St. Vincent de Paul is practically legendary in Los Angeles for being one of--if not THE--biggest thrift shop in the city. If you're a thrift shop junkie, this place would be your playground (although I would highly suggest extreme caution when picking through the as-is pile). So what do they have? EVERYTHING. From clothes to tableware to furniture to...cars? (Yes). Furniture here takes up a good part of the floor, and I cannot stress this enough: Dirt. Cheap. A friend of mine picked up two chairs that looked like something straight from Paul McCobb's studio...for $35 a pop.
I stop into a thrift store nearly every day of my life. There have been some amazing finds in my 6 years of LA thrifting. I can tell you that in all the times I have been to St. Vincents.. after all the hype and promises.. I have never found a single thing there. It is so far out of the way and inconvenient and it is picked over by east side hipsters. I have had more luck at the little shop across the street that probably buys from St Vincent every morning.
view anyimage's profile
Some things are way overpriced (tacky plastic laminated dining table for $500? crappy old computer that doesn't work?) but there are finds to be had. Especially if what you're looking for is not "obviously" valuable to whoever's doing the pricing. We got a beautiful danish modern-type credenza in good condition for $65 and for a small extra fee, they even delivered it.
view denada's profile
a - ma - zing. but you will need to bring:
lots of imagination (so you can see that that fugly stained brown couch is actually a fabulous piece that needs to be completely overhauled by your secret resource i.e. your upholsterer), and your very best bargaining skills. the best stuff comes in on certain days and you have to be there to jump on it otherwise the melrose antique store guy will grab it up. and by grab, i mean wrestle you to the ground in a death struggle.
view abby's profile
I discovered St. Vincent's in the early 90's and it was my favorite and only thrift store before it became hip and "Best of LA" which I've bemoaned. Prices have gone up and you know that the pros get there before you do to get the good stuff. I have gone there early and bought things before they could put a price on 'em. The many things I've found there I still enjoy and were purchased for very good, true thrift-store prices. Looking on the bright side, it IS a charity so if they have pros willing to pay more, then I suppose that is a good thing.
view RJD's profile
We have two St Vincent's ("Vinnie's) way up here in rural N.Cal. Although it's not THE Vinnie's of LA fame it's still pretty amazing what you can find there. Why it seems to bring a better quality of thrift i'll never know, but I'm still glad for it. (Oh!, and they have amazing pick up service too!)
view staciaD in N.Cal's profile