Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Things I Didn't Buy at the Thrift Store: Tampa, Florida Style

Recently I drove my friend Greg four hours south to Tampa, Florida so he could attend an important meeting. I was easily bribed; the short trip meant I could check out local vegan eats and thrift stores! Win Win!


I only came home with one find, but at least I got to stay in a cozy retro-styled hotel and explore a little of the city. Here's what I didn't buy:


The first stop was a massive local thrift store. You'd think a store this size would be a treasure trove. This store was surprisingly vintage-free and a bit junky. If there were vintage items (a couple of suitcases and chipped knick-knacks) they were too high-priced.


The aisles were wide, the shelving sturdy and the lighting bright...but I don't think I've encountered a thrift store this junky. This is coming from an experienced thrifter, flea marketer shopper, and dumpster diver!


A quick peek through a nearby Salvation Army provided more tempting bits. I have a couple of friends who would have killed to have this collector's Sanrio Clock, but I resisted and left this one behind. There's too much junk in my house and it was a bit too worn to give away as a gift.


I might regret leaving these behind already. I just already have so many sexy little tumblers like this to sell and I couldn't ID this set.


Dann my cup fetish! I pined for this pair as well, but walked away without them.


This gorgeous mod hutch was in perfect shape and had a price that reflected it! I can't bring myself to pay over $100 for used furniture these days. Not like I could fit this beauty in my car and four hours north back to Jacksonville anyway.


This would have been a gorgeous TV stand. Too bad about that price (about $150). And that it was sold. And that it wouldn't fit in my tiny car...


I'm looking forward to more Florida road trip adventures, stopping to explore good eats and thrifts along the way.

So Tell Me: What beauties have tempted you at the thrift store? What do you have trouble leaving behind?
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31 comments:

  1. That giant store with the junky shelves looks positively sad! Like the Island of Misfit Toys!! Enjoy reading your thrifting adventures. Keep them coming!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the perfect description Diane, it was a sad little store!

      Delete
  2. Boo! If I had know you were in town I could've given you a list of the nice thrift stores. The Salvation Army in Tampa are nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe you can e-mail me a list, I will inevitably visit again ;) We ate at Loving Hut, have you ever been there? That vegan chow was delish!

      Delete
    2. I've never had food there, but I do pass it one my way to and from work. Now, that I know their food is good I'll have to stop by sometime.

      For me, there are only three places that have really good items. Salvation Army being one of them. And there are others that I need to get the address for.

      They also have two nice flea markets in Bradenton. The open air market has wild Peacocks there, they are so pretty.

      Delete
    3. I've been to Red Barn in Bradenton, I'll have to check out the other one next time I'm down visiting friends. I want to see some peacocks!

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  3. Too bad Thrift Stores are overpricing so much junk...but, as long as shoppers continue to fill up their carts with broken over-priced junk, TS will continue to price stuff at "new-retail" levels.

    On a side note, a small indy TS that I frequent once-a-week has pretty decent TS prices. I don't understand WHY shoppers continue to scold the cashier about their prices being too cheap and they need to charge more!!!

    -pamela ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hate seeing odd broken stuff with expensive price tags on them. Who buys that crap? :P Luckily, there are still places to find good deals down here as well. Flea markets, some indie thrift stores...

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  4. OOooofff - I'd been hard pressed to leave the Hazel Atlas car glass or Esso promo glass behind.

    I hear ya' about the $100 or less furniture. I'm getting to the $20 or less point - there's just too much available to pay more! (Oh - and I don't NEED anything, that helps too)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah ha, so that's what it's all called. Thanks for the ID. I actually do need some more furniture but I'm patient enough to wait until I find affordable pieces.

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  5. I believe I have been to both of those thrift stores, which are very close together. I hit the Salvation Army one whenever my husband is at the VA for Doctor visits. I bought some $250 Polo low ball glasses there for a dollar apiece among other treasures, but never went back into the junky thrift store. It's privately owned and was shockingly unpleasant to shop in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, they were indeed close together. The big privately owned one had so much potential and so much square footage, too bad. Could have been a decent thrift stop, but you've described it right: shockingly unpleasant to shop in.

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  6. Omg I almost had a heart attack I thought that MCM hutch was from the Broyhill Brasilia line for $100, which can fetch thousands of dollars. But it looks like it is this:

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/101064368/kent-coffey-perspecta-like-brasilia

    Still a nice piece though! Looks like you had fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, that looks like the right ID. Might have broken my heart, too if it was from the thousand-dollar fetching line!

      Delete
  7. Did you get to check out the flea market? It's pretty decent!

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    Replies
    1. Nope! There was only enough time for the two thirft stores before we had to drive home. I'll have to look into this flea market!

      Delete
  8. Those tumblers might be Vitreon Queen's Lusterware. It seems the ones with the "fade" are often mistaken for Dorothy Thorpe. http://vintagegoodness.blogspot.com/2010/10/featured-collectible-dorothy-thorpe.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks like a perfect ID to me. Thanks! I didn't think they were Dorothy Thorpe either, but striking glasses nonetheless that would look nice listed on Etsy. I have too many glasses to list as it is, though!

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  9. I am getting really good at leaving Pyrex behind, even the pretty pieces. It just has become too common in the vintage market, I think. Now, I will still pick up any Pyrex with snowflakes on it - for my own use :-)

    BTW, lovely hutch, ugly price.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm the same with Pyrex, it's getting commonplace AND expensive at Thrift Stores. You might find some online at the same price!

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  10. I'm a sucker for "mod" vintage furniture. At 1st glance I thought that was Brasilia, too. (I prolly would have tied it to the roof of my car-lol) Altho U didn't find anything it's still fun to check out new thrifts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tying it to the roof of the car is brilliant ;) Driving four hours with it tied to the roof of the car is terrifying. That would make the four hour drive turn into 6-8 easily. But you're right, it's always fun to thrift in a new environment and explore new cities.

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  11. Just read this and had to comment on the junky thrift store! Isn't it disgusting? I take my kids thrifting with me sometimes, but I won't go near this store with them in tow...They do have 1/2 off color tags each week (which most stores around here don't do) and I've found some decent clothing to sell there, but that's about it!

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