A record of Go-to Shops, Restaurants, and Activities In Richmond Virginia
Exactly eight years ago today, Sherry and I picked up and moved from NYC to Richmond, VA together. Apart from the towns that we grew up in, neither of us have ever lived any place longer – and it is the only hometown that Clara has ever known. So we thought it would be lively to commemorate this date – and this city that we enjoy. Especially since you folks ask us plenty of “when in Rome Richmond” questions – the biggest one being “what thrift/discount stores should I hit up when I pass through?”
Three years ago we celebrated our 5th anniversary by sharing a swift post about our “Five Richmond Top Fives” – but that only mentioned two thrift shops – and we have certainly found other haunts, activities, and eateries since then. So we thought a more thorough guide was in order… complete with an interactive map and an itinerary (you know me – I enjoy a good graphic).
And since Richmond was lately named The Best River Town in America and one of Frommer’s Top Destinations for 2014 (only one of three in the US, the others being Palm Springs and Hawaii!), well, we figured our eighth anniversary was the ideal occasion to break things down for you folks.
With the assist of modern technology (i.e. Google) we have embedded an interactive map with a dozen of our go-to thrift and discount stores in Richmond (green dots), along with some other suggested spots for eating (blue dots), or otherwise having-a-good-time spots (red dots). You can click any of the dots below for more info on each one of them – including a description from us about what you will find, some pointers about when they are closed, etc. Note: if you cannot see the map, try clicking here.
And here is a hypothetical itinerary. It does not include all of the eating options or any of the red dots (those are other lively activities outside of shopping/thrifting) but if you click those dots on the map you will get more info on each of those.
Let us hit the road, shall we? Assuming you are starting somewhere near the city center, you can head either clockwise or counter-clockwise around the map – we will do the latter in this post. Either way, you might want to fuel up at Sugar Shack Donuts before you start shopping (check out Sugar Shack’s FB page for secret free donut deals like “recite an ode to your donut”). Most thrift stores do not open ’til 9 or 10am, so you’ve got time to enjoy it. Oh and many are closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays – so try to avoid those days if you want to cram the most in.
Our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore is our go-to spot for donating, and is typically a good shot at finding building materials and fixtures. If you are more in the market for furniture and accessory finds, you might want to start at Diversity Thrift. We got plenty of stuff there over the years, including the glass and metal table in our first house’s living/dining room (we still have it in the garage with a plan for tweaking it for our back porch someday).
Next head north on nearby I-95 to Lakeside Avenue which has a few thrift and antique spots, most notably Consignment Connection. It is got tons of little rooms full of things, and is sort of a mix between an antique shop and a thrift store. It is where Sherry found her beloved whale globe.
If you want the inspiration and tools for revamping your thrifted finds – or simply want to buy something that has already been made over, make the short trek up I-95 to Ashland and swing by Thrill of the Hunt which has strong upcycled furniture.
On your way back, do not miss Class and Trash for plenty of vintage and shabby chic stuff, including tons of metal signs and letters. We try to stop in a few times a season since there is consistently a lot of stuff (both big and small) to see. If you’ve have not already needed a lunch break, you could pop down to the Short Pump area for a burger. We enjoy Burgerworks for a casual but filling one built to your liking (I consistently get a fried egg on top). Burger Bach, a New Zealand-style gastropub, is also nearby for a foodie-r experience (it is truly good, but you might have a bit of a wait).
You may simply need to go nap and call it a day by this point, but if not – head south on I-288 toward the river. Wait, but slip through HOPE Thrift on your way. It is the newest store on our radar and we know we are bound to find something cool there soon. Once you hit Midlothian Turnpike, you’ve entered our main drag of thrift stores. You can start small at RAL Reuse, which we enjoy because it supports the Richmond Animal League. And also because its near one of our go-to cafes, Urban Farmhouse. Even if you are not hungry, stop in for a coffee/tea and some fairly remarkable design inspiration. There is also a location downtown if you do not have time to spare.
Further down the road is a Salvation Army Family Center, which is one of the more furniture-heavy thrift stores that we have been into locally. If that is not truly what you are looking for, you can skip it and head straight for The Decorating Outlet. It is not technically a thrift store, but it is too full of deals to leave off the list. We get tons of lights there, but we have also scored rugs and furniture there too – including our crazy discounted kitchen table.
By the time you get to this part of the route, it means you are nearing our #1 go-to spot for thrifted furniture: Enjoy of Jesus Thrift Store on Midlothian. They’ve got tons of furniture, and we scored a bunch of stuff for our book there – including this dresser that we painted in a gradient back in 2012 (and still use in our bedroom today). Across the street is Family Thrift Center, which used to simply be a convenience (i.e. pity) stop, but we simply found this $9.98 headboard for the showhouse there, so it is a new go-to.
If you still have time (admittedly, doubtful) – Caravati’s is also worth a stop. It is an architectural salvage place so prices are much higher than thrift stores, but there are such cool sights that make it worth the detour. And once all the stores are closed, hit up the Proper Pie Company for dinner and dessert (yup, they’ve got savory and sweet pies) – along with one last dose of vintage decor inspiration.
Admittedly it is likely a bit ambitious to cram all of this into simply one day, especially if you like to take your time perusing like Sherry does (or take your time eating like I do). But perhaps that simply means you will need to stay the weekend. Or move here entirely. You know, either one works.
Now what about you folks? What are the best thrifting spots in your town? Would not it be excellent to have a city-by-city database of them somewhere with user rated reviews and a “print me a map” feature so you’d know where to go when you get to a new place? Somebody get on that. Or does it already exist and we are the last ones to know?
