Friday, August 5, 2011

I Know About Your Thrift Shop Dreams. Yes, I Do.

I can read your mind. You dream of having a thrifty retail space to call your own. There are shelves and shelves of vintage records and books. The sweet combination of pastries of coffee fill the air as you shop because this is a combination book store, thrift store, and coffee shop!


Not your dream? Well, it's mine. Sometimes when I'm at the office writing search engine optimized copy, out of the blue I'll start to vividly imagine a brick and mortar Thrift Core Shop.


The Thrift Core Brick and Mortar shop has a split personality. It's part studious, quiet, academic book store. The claustrophobic shelves full of books embrace you as you hunt for the perfect tome. It's a cozy spot where you can sit, read, and drink your favorite caffeinated beverage from the cafe. One of the friendly green-eyed spotted shop cats may approach you as you sit, but they'll only hop on your lap if you want them to.


The other half is a thrift store, replete with retina-searingly bright and campy kitschy items, vintage treasures for your home, and vintage duds for every taste, shape and gender.


Twice a month I showcase colorful art from local artists; there is an eclectic mix of styles and subjects. It's a stimulating space, and in the thrift store section there are a few more inviting chairs and tables where you can sketch up some ideas. You'll want to after being inspired by all the vintage treasures.


It's a dream, so there's so worry about the paperwork hell, taxes, and the stress that comes with owning a Brick and Mortar shop. There's just a creative, inviting space: combination book store, record store, thrift shop, art gallery, and cafe with the best qualities of each.

Would you come visit the Thrift Core shop?
What are your Thrift Shop Dreams?

[Photos are of my favorite spots in town: 5 Points Coffee and Spice,  Budget Records (St. Augustine), Chamblins Book Mine, 5 Points Antiques, & New Broadway Square. Check them out if you're in town!]
Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.
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30 comments:

  1. NellyAugust 5, 2011 at 8:34 AM

    I would visit and spend I dream I am at thrift shops love those dreams.
    Id love a vintage dress come junk shop maybe with a vintage teashop or 50s style cafe on the side.

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  2. AnonymousAugust 5, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    Yes. Let's do it together. But you'll have to come to Ohio. My neighborhood is the PERFECT spot.

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  3. VanessaAugust 5, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    Nelly: A combo vintage dress store/cute tea shop would be dreamy!

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  4. VanessaAugust 5, 2011 at 8:51 AM

    Fenn: Who knows, maybe one day! You'd be good at it with your good eye/stylist skills. We could put a photography studio in there, too. Ah, to dream!

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  5. KatieAugust 5, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    Oh yes, sometimes I dream about my handmade/vintage/cafe brick and mortar in broad daylight. Who can blame us?? :)

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  6. Brian (Cool & Collected)August 5, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    I would shop there every day! I honestly don't know why this hasn't been done before. As the used book stores dry up, the local thrift shops have started to take on a lot more books than they ever had before. Unfortunately, most of the shops smell like gym locker rooms, so if you're going to serve food, that needs to be addressed first. ;)

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  7. VanessaAugust 5, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    Katie: Oh, that's right, it's a handmade shop, too! :)

    Brian: It would have to be big a space with the cafe away from the books like our local Chamblins Uptown (replete with cafe) to take care of that issue!

    Oh, and I almost forgot, there would be many robots and dinosaurs! (Many!)

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  8. LeeAugust 5, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Yup it would have to smell good..that's where the fresh baking and coffee comes in. Nice bright space, funky colors..cozy seats in corners. I would like to include local artisans to have a small space to sell their stuff too. It would be best if I had money and this was just for fun! There would be plants and possibly a veggie seed swap in the spring....and cool music playing..maybe someone with a guitar!!! Ahhhhh

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  9. VanessaAugust 5, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    Lee: Plants, seed, veggies, and guitars too! How could I forget these important ingredients ;)?!

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  10. Jackie JardineAugust 5, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    I sure would visit! That sounds lovely. Some friends of mine were tossing around the idea of opening a cafe, but we then had an idea of turning it into a place with a lived-in feel...via the thrift. Decorated and furnished entirely by the thrift...as sort of an interactive thrift museum. We'd love to get that up and running.

    <3Jackie @ Let's Go Thrifting!
    http://LetsGoThrifting.blogspot.com

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  11. osovictoriaAugust 5, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    What a wonderful dream! Mine is to live in a trailer or camper traveling around the country...hmmm what could I sell, I suppose if I had a large storage unit on top I could haul stuff with me.

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  12. VanessaAugust 5, 2011 at 12:32 PM

    Jackie: That sounds beautiful! That reminds me of the vibe of my favorite cafe (pictured in this post, the colorful chalkboard). It's lived in with thrifted furniture and plenty of tables for us crafty types to come and work. I love it.

    Victoria: So many of us are dreaming of a thrifting road trip, maybe one day I'll land a sponsorship and drag some of you guys along!

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  13. Jolene@JoRetroAugust 5, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    Va, this would be the perfect store! I imagine all of the same things you listed, plus a big-sreen on one wall showing vintage movies. Music would be important. Different days you could feature 50's, 60's, and 70's hits, rock, country...the list goes on and on. Finding the perfect building in a cool town with plenty of parking and a loft apartment above would be so sweet! I'd have crafting parties too, where you repurposed vintage items...

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  14. VanessaAugust 5, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    Jolene: That reminds me a nearby bar that has two big screens where they show retro movies/commercials...and they have a loft, too ;) That would be lovely, it's so fun to dream.

    I love to think of opening an outdoor theater in the area where you watch flicks like "Jaws" or 70s Grindhouse in the pool...or a normal drive-through. I miss drive-throughs!

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  15. lost property vintageAugust 5, 2011 at 4:38 PM

    This sounds perfect - count me in as a customer!

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  16. JunkStuffTreasuresAugust 5, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    I would visit, read, shop, sip coffee, enjoy your shop! A great dream- hope it comes true for you!

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  17. Jacqueline LeeAugust 5, 2011 at 10:25 PM

    HELL YEAH I WOULD!!! =) And I love it like home!

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  18. Gypsy SparrowAugust 5, 2011 at 11:43 PM

    My friend Kristina and I want to open a craft store/ cupcake cafe. (Now of course I would be dragging in thritfy items and upcycles.) Tea, coffee, cupcakes, handmade crafty awesomeness and upcycled decor... oh yeah :)

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  19. monogirlAugust 6, 2011 at 12:07 AM

    Oh yes, the Vinyl Whores and I have the same dream. Clothes and housewares for me, records and books for Garth and a cafe for Dan. Ours will also include an after dark performance space!

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  20. Holyoke HomeAugust 6, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    Bobafet!!!!!!

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  21. LeeAugust 6, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    CUPCAKES!!! YESSSSSS!

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  22. Trina M CurranAugust 6, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    Oh, yes! I would come visit! I would love to sit in there with coffee, a kitty in my lap, and a vintage BHG cookbook. :) And then I would shop for fun things for my home. Love this!

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  23. Viking TranslationsAugust 7, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    I am already there in my mind! Love your idea :-)

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  24. BridgetAugust 7, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    Oh yes, I have these dreams too!

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  25. angelikaAugust 8, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    oh my gosh i would so come visit. i would work for you, even. this is thrift nirvana.

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  26. Erin + JeannineAugust 8, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    crap, you did read our minds! we are on the hunt now for a rental space. too bad they are ridiculously expensive. we hope for our and your dream to come true :) don't give up on it

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  27. VanessaAugust 8, 2011 at 9:12 AM

    Jackie: Yep, that's how I'd like it to feel, homey and comfortable ;)

    Sparrow's Nest: How could I forget cupcakes?! They're another important part of the formula, but I'll have friends who like baking supply them. I don't bake!

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  28. VanessaAugust 8, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    Monogirl: Opening our dream stores as a group would work best. So ideally one could run the vintage operations, another the cafe, etc.

    Holyoke: Yes indeed, we're Star Wars nerds over here :)

    Angelika: I hope you mean that, if this dream comes true I would need all the help I could get ;)

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  29. Sarah RuthlessAugust 30, 2011 at 8:38 AM

    That would be sooo rad! There are very few quality coffee nooks, vintage book/record shops, or quality antiques shops in town, let alone close enough together to enjoy in an afternoon. I think something like that would do really well.

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  30. LyndsayOctober 23, 2013 at 1:34 PM

    I dream of the same kind of shop - thrift, coffee, books, and acoustic cafe. Ahh, one day!

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I love reading your comments. Thank you for adding to the discussion! I always reply to any and all questions.

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