Once a year, our family of four enjoys the privilege of spending a weekend in a Summit County condo that’s practically ski-in, ski-out – great for the three downhillers in the family, who worry about how I’ll manage without them. Quite happily, thanks to the come-hither thrift shops of Summit County, where time accelerates faster than a novice skier on a double black-diamond run.
Summit County’s thrift stores and consignment shops, awash in name-brand fleece, appeal to the inner bargain hunter-gatherer in me. Let others brave the crowded parking lots and surly bargain hounds at the factory outlet stores in Silverthorne.
SUMMIT THRIFT & TREASURE
340 Fielder Ave., Dillon
970-262-2461
This cheery shop near the Dillon Marina draws everyone from snowboarders to seasonal workers, who sort through the tidy racks of clothing organized by age, gender and recreational activity. Because this store keeps an account with Frisco’s excellent Recycle Ski & Sport, it reliably stocks an outstanding assortment of clothing and outdoor gear (marginal, as well, as good pickins.)
Be picky. That Black Diamond pile jacket and shaggy Patagonia fleece sweater cost the same ($5) as the off-brand pile coat on the next hanger.
Examine the name-brand display, where prices are higher but still a bargain. A white Obermeyer child’s down jacket cost $9. Phenix ski pants were $7, as was a Patagonia vest with zippered pockets. An exuberantly colorful ski-racing suit, meant for a sleek-bodied someone indifferent to being perceived as an exhibitionist, was $22.
The brimming bookshelves contain vintage novels, travel books, cookbooks and other finds along with more modern titles. The CD rack held barrio music, rap, soundtracks and some surprises. (The Captain & Tennille? On CD? Why?)
Plenty of sturdy but inexpensive winter clothing for children, along with a fairly reliable assortment of swimsuits, make this an excellent resource for children and parents who forget or lose essential items.
RAINBOWS END
119 La Bonte, Dillon, No.210
970-262-2376
Across the parking lot from Summit Thrift & Treasure, Rainbows End is organized in the loosest sense of the word. Claustrophobically crowded with dense tiers of hangers and crammed shelves, it’s dim even on bracingly bright days.
Look for 1960s and ’70s vintage dresses and shirts in those lurid hues and patterns so popular on school campuses.
Surprises include a treasure- trove of killer Mardi Gras beads (most less than $1 a strand), quite au courant among middle and high school students still showing their support for relocated Hurricane Katrina families.
RECYCLE SKI & SPORT
842 Summit Blvd. (in the Safeway/Wal-Mart complex), Frisco
970-668-5150
Technically more of a consignment store than a thrift shop, this pleasant storefront offers skis, bicycles, skates, hiking boots, bicycle helmets and other gear, along with excellent recreational clothing.
A sleek ski racer’s shirt cost $15, far less than retail price. Sunglasses go as low as $1 per pair. Gloves, scarves and socks stuff cardboard boxes next to a racks of children’s winter outdoor clothing. The adult-size racks offer brand-name and resort-logo gear, including staff ski-patrol jackets designed for maximum warmth and efficiency.
A circular rack in back holds stunning deals, with T-shirts, sweaters, pants, vests and jackets in novel sizes and hues.
RAGS TO RICHES
202 Main St., Frisco
970-668-3775
Because it’s a consignment store – where a percentage of the price goes to the original owner – prices here are comparable to those at factory outlets. Apart from a few boots and ski suits, the inventory concentrates on clothing for female shoppers practicing Retail Therapy.
Here are elegant alligator flats ($20), a plush Donna Karan velvet turtleneck ($18) and laundry baskets filled with neatly folded T-shirts ($4 and up).
Look for deals on cashmere sweaters, dressy jackets and coats, elegant scarves and non-PETA-sanctioned fur coats. We saw two well-groomed shoppers make a beeline to the furs and gush over the midlength mink, evidently a real steal at $1,400.
LITTLE RAGS KIDS’ CONSIGNMENT
110 Second Ave., Frisco
970-668-9690
Only a tad humbler than its parent shop around the corner, Little Rags is a godsend for parents who belatedly discover missing ski jackets, boots, pants, hats and goggles, or discover that they need a portable playpen or booster seat.
Wedged into the circular racks: girly-girl ruffled and velvet dresses, along with slightly toned-down dresses, shirts and pants that offer a compromise between jeans and lace. Like Rags to Riches, the prices here are higher than a thrift store, but cheaper than the factory outlets.
The boys’ selection is modest but decent, with winter clothing and everyday shirts and pants.
