Thrift stores offer good deals

Joan Grant is a regular shopper at Encore Consignment Boutique in Riverview, where she said she bought most of her favorite clothes, such as her black designer handbag.

“I always figure any fool can buy retail,” she said. “I bought this bag here, it’s a Tod’s and I don’t even remember what I paid for it, but it was a third of what I would pay (retail).”

Attracted by such attractive finds, Chattanooga-area shoppers are flocking to area secondhand stores and consignment shops.

America’s Thrift Stores President Timothy Alvis said they offer great values.

“When people think of thrift stores, they think that people who can’t afford to shop at regular stores go to thrift stores. And that’s a fallacy,” he said. “People who look for bargains come to thrift stores. ... Once you’ve got a name-brand garment and it’s in good condition, nobody knows where you got it from. All they know is that you’ve got a name-brand garment and you look good in it.”

Check out the following stores to find a treasure of your own:

America’s Thrift Stores: 6401 Lee Highway, Chattanooga, 37421

Phone: 423-485-0798

Open: Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Apple Dumplin Children’s Resale Shop: 8115 East Brainerd Road No. 14, Chattanooga, 37421

Phone: 423-892-1437

Open: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bethel Bible Village Thrift: 5135 Hixson Pike, Hixson, 37343

Phone: 423-870-9056

Open: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Encore Consignment Boutique: 1150 Hixson Pike, Chattanooga, 37405

Phone: 423-267-0130

Open: Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Glam Slam: 3973 Hixson Pike, Chattanooga, 37415

Phone: 423-265-4732

Open: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Goodwill Industries: 1966 Northpoint Blvd., Hixson, 37343

Phone: 423-877-9045

Open: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday noon-6 p.m.

Ladies of Charity of Chattanooga: 2821 Rossville Blvd., Chattanooga, 37407

Phone: 423-624-3222

Open: Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Northside Neighborhood Thrift: 211 Minor St., Chattanooga, 37405

Phone: 423-756-0530

Open: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Salvation Army Thrift Store: 4104 Ringgold Road, East Ridge, 37412

Phone: 423-867-9339

Open: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Samaritan Center: 9231 Lee Highway, Ooltewah, 37363

Phone: 423-238-7777

Open: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

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