ToniOnThrifting

Hello and welcome back! Thank you for the positive comments, I sincerely appreciate it.

I will start today with some tidbits and then on to my two of my favorite thrift stores (although small) in the Bronx. The best part is that they are on scenic City Island. More on that later.

I also enjoy running and whenever I am at a run/race in Central Park, I always try to follow the “unwritten” rules of the run. Practical sense things like don’t run with your elbows out, if you take cup of water from a volunteer – be careful where you discard it so another runner does not slip on it or get doused. I will share with you what I feel are the “unwritten” rules/guidelines of thrift shopping. And of course, these are just my opinions but they have always led to better shopping experiences for me.

If you take something off a rack, please put it back if you are not interested in it. Most thrift stores that I have been in really do appreciate things like that. Please have patience on the checkout line, it is not the grocery store and they do not have numerous cashiers to keep things moving. I have gotten some very good advice about thrift stores off the beaten path from chit chatting on the checkout line. Be kind and courteous to everyone around you (we should be doing that anyway) because what I consider enjoyment (and also financially sound) may be an absolute necessity for someone who is in dire need of getting clothes for their kids or for someone who may need a suit/dress for a job interview. You just never know. And of course, please use your “indoor” voice if you must use your cell phone. 🙂

Don’t forget to check the racks outside the dressing rooms too. They sometimes hold gems that were not on the rack when you were looking.

One thing that I would like to mention in the smaller thrift shops that are independently operated, there may be room for bargaining at times but not always. My suggestion is that you should always be polite if you ask for a couple of dollars off on an item but please don’t try and get an item that may be worth $10 (thrift store price) for $2. It is a pet peeve I have been told on numerous occasions from staff. After a while, you will know where and when prices are negotiable.

Don’t be afraid to ask when the “fill a bag” sale is (at the smaller thrift shops). These types of sales are awesome. The Humane Society of New Rochelle (more on this shop in a later blog) had one offsite last year and I was able to fill a bag with Lands End pants, three brand new Eddie Bauer shirts and a couple of other great items for $5. You can never go wrong with one of these sales, at least in my opinion. That was my all time best fill a bag day.

The same rule goes for thrift shopping as for typical shopping. You have to ask yourself, are you going to wear it/use it? I have purchased a couple of items that were unbelievable buys but never ended up using them. No harm, no foul but why waste money, especially nowadays.

And now….drumroll… two of my favorite thrift shops in the Bronx:

St. Mary’s Star of the Sea (go through the side to the rear, door has sign on it)

590 City Island Ave.

Bronx, NY 10464

718-885-1440

Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am until 3 pm

This is a smaller thrift shop but I love it for the prices and especially for the staff. They are amazing, kind and helpful. The prices are incredibly reasonable, the selection most days is good and the housewares section is very small but I found two great extra-large glasses that I can use for desserts for $2 each. They have a decent men’s selection too. There is always a steady crowd and when inventory is at max, good selections. You can even grab a cup of coffee and donate to the coffee fund jar which is neat. What they do have is a great fill a bag sale occasionally – and they do let you fill the bag — I will always post when I know the dates.

Budget Corner at Grace Episcopal Church (side entrance, you will see the signs)

116 City Island Ave.

Bronx, New York 10464

718-885-1080

1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of the month and some Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm

(I would call first just in case for Saturdays and when you go there you can grab a Saturday schedule. I will also post one when I get it.)

This is another small thrift shop that is good because there seems to be a lot of turnover with the clothes and they seem to have new inventory almost every trip. There is a lot of foot traffic in this store. The housewares section is okay at best. They have a decent men’s section with casual clothes. The women’s section is a bit more extensive (dresses, skirts, blouses) and they have some kids clothes. There are a lot of shirts and jeans on the shelves so don’t pass them up. They occasionally have the fill a bag sale but very far and few between. Just a PSA for my peeps — this is one of those places were negotiating prices might be a bit tough. 🙂

So until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!