Besides poking around in grocery stores, looking for bargains and ideas, I enjoy rummaging through the racks at consignment stores – not the junky ones who sell goodwill hand-me-downs and leftover printed tee shirts from company promotions, but nice stores with quality, stylish clothing. One of our favorite such stores (Nancy likes to rummage as well) is the Hall Tree in Richmond. I have several beautiful wool sport coats from Hall Tree and some very nice dress shirts, which I hardly ever wear. But if I need them, they are in my closet.
Last week, we went to Clemmons, NC, just outside Winston Salem for the Brewer Family Reunion. I told all my cousins how nice they looked and they said the same to me, but we were all lying. We’re getting old.
Our daughter Angelin and our granddaughter Berkley were coming to the reunion, but wanted to stop at one of their favorite consignment stores first. Angelin suggested we meet them there. We did, and now we have another great destination to visit called Etc Consignment Shoppe. It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen. Everything is from top brands; many of the items had the original tags. They have a massive ladies’ department, but also a nice selection of men’s and children’s clothing, plus shoes, pocketbooks and even furniture. Everything is first class.
Etc opened in Winston in 1995 in a 3,000 square foot store. The goal was to offer reasonable prices, a clean environment, great customer service and a place where customers would enjoy shopping. Some 23 years and three expansions later Etc now boasts over16, 000 square feet. In 2014 Etc expanded by opening a retail furniture store. With over 24,000 consignors, they are able to offer a new and exciting selection of inventory every day.
Their prices are not bargain basement, but I found a fun “polo pink” cotton blazer with the tags still on for $30. I now need somebody to invite me to an occasion where I can wear my pink coat with a pair of white slacks and pretend I’m from the Hamptons. I also bought four terrific knit shirts for golf and casual wear, plus the best looking silk tie I’ve ever had.
Nancy picked up a couple items, as did Angelin and Berkley. Etc Consignment Shoppe is located at 690 Jonestown Rd., not far off Interstate 40 if you’re in that area. They are open from about 9 to 6 Monday through Saturday, closed on Sundays. The phone number is (336) 659-7786.
It’s a fun place to shop and it’s like a different store every week.