Sandpoint, Idaho – I have a couple of girlfriends who are super vintage clothes shoppers. When we meet for coffee, I throw envious side-eye at their newest acquisitions and wish I had their keen eye for a deal. I have always bought secondhand furniture, but I never really got into secondhand clothes.
Vintage clothes are a booming business for a couple of reasons: it has become a trendy way of showing you are environmentally aware, as it saves energy and resources. It’s essentially recycling so it’s a much more sustainable way of getting dressed than buying brand new clothes.
On a recent trip to beautiful, sunny Sandpoint I decided to check out a couple of vintage stores.
My first stop was Bizarre Bazaar (502 Church Street), an upscale resale store operated by the Community Assistance League. The League was founded in 1979 and 100 percent of the proceeds from the store go to support projects and people in Bonner County.
The store is large, well-organized and carries everything from sets of German china to toys, clothes, and jewelry. My shopping friend found a very cool vintage Swatch watch for a bargain price, and I made off with a name brand classic houndstooth blazer for $8.
Next stop was MarketPlace Antiques and Gifts (502A Church Street) which carries a huge selection of glass and cookware, jewelry, furniture, and art. We were greeted by a cheerful employee (who reminded us to check out the Pie Hut right next door for delicious pies) before we got lost in the labyrinth of things inside the store. This is more of a traditional antique mall store, with lots of good finds at all price levels.
The last stop was Foster’s Crossing (504 Oak Street) a variety store that carries everything from antiques to yarn: a whole retired railcar full yarn in all qualities, colors, and quantities. I’m not a knitter so it was easy for me to resist the calling of the skeins, but I really enjoyed the whimsical collection of handmade candles, mugs, secondhand and antique furniture. I picked up a little “Kiss the Cook” sign which made just the perfect birthday present.
I rounded the morning off with great street tacos in the shade at the Oak Street Food Court (317 Oak Street) – a wonderful way to spend a Friday morning in Sandpoint.
Photo by Ben Tobin — @capturing_spokane on Instagram.
We love road trips here at Local Treasures with Pia – please let us know if you have a good destination, big or small, in the Inland Northwest and we will check it out.
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