly restocking.

They have an extraordinary book section that is looked after by a former librarian. All the housewares, giftware, decor – phenomenal. Getting your first apartment, having a dinner party, looking for a unique gift for friend or family, this could be one-stop shopping for you. There was a stunning Lenox china set on sale for $250.00. That is a fraction of what it would cost in any high end department store. The Ridgefield Thrift Shop also carries mens and kids clothes, and lots of toys and games.

I took a few pictures and I hope they tell the story better than I do!

Another reason why I love the RTS is for what they do for the community. In 2020 alone they gave out 90 grants to worthy charities and those grants totaled $750,000.

As they say, it takes a village. Pre-COVID, they had over 100 volunteers donating their time to keep this shop in such impeccable condition. They are now at twenty and climbing every week.

Patricia Hellman (second from left) and some of the exceptional volunteers

I am forever in love with the Ridgefield Thrift Shop and once you visit, I know that you will be too!

Right now the Ridgefield Thrift Shop is open two days a week. Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12 – 4. Fingers crossed that they add another day soon! Don’t be surprised if there is a line when you get there at 12, all the locals of very well aware of this gem. Top quality name brands with these prices is well worth the trip to Ridgefield, CT.

Ridgefield Thrift Shop

21 Governor St, Ridgefield, CT 06877

Phone 203.438.3328

Until next time, Happy Shopping!!!

When this is all over, there will be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (or two) for thrifters.

May 1, 2020/ToniOnThrifting.com/1 Comment

I hope that this finds everyone safe and well during this unprecedented time in our lives.

I think there is a pot of gold (or two or three or more) waiting for us thrifters when the thrift shops start opening up again. But caution and patience will be the key.

Everyone has been home for weeks now and most of us have been cleaning out our drawers, closets, attics, storage and more. The trunk of my car has at least eight shopping bags waiting to be dropped off plus lots of home decor. I think the abundance of donations is going to be amazing and there will some outstanding scores for all of us thrifters. But you must exercise caution and patience when you do start thrift shopping again.

Depending on your level of comfort will decide when you start visiting thrift shops after they reopen your area to businesses. I personally will wait a couple of weeks before I start shopping. But I will arm myself with large plastic bags to put the clothes in before they go in my car. It would also be a good idea to spray with disinfectant before you put the items in your car (depending on the fabrics of course). You must also make sure that everything is washed as soon as possible. Better to be safe than sorry.

Let’s be positive, there will be deals to be had so make sure you have your comfortable thrift shopping clothes on! It will be the best thrifting that we have seen in years. Depending on the amounts of donations, this windfall could last a few months.

I think that thrifting is going to surge as the economy may be rough for a while. People have lost their jobs and have to clothes themselves, their partners and children. I believe that people will be more open to thrifting than in the past. And we all know, once you step in the thrift shop, it can be love at first sight —- and you just keep going back. The thrill of the exceptional find.

People are also more earth conscious as well and I hope that that makes a difference. As it stands, 84 percent of all unwanted clothes end up in landfills, according to Newsweek.

Pricing may be different when the stores open depending on the thrift store or charity and the amount of donations they have in stock.

I am finding that some thrift stores use comparable pricing to EBay while other shops price to empty the shelves/racks. Either way; you are helping some GREAT charities and small business owners not to mention helping the planet by not having clothes end up in landfills. It is a win-win.

I wish you happy and exciting thrift shop adventures when the stores reopen. Stay well and healthy and make sure you practice social distancing.

Look for the rainbows and the pots of gold, I promise, they will be there waiting for you.

Toni from TonionThrifting

P.S. Thanks Alice for the great pictures of the double rainbow! xoxo

Nothing Be Lost Thrift and Antique Store. A great morning in Garrison, New York

September 2, 2019/ToniOnThrifting.com/Leave a comment

Sometimes you just walk through the door of a thrift shop and you know it is just going to a wonderful and memorable visit. The Nothing Be Lost Thrift and Antique store is just that and one not to be missed. It is magical just browsing around. Located in one of the oldest buildings (built in 1916) on the grounds of Graymoor in Garrison, New York. It across from St. Christopher’s Inn which is a temporary homeless shelter dedicated to the rehabilitation of men in crisis. The proceeds from the store are used to help support St. Christopher’s Inn and its residents. The residents also work at the thrift shop in many different capacities and are clearly a big part of the success of the thrift shop. Exceptionally helpful and polite, it was a joy to be there.

The shop is just fascinating with its wood beams, stone walls and hanging lights all over. You can spend a couple of hours browsing the merchandise on all four floors. They have an eclectic mix of new and antique merchandise. Clothing, shoes, furniture, household, you name it, they have it and plenty of it. I found a beautiful sundress for $8.00 and a few other pieces of summer clothing that were in pristine condition and worth every penny. The prices were more than reasonable and I was quite thrilled with my haul.

And even though I went in warm weather, I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the Christmas shop in the basement. It just transported you to December (which isn’t such a bad thing given this rather hot summer).

It is very hard to describe my visit there – I had an instant connection . It is more than the merchandise – it is the vibe you get while shopping. This shop is a place where pheneomenal things are being done to help others and you get to help by shopping or donating. A lot of this has to do with Dorothy Killen, the coordinator. I spoke to Dorothy briefly and she is as humble as she is sweet. She told me that she absolutely loves getting up every morning to come to the shop. It is quite obvious that she loves what she does and it shows throughout the shop and how she treats everyone she comes in contact with, myself included. She is one special lady. And this is one thrift shop that catapulted to the top of my list of favorite thrift shopping adventures.

Need I say more, go experience it yourself …..

That Nothing Be Lost Thrift & Antique Shop

16 Franciscan Way

Garrison, NY 10524

(845) 424-3635

Website: stchristophersinn-graymoor.org

The shop is open Tuesday through Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Donations for the Thrift & Antique Shop are accepted Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 until 3:00 PM ONLY. To make your donation process go smoothly, here are some tips for checking the items you plan to donate:

Check your items before donating to make sure all are items you want to give to the Thrift Shop.
Check pockets of clothing for jewelry, money and any other items, and remove them before donating.
Separate clothing into separate bags/boxes from the household items.
Check to ensure that items you are donating are not soiled, stained or ripped.
Test electrical equipment and battery-operated items to make sure they work.
Include all pieces and parts to games, toys and household appliances.

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

ToniOnThrifting