15 Columbia St.

www.goodwill.org

This is by far the best Goodwill I’ve ever been to.  Why can’t they all be like this? The departments include the usuals, women’s, men’s, kids, home, shoes, and an OUTSTANDING vintage department.

SCORES: Wow, I got a lot of goods here–a vintage yellow cashmere sweater, a yellow terry cloth Nike shirt for LB, a black AE t-shirt with a silver city splashed across the front, two skirts, one linen, green with stripes of blue and purple and one black swishy skirt, and two scarfs.  All for $31.43.  Ca-ching!  I figure that while I actually spent money, the “save” was over 100 bucks.

STORY:  There is a story, a good one about me and my friend Jen having a teaching adventure, skipping out early on the LAMEST training I have ever been to as a teacher to go thrifting.  But I was a slacker and didn’t write it. It’s in my notes!  Plus, Jen deserves the story.  She’s so damn cool…

BREAKING STORY:  Destination Bangor, Maine

Hands of Hope

www.handsofhopeonline.com

A huge store with random goodness. It’s also a discount (but not thrift) furniture store.  It has an extensive home decor department so if you need, say, vases for a wedding?  This is the place. Men’s, women’s, kids, purses, shoes, books, lots to sift through.  Not much to gain, but if you’re in the area…

SCORES:  Becoming Crafty purchased some home decor to upcycle and LT purchased a hard cover book The Penobscot Man.  If I hadn’t been such a space shot, I would have purchased a butt grabber thing grabber for a buck forty-nine.

American Retro

www.amretro.com

Not really that retro.  More in style than what I would call retro.  Still, it’s a pretty great place and the customer service was top notch.  I love a helpful sales dude.  Great jeans, sweaters, shoes, and outerware.  Some of the best button down “date shirts” for boys–though not mine.  Too pastel.

SCORES:  Did anyone get anything here?  I don’t think so, but we tried on armloads.

Yankee General Store

An odd place.  Big.  It has movies and popcorn in one corner, porch chairs in another, and jean tights in yet another. Mildly entertaining , and not overly impressive. Didn’t find a thing. LT bought earrings.  I can’t really say why it’s a general store.  I think this place has a little identity issue.  Give it time, maybe?

SCORES:  Earrings