Looking for bargains in Birmingham
Consignment stores are often good places for bargain shoppers to find almost new items—or even vintage or collectible items—at reasonable prices. They can also offer a good way for people to make a few bucks selling items of value that they no longer need.
Consignment shops sell, in most cases, used merchandise. The person who owns the item—an article of clothing, for example—and places it in the shop for sale receives a portion of the proceeds. They also retain ownership of the item. This means they can request that the shop return it to them at any time. Consigning varies with each consignment shop, of course, so the best way to find out what stores require is to call them or visit their websites.
Virtually any type of product can be placed on consignment. For example, toys, books, and antiques are popular items in the consignment world. Of course, if you are like me, when you think consignment, you probably think first of clothing, perhaps even vintage.
The Magic City has no shortage of consignment shops. Even an avid shopper like me can’t claim to have visited all of them, at least not yet, Dress like a star: Find anything you but here’s a first installment—a quick rundown of a few Birmingham consignment shops that are definitely worth a visit.
Zoe’s Forrest Park. 3900 Clairmont Ave. South. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. (205) 595-9049. www.zoeshop.com Zoe’s is a popular vintage boutique in Forest Park Village and a haven for twenty-somethings. The shop has everything from shoes and clothes to sunglasses. On a recent visit, I found a blue nylon jacket that James Spader could have sported in Pretty In Pink for only $10. Zoe’s also has a large variety of reasonably priced vintage sunglasses. The shop has both men’s and women’s clothing. As usual, I checked the store for plus-size garments. The largest item I spotted was an extra-large, but a cashier told me that they stock what people consign and gladly put out large sizes when they have them.
Second Hand Rose. 2015 Valleydale Road, Suite 5. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (205) 987-7027. www.shrose.com Second Hand Rose is located in Pelham in a charming store that made me feel as though I was walking into an old cottage. The shop has a large selection of vintage clothing. On a recent visit, I spotted several Mod dresses and blouses that would have looked at home on London’s Carnaby Street in the 1960s. Second Hand Rose also has a large selection of shoes sorted by size.
Collage Designer Consignment. 1802 29th Ave. South, Homewood. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (205) 879-6163. 1056 and 1058 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (205) 822-3997 and (205) 822-3991. www. shopcollage.com.
Tracy Dismukes operates three consignment shops, including the two locations I visited in Vestavia, and each seems to have its own character. One of the Vestavia stores, called Plus Sizes, caters to larger women and, during my recent visit, featured a nice selection of wedding dresses and prom dresses that looked like brand-new garments.
Dismukes regularly sets up bus tours so that shoppers can easily visit several area consignment shops in one day. According to her web site, the next tour on August 7 will include such stores as Hannah Paige Children’s Wear in Irondale, Pretty Woman Consignment Boutique in Greystone and Second Hand Rose. The stores on the bus tour offer customers goodies and special discounts, and shoppers are provided with a catered lunch. To learn more, visit www. consignmentchic.com
Kidz Closet Consignment & Gifts. 640 Montgomery Hwy. Monday-Friday, 10-6 p.m. Saturday, 10-5 p.m. (205) 979-0707. www.kidzclosetonline.com This little shop in Vestavia could be just the place for parents on a budget. They have plenty of cute outfits for kids, and the sizes range from newborn to pre-teens. And after all, with your kids growing so quickly, do you really need to spend a fortune on clothes they will only wear for what seems like about five minutes? Kidz Closet has large, comfortable dressing rooms and a large collection of maternity clothes. The shop also has bracelets and other gifts for your little ones, as well as a playroom to keep the kiddies occupied while parents shop.
Having now written about area thrift and consignment stores in this space, I will venture online for an upcoming report on your options for bargain shopping on the Internet. Look for that later in June.
Melody Briscoe is a Birmingham Weekly editorial assistant. Send your comments to editor@bhamweekly.com.
Air Jordan
