To spend less, take a trip through time – The Independent Florida Alligator: Outdoors
Out with the new, and in with the old. every day, it seems thatthrift stores are becoming a more avant-garde venue for shopping.And here in Gainesville, students and residents alike are lucky tohave access to stores beyond the common man’s Goodwill. In fact,we’d go so far as to say Gainesville’s got a vintage selectionthat’s the Rolls-Royce of second-hand-shop selections. Peruse themerchandise at these retailers and you’ll be sure to snatch a findthat’s one-of-a-kind. After all, one man’s trash is another man’streasure.
Loop de Loop
Created by a mother-daughter duo, this extraordinary shop openedits doors in February 2003. The mother, the late Roberta Kline, wasthe first female mayor of Gainesville. Different from other vintageboutiques, it’s also a gift shop offering art, trinkets, comics,vinyl records and handmade crafts. “Most people come for the gifts.many of the things here are one of a kind from their era,” saidemployee Perry Der. with reasonable prices on rare finds, this shopis definitely a Gainesville gem with items that allow customers torelive their childhoods and help them recall simpler times.
Cecile’s Consignment Shop
This is the supermarket of Gainesville thrift stores. But insteadof free food samples at the front of the store, there are stands ofreasonably priced vintage jewelry. Vintage and antique pieces arelabeled, making it easy to spot items for sale. From clothes andpurses, to furniture and houseware, to collectables andknickknacks, Cecile’s has it all. “I don’t think there’s anything Idon’t have here,” said owner Cendra Gier, “except electronicsbecause I can’t guarantee them.”
Flashbacks
With a name like Flashbacks, one would expect stepping into thestore to be like stepping into a time machine. In 1985, when thestore opened, its inventory contained more vintage pieces thantoday. But as time passed, that changed. Today, while the shopstill sells blast-from-the past clothing, it’s also a consignmentshop. “At the end of the semester, everyone comes here to selltheir clothes,” said the owner’s daughter, Tatum Nichtberger.
Persona
In the heart of downtown Gainesville, this little vintage boutiquepacks a big punch. Downstairs, one can find a myriad of vintagepieces and new items, and upstairs, there’s a plethora ofcollectibles to choose from. Persona offers costume rental forevents — something other local vintage shops don’t seem to have.“We also work a lot with local artists,” said owner NavaOttenberg. her design collection, Sleepwalk, is sewn locally and sold in the shop. But be prepared to drop some cash. The items arecertainly unique, which might justify the higher price tags. Butrest assured: There will be no “who wore it best.” Your hard-earnedcash will go toward an outfit that is exclusively yours, provingyou to be one of a kind.
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