Sussex thrift shops: You’ll never know what you’ll find

At some point in our lives, most of us have perused the shelves of a thrift shop.

As a young man growing up on the other side of the county, I was a frequent visitor to the Curiosity Shop. The fact that my grandmother, Mable Deakyne, worked there after retiring from the city was an asset. She gave me a heads up when something special came into the store.

At the time, I was collecting old cameras and was able to purchase dozens of them, usually for less than $5. Those included a lot of Kodak cameras from the early 1900s, including a large box camera I saw listed for $190 on eBay.

Fellow photographer Dan Cook has found great bargains in camera equipment over the years in Lewes area thrift shops. It’s all about timing when donated items are placed on shelves.

The Curiosity Shop (which wins the best name competition hands down) is operated by Seaford's Soroptimist Club on Middleford Road.

A win-win-win

By my count, there are about 25 thrift shops and stores in the county. Just about every town has at least one.

Thrift shops and stores are the best example of a win-win-win proposition.

First, we are able to clear our stuff out and donate it instead of throwing it away. That’s Recycling 101.

Second, people are able to find great bargains on everything from clothes to household items.

Third, the sponsors are able to use proceeds to support worthwhile community organizations, events and activities.

They are like super inside yard sales open all year. There is a big turnover of donated goods, so you never know what you will find. It's like opening a treasure chest.

Benefiting the community

I would hate to even guess how much money is generated by thrift shops.

For people with limited funds, thrift stores are a life line that allows them to provide for their families without spending a lot of money.

In a story in this newspaper about the Parish Thrift Shop in Rehoboth, the All Saints’ Church and St. George’s Chapel parish donated $200,000 in proceeds in one year to community outreach. That was one thrift shop in one year at one location; now there is a second location.

It’s safe to say that thrift stores donate more than $1 million to help worthwhile organizations each year.

The really big ones

Two of the largest thrift stores are located on opposite sides of the county: The Parish Thrift Shop on the Forgotten Mile in Rehoboth Beach and Delmarva Teen Challenge on Route 13 in Seaford.

A walk through the Parish Thrift Shop aisles is an adventure. Manager Joanna Carey told me that some people spend an entire day there. Some spend loads of money and some just look around.

The shop has the typical items you can find at most shops, but it has four old stores worth of donated goods. In fact, they get so many donations of clothing, they are not accepting anymore for the time being. All existing clothing is $1 each.

Everything from loads of glassware, kitchen items, luggage, framed artwork, books, electronic items, a room full of all types of furniture, place settings, linens, sporting goods, toys, puzzles, collectibles and TVs. If you look closely, you’ll find two pianos and a German grandfather’s clock for sale. And let’s not forget some motorcycle helmets.

If you haven't driven westward to Seaford to the Delmarva Teen Challenge Mega Thrift Store, you are missing out. The thrift shop is spread out over an entire building that used to be a grocery store.

It also is home to Smith's Cafe. What could be better? Finding a great bargain and then enjoying a homecooked meal.

Proceeds support the Delmarva Teen Challenge program for recovering male and female addicts.

Goodwill, the organization that started thrift stores, on Route 13 near Bridgeville is another shop worth checking out.

Lots of shops in area

The Lewes-Rehoboth Beach area seems to be a mecca for shops and stores:

New Life Thrift Shop, behind Jiffy Lube off Route 1, Midway

American Veterans Thrift Stores in Lewes (Route 1, Tenley’s Court) and Rehoboth (Route 24)

God’s Way, Route 1, Rehoboth

Conley’s Community Thrift Shop, Robinsonville Road, Angola

All Saint’s Parish Thrift Shop, Rehoboth Plaza and Midway

Sussex County Habitat for Humanity Restore, off Route 9 west of Lewes