Another closure in Renton - say goodbye to Value Village

Yet another goodbye in the Renton shopping and dining arena - Value Village will close it's doors a week from this Saturday. That's right - after 30 plus years of having a presence in our community, the thrift store will say goodbye very soon.

This particular Value Village was the first in the greater Seattle area, one of the sweet store staff told me today. That was over 30 years ago, and most members of the community have memories of coming to the store when they were kids. With the Halloween stuff already contained in a single aisle, Christmas decorations have already started to creep onto many a shelf and the common lament when the customers are told of the immanent closure is - But what about Christmas?

The store staff has been told that they can apply for a transfer and many of them have been going for interviews in Kent, Auburn and some as far as Puyallup. But like Amelia, my favorite of all staff at the store, says she will really miss the community and her customers the most. Amelia is a spreader of sunshine and smiles - so it will be a loss for all of us who look forward to be greeted by her on our visits to the store.

I will be the first to admit that I was once a completely devoted "Vee Vee" shopper, making it there a couple times a week at a minimum. I have treasures plucked from their store strewn throughout my home. The prices made it hard to consider shopping anywhere else - and I always found something in their selection to suit my fancy. But the last year, I have tapered off going. The prices rose and the sale days never held anything with the requisite tag color to make me want to continue to go. Family members even wrote as much into the company on a comments form. To no avail.

But I still would occasionally drop off my discards for donation and take a spin through the store and that is how I came to find out the news today. I am bummed - this economy just doesn't seem to be picking up as the news would have us believe. I know so many people seeking employment (including moi) and things are tight for most. Exactly the time when you need a good thrift store to help you make it through the most expensive holiday time of the year. Value Village - I will be missing you.

Value Village
1222 Bronson Way N Renton, WA
98057-5792
(425) 255-5637

Harder times call for thrifty measures

Today is .99 cent Monday at our local Value Village (commonly referred to as "V V's" or using a cool french accent and saying the name of the store). Let me be clear if you are a newbie to this; only a certain color of tag, like orange today, is on sale, and this tag system is in constant rotation. Next week it might be green or purple. If you go thrifting there often enough you can kind of predict which color has been around long enough to go on sale. It starts with the tag of choice going to 50% off from Thursday through Sunday, with Monday hitting the less than a buck status.
Thrifting is a great way to go green, to save some money, save the environment, be eclectic and unique in your fashion statement and treasure hunt for unexpected cool stuff. Problem is - you could get too much stuff. Solution is - you go home and fill the same size bag of stuff you just brought in and donate it back.

Value Village 1222 Bronson Way N. #200 (425) 255 - 5637