Tag: second hand

Gabriel’s Antiques

Posted on by Matthew Green

Getting back to my series on second-hand (antiques, consignment, thrift, etc.) stores, today we pay a virtual visit to Gabriel’s Antiques (100 Main Street).

_Gabriel's façadeGabriel’s is a “generalist” antique store tending towards upscale items and prices (although according to one on-line review I read, you can negotiate the prices).  What has usually most impressed me of their inventory is the selection of beautiful paintings, often partially showcased in the front window.

The last time I was there they also had a beautiful set of china plates with images from Gloucester, and other unique marine-themed items.  Gabriel’s is definitely a place to visit if you are looking to add an elegant (and perhaps locally flavored) touch to your living space! It is open Mon-Tue/Thurs-Fri-Sat 11AM-5PM, and Sunday 1-5 (closed on Wednesday).
And practically all these Main Street shops (Main Street Arts and Antiques, Dogtown Books, Banana’s, Dress Code, etc.) are in easy walking distance of each other, so you can find a parking space somewhere in the middle and go shop hopping… And of course there are all sorts of good restaurants in between where you can stop if your shopping makes you hungry!

– Matthew Green

 

 

Dogtown Book Shop

Posted on by Matthew Green

So far, I’ve reviewed second-hand stores that were either antique stores or thrift stores, all of which carried a variety of items, even if they had their areas of greater focus.  Here’s one of our stores that specializes in only one item: books!

_Dogtown books façadeBob Ritchie, the proprietor of Dogtown Books (132 Main St.), has stocked an incredible amount of books, “used and unusual”, as the sign says. He is selective – he tries to avoid cheap mass-distribution paperbacks, for example – but even so he has books representing a wide variety of genres, periods, etc.  See for yourself:

As with the vast majority of the people I have dealt with in these stores, Bob is also a really nice person (he let me take a photo of him with Flat Stanley for the child of friends of mine in New York…), and is very competent in his field.  He has helped me find some great books, and bought some from me to resell.

So if you love books, this is a great place to go to peruse the stacks and to look for treasures in print from the past or the present. And, if you have interesting books (in good condition) that you don’t need any more, bring them in, and maybe you can help keep the shelves stocked with quality content!  It’s just a couple of doors down from Main Street Arts and Antiques, so it’s easy to visit both stores without moving your car or walking too far.

His posted hours are Monday-Saturday, 10-6, summer Sundays 1-5, with the note that “actual hours may be sooner or later”.

– Matthew Green

Previous posts in this series:

Second Glance
St. John’s Thrift Shop
The Sequined Fan
Pearl’s
Junque & Disorderly
Cape Ann Thrift Shop
Main Street Arts and Antiques

And we’re not even half-way through my list of second-hand stores to review…

Main Street Arts and Antiques

Posted on by Matthew Green

And now, after a cat post, back to our regularly scheduled programming – my series on second-hand shopping in Gloucester! Today we visit another antique store, Main Street Arts and Antiques (124 Main St.), run by GMG contributor David Cox.

_main street arts and antiques façadeThe store is open 11-5 Mon-Sat, 1-5 Sunday.  David sells a wide variety of items.  I asked him what his store has that others don’t – for what kind of item would his store be the go-to place?  His response: ephemera! Think postcards and things of that sort. I believe that genus also includes what I have seen there a few times – a significant selection of antique photos, photo albums, and scrap books, which are fascinating. They give you a glimpse into the life of a person or a family long-dead and often unidentified in the material.  For romantics like me, seeing those old photos and clippings allows you to imagine the story and background of the family, coming up with explanations for the clothing and expressions in the photos.  I bought some as a gift for my sister-in-law who enjoys vintage photos. I have to admit I wast tempted to keep some for myself…

So anyway, here are some photos of the store, to give you a better idea:

David Cox at his desk

As you can see, he has lots of different things!  He also sells prints of some of his own photos; his photographic skills are well known to regular GMG readers.

– Matthew Green

Cape Ann Thrift Shop

Posted on by Matthew Green

Earlier I mentioned that there is another Gloucester thrift shop near St. John’s Thrift Shop, and with similar hours.  It’s the Cape Ann Thrift Shop, 70 Middle St., associated with the Trinity Congregational Church.

IMG_4855It’s open Tues.-Fri. 10AM-2PM, and Sat. 10AM-12PM.  It packs a surprising amount of things into a relatively small area!  Items of all kinds can be found, with rooms dedicated to men’s clothes, women’s clothes, kitchen items, glass and china, and books (although many other items can also be found throughout the store). I didn’t notice if there was also furniture for sale, but I suspect there may be at least some.  The prices are very thrifty indeed – I got two belts and a small crock pot “dipper” (more for heating dips and sauces than for making soup), all in practically new condition, for $7.  Because of the cramped quarters, I had to take lots of photos to show the kind of inventory you can find. Here’s a slideshow:

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It’s impressive to see all that and remember that these church-affiliated thrift stores are run by volunteers, who sort, clean, categorize, and label all these things! Kudos to all the volunteers who help make these stores possible.

– Matthew Green

Junque & Disorderly

Posted on by Matthew Green

Looking back at the places I’ve reviewed so far, we have Second Glance (a little bit of every kind of item, including a significant clothes section, but more thrifty and less antiques), St. John’s Thrift Shop (also a wide variety, very affordable prices, located right in downtown Gloucester), The Sequined Fan (specializing more in exotic and beautiful items for around the house or for wearing), and Pearl’s (with more emphasis on small furniture, although also with a variety of  other items). Now, for a store that is more focused on antiques, large and small: Junque & Disorderly!

JDLocated at 57 Washington Street, this is properly an “antiques and collectibles” store, as the sign indicates.  They have a wide range of items for the household, from trinkets to furniture.  It is a large space, and a shared venue for several different dealers, so the price range varies.  I was amazed at some of the deals! If I had more space (and a little more money), I’d have walked out with a beautiful wooden set of dining room furniture, a mantle clock, etc…  They also have nice paintings and framed photos and things of that sort. I almost bought a nice reproduction of Murillo’s “Immaculate Conception” with a hand-painted (faux gilded) wooden frame, but I already have more religious images than space to show them!

Their hours are:
Mon – Tue: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

– Matthew Green

Note: I am on vacation for about 10 days. I have material for a few more posts in this series, but I probably will have to interrupt it for a few days until I get back. In the meantime I’ll share some photos from vacation!

 

Pearl’s!

Posted on by Matthew Green

Pearl’s (222 Main St., Gloucester) is the focus of the 4th installment in my series on local second-hand (thrift, antique, consignment, etc.) stores!

DSC07605Like the other stores, Pearl’s has a variety of items, including jewelry, knick-knacks, etc.  But this store has more of a focus on small furniture – shelves, tables, etc.  For instance, at my visit, they had a beautiful set of wooden nesting end tables (seen in one of the photos below), as well as many other items.

As mentioned in a previous post, Pearl’s is next door to The Sequined Fan, so it’s easy to visit both at once.  Unlike the thrift stores, neither Pearl’s nor The Sequined Fan have any significant collection of clothes, although they do have accessories.  Pearl’s is open Mon-Sat 10-5, Sunday 12-4.

– Matthew Green

Stores previously featured in this series:

Second Glance

St. John’s Thrift Shop

The Sequined Fan

 

The Sequined Fan

Posted on by Matthew Green

Continuing with my series on second-hand (thrift, consignment, antique, etc.) stores in Gloucester, I stopped in to check on The Sequined Fan on East Main Street!

DSC07604

 

While they sell some antiques, they do not identify as an “antique store”. They offer a variety of items and price ranges, aiming to have “something for everyone” (from exquisite oriental porcelain, to potholders in a “dollar bin”), with an international flavor.

My overall impression is that this is a place to go for beauty.  You can also get more utilitarian items, like the aforementioned potholders, but but the focus is more on decorative items like pictures, jewelry, lamps, throws, etc., and functional-but-beautiful items like painted tea sets, pitchers, etc.

The Sequined Fan is open Wednesday-Saturday, 10-5, and Tuesday and Sunday by chance (closed on Monday).

If you don’t have a place to put these items, you can always get some shelves or tables (as well as other items) next door at Pearls, the subject of tomorrow’s post!

– Matthew Green

St. John’s Thrift Shop

Posted on by Matthew Green

Located right in downtown Gloucester under the buildings of St. John’s Episcopal Church (48 Middle St.), and with an entrance and parking available off of Washington street (more or less across from Midori and Tedeschi), the St. John’s thrift Shop is very accessible either on foot or by car.

SJ0They are open Tuesday-Thursday, 10-2, during the summer (generally starting in May and ending in September).  Martha Whitney (in a photo below), who runs the shop, told me that they have aimed to synchronize their hours with the other thrift shop a few doors down, sponsored by the Congregational Church (to be featured here another day).  That makes it easy for someone to visit both shops in one trip.

Their inventory includes some clothes and a wide, eclectic variety of other household items, including kitchenware, books, framed pictures, clothes, blankets, etc. From my experience, prices are very, very affordable, and everything is clean and carefully selected.

I have picked up several useful items here over the past week, including a nice warm afghan, a wastepaper basket, and a corkscrew. Definitely worth checking out!

– Matthew Green

Second Glance, the biggest thrift shop in Gloucester

Posted on by Matthew Green

My first review in my series on second-hand stores in Gloucester is “Second Glance” (2 Pond Rd., Gloucester), the thrift shop of Open Door, a local hunger-relief charity.

sg1

It has a wide selection of items, including clothes, kitchen utensils, books, CD’s, toys (in small quantities, from what I’ve seen), dishes, knickknacks, furniture, etc.  It is well organized, clean, and affordably priced.

The place is often busy, so there is a fairly quick turnover of popular items. It’s worth checking back often – and if you see something you want, get it while you can!

They have ample hours, Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., both for purchasing and for donating.  Proceeds go to support the Open Door hunger relief efforts.  So whether you are looking for a useful item for your home or your wardrobe, or you have items in good condition that you want to pass on to another owner, this is a good place to go!

But just because it’s awesome, doesn’t mean it has everything all the time. The other locations I will be reviewing are well worth checking out too!

– Matthew Green