2023-03-29T19:15:22-04:00

The Turnover Shop in Wilton, Connecticut – I can’t wait to go back!

March 29, 2023March 29, 2023/ToniOnThrifting.com/3 Comments

What makes The Turnover Shop different from other thrift shops is that they consign clothes as well as sell donated clothes. This makes The Turnover Shop a well-visited destination for thrift shop lovers. Located in the center of Wilton, CT, and open six days a week, Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM, it continually gains popularity and has a high turnover rate. They carry a full line of women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, shoes, antiques, housewares, games, books, jewelry, and small furnishings.

I went through racks and racks of clothing and found a beautiful sweater, jacket, and a couple of other household items, and I spent at most $30. They also happened to have a phenomenal sale, which made it easy. The shoe selection alone was too tempting, not to mention the jewelry and accessories. I know I was not alone because the store was crowded during my visit.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Sharon Sobel, the President of the Turnover Shop. She told me that what makes the Turnover Shop special is that customers who consign can donate the proceeds of their sales to a non-profit of their choice if that organization opens a consignment account to receive the funds. It is a great way to support a favorite local charity. The Turnover Shop donates proceeds from their store sales to many organizations, such as the PTA of Wilton, Visiting Nurse & Hospice, CT Humane Society, and ABC House, to name a few. All the volunteers love working at the Turnover Shop and look forward to their shifts there. I had a lovely visit with Sharon and saw the store. You can see that they have a very loyal customer base, and people are happy to shop there and are friendly with the staff.

Here is some history from their website: Founded over 75 years ago by a group of volunteers dedicated to serving the community’s needs, The Turnover has kept that tradition of service and generosity alive as we have evolved to help each generation. Our hard work reflects every lifestyle and fashion, and our current team of over 130 volunteers remains committed to the prospect of always being creative and innovative. Thousands of satisfied customers continue to validate their hard work.

A visit to the Turnover Shop should be on your must-see thrift shop list.

The Turnover Shop

98 Old Ridgefield Road

Wilton, CT 06897

Phone: 203.762.3160

Monday – Friday – 10 AM to 4 PM

Saturday – 10 AM to 1 PM

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!!

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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!!!

ToniOnThrifting