Finding Great Bargains in Southbury

Looking for some good bargains in Southbury? And who doesn't need a good bargain these days? You don't have to look much farther than Southbury's three well known thrift stores. You can find amazing things and help to benefit a local cause at the same time.

The Southbury Community Thrift Shop, 88 Main Street, (across the parking lot from Leo's Restaurant), The Southbury Training School Thrift Shop and Thrift Shop Too— both on Route 172 on the school's property — and the Church of the Epiphany "Upper Room Thrift Shop" on Southbury's Main Street offer an incredible range of clothing, housewares, furniture, and anything else you can imagine.

Carol Grimes, Manager of the Training School's two thrift shops, said that all proceeds from sales goes into a separate account used only for things that the 450 clients need or want.

"We have strict guidelines on what we can buy," said Grimes. "We purchased furniture and window treatments for some of the cottages. We sent a client to Florida to visit his parents when he couldn't afford the plane ticket, bought arts and crafts supplies, and sometimes help buy tickets for recreational events, sporting events, and even supplies for parties."

The original thrift shop started in the 70's, according to Grimes, and then about 13 years ago the second location opened so they could sell furniture and larger items. The store that contains clothing is in a quaint old house with colorful, attractive displays of clothing and accessories. Except for the fact that the clothes don't have original price tags on them, it's rather like shopping in a chic boutique.

Thrift Shop Too is a different story. It is divided into two large rooms -- one is stacked to the rafters with toys, baskets, books, records, kitchenware and many, many others things, some of which are hard to identify. Items in this room seem to average about $1 whether it is a kitchen item, a handful of toys, or, in my case, a new pair of shoes still in the box.

In the next room things are a bit different. Furniture, glassware, linens, and decorative items are displayed carefully and prices range accordingly. You might spend $15 on a chair or $200 on a couch and the inventory changes just about every day.

There are about 85 volunteers working there, and new merchandise is rotated through a large "donation center" and into the appropriate rooms on a constant basis.

Although there is a large volunteer staff, Grimes said she is always looking for new people. One of the services her store offers is pick-up of furniture at no charge. Everything else is delivered. People learn about the store by word-of-mouth, most of them from Heritage Village and Southbury, she said.

"It's a win-win situation. It's good for people who donate and those who buy," Grimes added. The two thrift stores make a total of about $250,000 each year.

The Southbury Training School Thrift Store and Thrift Store Too are both open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Southbury Community Thrift Shop is quite a bit smaller, but also well stocked with just about anything you might need to set up a home — plus high quality women's clothing.

Manager Susan McNeil said that everything comes into a donation center, is priced, and by the time it gets to the floor it's been scrutinized by at least three people.

"We want things to be quality," she said, "and we are very fortunate that the socioeconomic status of Southbury allows us to get things that are unique and expensive.

"We get a lot of donations from Heritage Village," she said, "and we do a huge business with relatives who are cleaning out condos after a family member is deceased.

Donations vary from day to day and are as unpredictable as the customers, said McNeil.

"Many people use us as a way of stripping down, doing their spring cleaning," said McNeil.  "It's really random and that's fascinating. It's a little like Christmas every day."

"Part of the fun of this job is getting a window into people's lives," she said.  "It can be a fascinating study of the human condition and we receive interesting things from people's travels. Once we got an ice bucket made out of an elephant's foot which we sold on eBay for $350."

According to McNeil, people are relying on consignment shops more and more; there is less of a need to pay for new jeans when there are so many available for cheap in the thrifts stores.

All the profits from this store — about $168,000 last year — go to help support Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury. They maintain offices in Waterbury, a safe house for women and children, and a site for counseling services in Southbury.

"Safe Haven works with people who are victims of domestic abuse or sexual abuse," said McNeil. "They help them through the legal system or getting restraining orders."

Although people may think domestic abuse only happens "elsewhere" it can be in Southbury as well as any other town, McNeil said. One of her favorite things, she added, is when Safe Haven clients come in to get what they need to start a new life, apart from their abuser. They are allowed to take whatever they need, at no cost, and they get lots of help picking and choosing with eager volunteers.

Approximately 45-50 volunteers, mostly from Southbury, give their time to the shop. "You'll never find people with a stronger work ethic," McNeil said. "You have to be a special breed of person to volunteer."

Part of this year's plan to raise more to support Safe Haven is an art auction that will be hosted by The Heart at Southbury, 655 Main Street South. Artists are invited to submit work and selected artists can exhibit up to four pieces. If work sells, then 25 percent will be donated to Safe Haven. The event is planned for Friday, November 12 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

"We're trying to keep a high standard for this event, as well as for the shop," said McNeil. "It will be a gala event, with $50 tickets per person, and I plan to find my dress here."

The Southbury Community Thrift Shop is open six days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sundays. If you'd like more information about the shop or the art show, call 203-267-5727.

Southbury's third location, the Upper Room Thrift Store at the Church of the Epiphany on Main Street, offers primarily clothing and housewares. The proceeds go to benefit outreach projects of the church. Hours are Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.