Pensacola Independent News

A&E | Vol. 33, No. 5, July 8, 2010
(Where Is Bud Billings' Money?)
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Good Will Hunting

by Hana Frenette

A Guide to the Best Thrift Stores Within a Hundred Miles

Nothing says summer like a four-hour-long road trip around the tri-county area in search of the best thrift stores in the panhandle.

The roadside watermelon stands and boiled peanut tents blend the Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa county lines together into one inexpensive thrifting mecca that can be easily traveled and enjoyed in a day.

I am admittedly a thriftaholic and have been to hundreds of thrift stores. I've weeded out the ones not worth stopping at, or the ones you probably already know about like Goodwill and Waterfront Mission. Instead, I put together a list of less visited places.

You can stop by one or two when you have the time, or you can make a day out of it and hit them all in a big loop starting out in Pensacola, going out toward Pace and Jay, coming down through Crestview and Niceville, through Fort Walton and then back to Pensacola again.

The loop takes about three and a half hours to drive, not including all the stops. I like to refer to it as the "ring of fire," not because Johnny Cash sang about it, but because many of the thrift stores don't have air conditioning, and by the end of the trip you'll start to feel like you've shared a sauna with the devil for a day.

The best deals are in the summer though, so it's worth the sweat.

Hope Charities
3427 W. Cervantes St.
Pensacola, FL 32505
435-4885

Hope Charities will test your ability to endure heat and your tolerance of sifting through clothing in pursuit of a deal. The store is inside a warehouse on Cervantes and is notoriously hot. However, they usually have a deal on clothes. A recent special, for example, was "a bag for a quarter." Although it's pretty rundown inside, Hope Charities comes across some amazing items. The last time I was there, they had an original framed print from the 1880s, a set of canary yellow art deco lamps, and several mink coats. Occasionally, they can get a little pricey, but some of the items would cost five times as much in an antique store. You can't beat the cheapness of the clothing, though.

Back in Time Thrift Store
3716 W. Navy Blvd.
Pensacola, FL 32507
456-4843

Back in Time sells predominantly vintage clothing and is slightly more expensive than the average thrift store. However, most thrift stores are filled with ratty t-shirts and oversized nightgowns that you have to sift through in order to find the good stuff. Not the case here. Almost all of Back in Time's merchandise consists of the good stuff. The owner is very helpful and reasonable. Ask her about the 10 percent student discount.

St. Vincent De Paul Charity Thrift Store
2200 W. Desoto St.
Pensacola, FL 32505
434-6615
and
3832 N. Ninth Ave.
Pensacola, FL 32503
434-1456

There are two St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Stores in Pensacola. Some people think the one on Desoto is better because it is less picked over, and some think the one on Ninth Avenue is better because they say it receives better donations. Decide for yourself. Both usually have a fairly cheap selection of clothing, jewelry and books.

Helping Hand
4686 Highway 90
Milton, FL 32571
994-9813

Helping Hand always has a plethora of shabby chic items. Vintage floral tea cup sets, gingham-checked napkins, vintage rocking chairs -- everything your stylish grandmother couldn't find room for seems to have made its way here. The clothing selection is hit or miss, although they do keep a rack of 80s prom dresses on hand at all times, as well as several blazers and western shirts.

Elusive No-Name Thrift House
Florida Road 4
Jay, FL 32565

This thrift store has no name. I don't even know if it has an address. What it does have might be the cheapest selection of interesting items I have ever seen. This thrift store is in a house, on the left of Highway 4 in Jay, if you are coming from Pensacola. It is right before you get to the center of Jay. I think there might be a sign hanging on the door that says "Thrift Store." It is a dark, old wooden house with a big warehouse door on the side. The hours vary, but I think it'd be a safe bet to go in the middle of the week, in the middle of the day. The first time I stopped by, I bought several vintage western shirts, a few dresses, a long tweed winter coat, a couple of sweaters, and a pair of red cowboy boots, and it was under $5. Although the place is elusive and technically a house, it might be the best thrift store I've come across yet.

Bargain Box
107 S. Partin Drive
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 729-2819

The Bargain Box is extremely cheap. You'll have to dig to find something good, but when you do, it won't cost much. They usually have specials on certain colored tags or on a specific item, like sweaters or shoes. Their shoe selection is usually pretty decent, and I always see a Lacoste sweater or two.

Books N More
703 John Sims Parkway
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 678-8585

Books N More is a used book and record shop. They have far more books than records, but what records they do have are good. They have a record section of popular artists like Elvis, The Beatles and Bob Dylan that can get pretty pricey, but they also have a room in the back of records that are pretty cheap and just as good if you really look. The books are cheaper than Barnes and Noble but more expensive than Goodwill. However, the books are organized well, and there is a better selection. There are a few shelves that consist entirely of rare and antique books. This section is often priced in the double digits but is still fun to look through.

Marilyn and Co.
169 Eglin Parkway
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 243-4991

Marilyn and Co. is more of a reduced-price antique store than a thrift store. Marilyn and Co. usually carries lots of books and old photo albums, as well as jewelry and knick-knacks. If you look hard enough though, some lower-ticket items can be found, like antique postcards and costume jewelry. Marilyn and Co. is located next door to a vintage jewelry shop called Fran's that's also worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood.

S.O.C.K.S.
498 Carmel Drive
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 863-8999

S.O.C.K.S. stands for "save our cats and kittens" and the store donates all of its profits to a cat shelter next door. S.O.C.K.S has the usual thrift store items including clothes, home decor, records and books -- all reasonably priced. Usually the older, weather-beaten items are arranged outside, like lawn ornaments, antique class bottles, trunks, etc. I got several antique wine bottles for a dime and would have taken home an old train trunk had it fit in my car.
Side note: Make sure to clean out your car prior to a visit to S.O.C.K.S. They're likely to have several large, tempting pieces of vintage furniture.

Indoor Flea Market
125 Eglin Parkway SE
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 301-3729

One could easily spend several hours looking through the 70-plus booths literally dripping with items. Jewelry, records, vintage clothing, 1920s yearbooks, old versions of Monopoly, comics, antique baby carriages, stuffed buffalo heads -- you name it, they probably have five of it. The prices are a little bit higher but still reasonable and cheaper than an antique store. The IFM of Fort Walton is one of the best collections of unique items I have ever seen and always seems to produce a gift for the person who thinks they have everything.

Waterfront Mission
110 Hollywood Blvd.
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
(850) 244-2726

Although I've excluded the chain thrift stores from this guide, I felt the need to mention the Waterfront Mission in Fort Walton Beach. I'm not sure if I have ever walked out empty-handed. They always have a ton of everything, and even though it's a corporation, the prices are still pretty cheap. It must just be the demographic that donates, but they always seem to have something you can't live without.

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Good Will Hunting