Following is a listing of Du Page area resale and thrift shops stocking general household merchandise and/or clothing:
Aurora
The Encore Shoppe, 1046 N. Lake St. (north of Northgate shopping center on west side of street; storefront parking). 844-0094. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Monday. Donations. Vintage outfits (not for sale)
brighten the walls of this medium-size store. Mostly better women`s clothing, some men and children`s. New jewelry. Features: separate room with bolts of drapery and upholstery fabrics, readymade drapes and curtains. Bargain example: ladies` cotton summer dress, $8.
Storehouse II, 335 N. River (one block east of Fox River and 3 1/2 blocks north of Wilson St.; large parking lot). 879-2080. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Donations. Volunteers who organize this large place (on 2nd floor of factory building) deserve credit. Picture a neatly stocked garage sale held on a football field and you`ll get a rough idea of its scope. Fair and good household items and clothing. Features: good supply of nice jeans, all sizes; lots of kitchen gadgetry. Bargain example: Outlander sweater, $4.
Bensenville
The Society Shoppe, 19 N. Center (enter parking lot a block north, off Roosevelt Road). 766-3240. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Monday. Donations. This small old house is stuffed with stuff. Nice selection of kids wear. Features: Extensive paperbacks, frequent bag sales, funky assortment of housewares ranging from 1950s to contemporary. Bargain example: ladies 100 percent silk skirt and blouse, $2.
Bloomingdale
Grandma`s Attic, 105 S. 3rd St. (in Old Town, a quaint group of shops with brick-street parking a block west of Bloomindale Road and two blocks north of Schick Road). 980-5554. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Consignment and samples. Cheery, vintage home with play area for kids. Two floors of kids clothes, many in sizes 0 to 6x in excellent condition. Features: Tiny room filled with designer christening dresses. Some new craft items. Bargain example: size 5 Oleg Cassini denim jacket, $10.95.
Aunt Josephine`s, 107 S. 3rd Street. 980-5533. Hours: 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Open 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday May 1 to Dec. 1 (after-hours appointments available). Consignment. Small and exclusive shop features designer and better womens` apparel, size 2-28; girls` sizes 0 to 4. Features: new jewelry, large dressing room. Bargain example: rhinestone-studded designer jeans, $18.
Clarendon Hills
`Tween the Towers, 231 W. Burlington (north of Burlington Northern railroad tracks, about three blocks west of police station; street parking). 325-1183. Hours: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; noon-4 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; 7-9 p.m. Thursday evenings. Closed Monday. Consignment and donations. Small-store atmosphere, friendly personnel. Nice women`s clothing, some men and children`s. Features: occasional antique housewares, vintage jewelry. Bargain example: Albert Nipon black dinner dress, $20.
Mary Jane`s Consignment Boutique, 4 S. Prospect Ave. (south of railroad tracks, west side of street). 323-0034. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday (until 8 p.m. Thursday). Consignment. Relocating from its former Berwyn location and set to open May 12, this classy spot offers red-carpet treatment with better-to-designer women`s clothing. Features: New costume jewelry at bargain prices. Bargain example: Chaus blouse, $10.
Downers Grove
Fairview Baptist Home Repeat Shop, 7S241 Fairview Ave. (66th Street; enter parking lot, end of long drive on east side of Fairview). 852-4350. Hours: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Thursday only. Donations. In the lower level of this nursing home, you`ll find some sweet ladies and some fair-to-good quality goodies. Features: old LPs, large-size clothing, nice purses. Bargain example: Leather purse, $3.
Gingham Tree Resale Shop, 900 39th Street (on the southern end of Good Samaritan Hospital`s grounds; large parking lot). 971-4438. Hours: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Donations. Probably the spiffiest building among resale shops. Big chalet-style shop with good-to-better clothing for the family. Varying types of furniture, housewares. Features:
some hand-crafted items, more-than-average amount of men`s clothing. Bargain example: hand-woven South American tunic, $5; electric mini-organ, $10.
Little I`s, 945 Curtiss (on second floor of Century Manor; city parking lot across the street). 971-0200. Hours: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m.-6:30 Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Consignment. Cute little shop with better new and used maternity apparel, children`s clothes, equipment. Features: play area for kids, nifty kids`
accessories. Bargain example: new, handpainted maternity T-shirt with leggings, $48.50.
Penelope`s Resale Boutique, 945 Curtiss (first floor of Century Manor). 968-0055. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Consignment. Better-to-designer women`s apparel. Three elegant rooms. Nice after-five dresses. Some furs. Features: pretty changing rooms, large jewelry selection. Bargain example: 100 percent wool classic coat, $18.
Serendipity, 924 Warren Ave. (north side of tracks, few doors east of Tivoli movie theater; small parking lot). 963-4875. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Donations. Storefront shop with ever-changing window displays. Clothing and housewares. Features: some maternity, separate room of housewares. Bargain example: white wool women`s designer blazer, $4.
Elmhurst
Furniture Arcade, 164 N. York Road (southwest corner of York Road and 2nd Street; street parking). 834-8110. Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Storefront shop. Buys and sells. Used furniture ranging from antique to contemporary. Bargain example: carved oak White sewing machine, $150; `50`s style blond pine wall unit, $60.
Pink Elephant Resale Shop, 121 W. 1st St. (north of North Western railroad tracks, about a half block west of York Road; street parking). 834-7379. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Donations. Huge department store of clothing, furniture, housewares. Features: large window displays, many typewriters, some office furniture, cute collection of ceramic elephants. Bargain example: leather handbag, $3.
Y`s Buys Thrift Shop, 470 Spring Road (about a half-mile south of St. Charles Road, a half-mile east of Illinois Highway 83; street parking). 834-7336. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, until 8 p.m. Thursday. Donations. Half clothing, half housewares and furniture. Features: some nice sports equipment, better-than-average number of antiques and fine linens. Bargain example:
etched wine goblets, $2 each.
Geneva
Ardean`s Resale Boutique, 419 Hamilton. (three blocks west of Illinois Highway 31 and 1st Street and one block north of Illinois Highway 38/Roosevelt Road;
parking lot). 232-2649. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday. Consignment, some samples. Ladies designer apparel. Squeaky-clean and chic. Features: bridal veils and some sample gowns. Some snazzy large-size fashions. Excellent quality. Bargain example: designer dress with matching coat, $50; designer-label denim skirt, $8.
Hi Hat House, 328 S. 2nd St. (Ill. 31, south of Illinois Highway 38; Large parking lot). 232-4464. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Consignment and donation. Volunteers keep tidy this big old house with more than a half dozen rooms. Features: quality housewares, nice lamps, good-to-better womens` apparel. Bargain example: gently used table lamp, $10. NOTE: cash preferred;
checks okay with proper identification.
St. Peter`s Thrift Shop, 12 N. 2nd St. (half block north of Ill. 38, one block west of Ill. 31; street parking and city lot north of store). 232-6621. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Donation. Small store with family clothing and housewares. Features: very nice kids` clothes in sizes 0 to 14, interesting array of decorative paintings. Bargain example: Evan Picone white linen suit, $20.
Glen Ellyn
Treasure House Resale Shop, 497 Pennsylvania (winding east-west street running north of the North Western tracks, on south side a few doors west of Western Avenue; street parking). 469-6907. Hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Consignment and donation. Two-sided store (housewares and family clothing) with separate, additional rooms for furs and antiques. Features: some vintage clothing, jewelry; large assortment of housewares; costumes. Bargain example: Three-piece mens` wool suit, excellent condition, $8.
Hinsdale
My Favorite Things/Echoes, 10-12 E. First Street (east of Garfield, mid-block, south side of street; street parking). 655-0054. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday- Saturday. Consignment, new clothing samples. Womens, maternity and childrens wear (sizes 0-16), designer quality. Features: Lots of new stuff, gorgeous infant wear. New womens` boutique (Echoes). Bargain example: boys Levi jeans, $5.
La Grange
La Grange Community Nurses & Service Association Thrift Shop, 27 W. Calendar
(enter parking lot at west end of Courtyard shopping mall by taking Ashland north of 47th Street). 354-3803. Hours: 1-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Family clothing, housewares, collectibles, some furniture. Features: knick-knackers` delight, usable sportswear, lots of mens` slacks. Bargain example: set of 10 wine goblets, very good quality, $12.
Small Change, 72 S. La Grange Rd. (south of Ogden, west side of street; Street parking). 579-1033. Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, until 7 p.m. Thursday;
9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Consignment and purchase. Women`s, maternity, children`s wear. Features: cute play area for tikes, better and designer quality, interesting accessories. Bargain example: 100 percent silk ladies dress slacks, $22.
Lisle
Resale Connection, 1719 Ogden Ave. (south side of street; parking lot). 963-0600. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Consignment and purchase. Furniture and housewares in big warehouse-type shop. Features: some room-setting displays, wide variety of new and old, interesting housewares. Bargain example: mirror in carved wood frame, $69; fondue set, $4.50; ornate Chinese style lamp, $50.
Lombard
Chicago Stork Exchange, 123 W. St. Charles Road (about five blocks east of Illinois Highway 53). 620-5122. Hours: 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Closed Monday. Children`s clothes size 0-8, maternity. New and gently used. Features: equipment rental (for grandparents anticipating tots` visits), selection of hats for dressup, tea parties; costume rentals. Bargain example: new Pollyflinders dresses, $13-$15, Bryon boyswear, $9-$18.
Little One`s Reruns Ltd., 708 S. Main (in Lombard Center strip mall south of Madison Street; parking lot). 620-1307. Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, until 8 p.m. Thursday. Consignments and samples. Range of kids clothes. Bargain example: girls` Gunne Sax dress, size 8, $18.75; girls`
Wrangler jeans, size 14, $6.
Second Time Around, 837 S. Westmore (in Eastgate shopping center, north of Roosevelt Road; parking lot). 495-2772. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, closed Monday. Consignment and donation. Clothing, housewares, some furniture. Features: usable clothes, good quality, nice housewares. Bargain example:
men`s Sedgefield jeans, $4.50; wrought iron plant stand, $7.
Naperville
Pennywise St. John`s Thrift Shop, 750 W. Aurora Ave. (small building on church grounds; parking lot). 355-4451. Hours: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Mostly clothing. Features: some nice books and equipment for kids, very low prices. Bargain example: handmade crepe dress, $1.50.
Serendipity, 12 W. Jefferson (1 1/2 blocks north of Washington and Chicago Avenue intersection, west a half block; street parking). 357-3610. Hours. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Donations. This is a very friendly place to hunt for clothing, housewares. Features: nice book selection, some games, occasional antiques. Bargain example: women`s designer down-filled coat with fur collar, $18.
Worth Repeating, 1021 Aurora Ave. (house tucked behind Willoway Manor restaurant, take driveway at sign; parking lot). 355-0444. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Consignment. Roomy house featuring better and designer women`s apparel, with some childrens, maternity, baby equipment and antiques. Features: nicely displayed merchandise, beautiful accessories. Bargain example: brown rabbit jacket, $45.
Roselle
Marklund Resale Shoppe, 121 E. Main (Irving Park Road west of Medinah Road to Prospect, south a half block to Main, east to store; street parking). 529-1006. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, until 9 p.m. Thursday. Donations, some consignment. Family clothing, housewares, toys, furniture, hardware. Features: big shop stocked to the rafters, more-than-average selection toys and games. Bargain example: men`s 100 percent wool dress slacks, very good condition, $4.
St. Charles
St. Charles Episcopal Church Thrift Shop, 103 N. 11th Ave. (Illinois Highway 64 to 12th Avenue, north to Wing, west to 11th, south to factory-store;
parking lot south of building). 584-2593. Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, noon-8:30 p.m. Friday. Consignment and donations. Family clothing, housewares. Features: some fun bric-a-brac, needlepoint pictures, small appliances. Bargain example: black-on-brass lamp, $10, Albert Nipon crepe sundress, $7.
Second Hand Rose, 308 W. Walnut St. (one block south of Illinois 64 on 3rd Street; parking lot behind house). 584-6220. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Consignment. Better and designer apparel for women. Features: several rooms to roam, lots of sportswear, career dressing and some knockout after-fives. Bargain example: Designer printed silk chiffon cocktail dress, $50.
Valley Thrift Shop, 701 Geneva Road (on grounds of Valley Lutheran High School; enter drive at north end of campus; parking lot). 584-5833. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Donations. Several rooms in historic building offering family clothing, furniture, housewares. Features: the view of the Fox River from the shop`s front door is worth a visit. Inside, nice collection of old records, good housewares, annual toy and Christmas sale the first Saturday in November. Bargain example: ladies` sundress, 100 percent cotton, $3.
Villa Park
Ardmore Attic, 357 S. Ardmore (south of St. Charles Road on east side of street; street parking). 530-9353. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, closed Monday. Donations. Possibly the littlest in the county, this shop is stuffed with clothing, housewares. Features: very nice linens, some sporting goods, fur collars, books, glassware. Bargain example: women`s new Butte knit two-piece jogging outfit, $8.
Twice Around, 29 E. Park (east of Ardmore, south of St. Charles Road, park runs parallel to the Prairie Path; street parking). 279-0088. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Closed Monday. Owner buys stock. Small store with an owner with an eye on neatness. Kids` wear is bagged like dry cleaning. Features: more than average boys` wear. Bargain example: Ralph Lauren polo shirt, size 7, $2.99.
Warrenville
Once Over Lightly Resale Shop, 3S109 Illinois Highway 59 (north of Illinois Highway 56 and south of Batavia Road on east side of Illinois 59; parking lot). 393-2626. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. A multiroom kid`s and women`s clothing extravaganza. Features: nice changing rooms, homey ambience. Bargain example: designer embroidered cotton sundress, $22.
West Chicago
St. Vincent De Paul Resale Store, 213 Main St. (Illinois Highway 59 north of Illinois 38 to Main Street, west to store; street parking). 231-4658. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Donation. Looks can be deceiving. The sleepy exterior doesn`t prepare you for the elaborate bargains inside this very large (6,500-square-foot) shop. (St. Vincent also has stores in Joliet, Morris and Chicago.) Major appliances, clothing, housewares, books, records. Features: a designer`s room where finer furnishings and women`s apparel is kept, wide range of kids and men`s clothing. Bargain example: in-season designer silk sheath, $20; women`s lizzard-skin shoes, $15.
Westmont
Elite Repeat, 123 E. Ogden (east of Cass Avenue; enter by turning south on Wilmette; parking lot). 960-0540. Hours: 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Consignment, some samples. A very long, skinny one-story building houses mostly womens` (some mens`) designer and better quality clothing along with an occasional antique or select item of furniture. Features: 2 sets of dressing rooms, extensive jewelry (new and gently used), many after-five, prom and wedding dresses. Bargain example: lined leather slacks, $40.
Many Happy Returns, 6022 S. Cass (north of 63rd Street, in strip mall on west side of Cass; parking lot). 968-3424. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Consignments. Nice variety in all sizes (to 12) for children, some maternity. Features: some handcrafted baby items, toys. Good quality merchandise. Bargain example: Toughskins boys jeans, size 7, $3.99.
Oak Brook Christian Center Thrift Store, 29 N. Cass Ave. (located downstairs with counseling service office and book store; city parking lot one block south, street parking). 852-3587. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday. Closed Wednesday. Donations. More like a boutique than a thrift store, housewares share space with family clothing in a shop whose volunteers keep very busy displaying and sorting. Features: good to better-quality apparel, tons of blouses, coats. Bargain example: Cashmere car coat, $8.
Wheaton
Again and Again, 104 Willow Ave. (Illinois 38, old house on south side of street near intersection of Main and Willow; off-street parking behind store). 668-9162. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, until 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Consignment. This old house has nice changing rooms, and two floors of better family clothing. Features: markdown (end of season) room and small amount of vintage clothing. Bargain example: Ann Taylor cotton sweater, $12.
Iris Patch, 208 S. Hale (south of North Western railroad tracks, enter through Wheaton Pharmacy entrance; parking lot). 668-7580. Hours: 9:30-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, until 8 p.m. Thursday. Closed Wednesday. Consignment. Rummage in this basement for good-to-better mens` and womens`
clothing. Features: nice, large-size stock. Bargain example: Imported corduroy skirt, new, $8.
Second Hand Rose, 216 S. Wheaton Ave. (Warrenville Road north of Illinois 38 to Liberty, east to Wheaton, south to store; parking lot). 682-3143. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, until 9 p.m. Thursday. Set back from the street a little, this shop is enjoying new quarters following a move from its previous location on Willow Avenue. Women`s designer apparel and accessories, displayed boutique-style, feature up-to-the-minute styles. Bargain example:
Chaus printed silk shirt, $11.
Wesley Resale Shop, 216 N. Main St. (historic home south of Gary Methodist United Church; street parking). 665-2511. Hours: noon-3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 7-9 p.m. Thursday. Closed Monday. Consignment and donations. Cash-only policy. Lots of goodies in this multiroomed house. Housewares below, good clothing above, lots of collectibles in between. Features: nice linens, lamps. Bargain example: Evan Picone wool slacks, $4.
Wise Penny Resale Shop of Central Du Page Hospital, 225 Front St. (north of railroad tracks, west of Main; parking lot). 665-8626. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Also open from 7-9 p.m. Thursday. Closed Wednesday. A storehouse of housewares and clothing. Features: lots of glassware, some yarn and craft items, cute knick-knacks, variety of clothing. Bargain example: woman`s wool winter coat, $8; white cotton slacks, $1.50.
