Et-Cetera Gift & Thrift Shop

This is my favorite second hand store for sure! You never know what you'll find as merchandise is all donated but you can be sure the prices will be low. It's fun to browse - and some days you get lucky and find a new coat with tags still on or a nice lamp for your night stand. The staff is kind and there's a great coffee shop down the block to grab a drink before you head home.

This is a lovely little thrift store. They have a very nice selection of items. The really neat thing is that when they have higher end items come in, or handcrafted items like a quilt or crocheted lace tablecloth, they have a silent auction method. You are assigned a bid number, and there is a book with the item listed on a page. You write in your bid with your bidder number. When seven days have passed since the last bid, the high bidder wins. I was able to purchase a lovely, hand quilted quilt at a very reasonable price this way. The staff is extremely nice, too.

Et Cetera is a second hand shop that sells a few new items, such as crafts by refugees or other "challenged" minorities, in order to support them in their homes, schools, and livelihoods. A lot of merchandise is boring. But there are also a number of real treasures here. Being close to Concordia University, they always have Christian books. Kids' toys and games are towards the back. Don't forget to go downstairs for larger items.

Prices are generally good, but the organization of products could be much better. The items that are displayed are often outdated (outfits, VHS, books...). A focus on more popular items would probably draw more business and get eyes off of the grungy vibe of the building.