SPCA Thrift in Davis

I've been meaning to stop in Davis on my way back from one of my trips to Sacramento, where KD is resting comfortably in the capable hands of RV Dr. George's shop.  There is a great deal of news on that front, and I'll get to that presently.

I've been in the habit of stopping for a late lunch on the drive back, and this time I decided I was going to find somewhere to eat in Davis and explore a little.   Davis is a pretty town with lots of big, shady trees and comfortable, charming old houses.  It's a "walking town," the sort of place where you want to park the car and stroll along the downtown streets, looking for interesting shops and restaurants.  It has an easy-going, relaxed vibe, like what you often find in a university town, which of course it is.  It was a warm day but thankfully it wasn't brutally hot.  It smelled like there might be a grass fire nearby and a faint haze hung under the trees giving everything just a slightly soft focus effect.  But it wasn't unpleasant and only seemed to underscore the mood of a relaxed, happy summer day.  I had checked local listings for bookstores and thrift stores, and I found both under the same roof!

The Yolo County SPCA Thrift Store seemed to be the one getting the most attention, and proceeds go to help animals in need which gives it an extra star in my book.  I found it on 3rd street, with ample street parking right out front and even managed to snag a spot with shade.

They don't have a ton of square footage, but they they do have 3 modestly sized rooms of retail space pretty well filled with interesting treasures and a larger warehouse space where they receive and sort donations.  There was an impressive hodgepodge of kitchenware.  I found some nice transferware plates and a few partial sets of dishes that, while not complete, might augment your collection if you were lucky enough to have the same or similar pattern.  I almost bought a blue transferware plate that would play nicely with my blue and white Currier and Ives set by Churchill, but I managed to resist the urge.

You could easily outfit a kitchen from this store.  Some solid finds here, like that orange cast iron and enamel casserole.  Everything very reasonably priced.

Of course there are also assorted housewares, nicknacks and clothing.  They do make an attempt to sort clothing at least by general size (i.e., small, medium, large), which is appreciated.  They have a rack marked "vintage," but I saw quite a few cute and quirky items scattered throughout the regular clothing racks that looked "vintagey".

There was some interesting framed art outside the store where furniture, bikes, and other extra inventory gets set out from the warehouse during the day since inside space is limited.  I am now sort of regretting not buying this framed picture, which was labelled on the back "Princess Ileana," undoubtedly the Romanian princess of whom I knew nothing until Googling the name.  It was just a reproduction of a painting, but it had an inexplicable charm and would be perfect with a certain kind of decor.

I thought the most interesting items were the furniture, like this lovely old rocking chair.

Or these end tables and little bookcase, all great candidates for a chalk paint makeover.  The bookcase was eight dollars.

These are only a sampling.  I saw lots of possibilities for easy, inexpensive painted furniture makeovers here, and also a few things that were perfect as they were.

The store wasn't uncomfortably crowded but it was busy and appears to be thriving.  I noticed a number of things I had eyed speculatively disappeared moments later, so there is a lot of turnover and you have to grab it if you want it.  But at the same time the staff was busy putting new furniture out while I was there, and they said they get lots of donations and new stuff arrives all the time.  This is good, you want a thrift store where the inventory keeps moving so you can be assured of finding new treasures on each visit. 

If you find yourself in Davis and you enjoy thrifting, the Yolo County SPCA Thrift Store is worth a stop.  Find them at 920 3rd Street.  3 solid Trees!  And especially because there is also an associated bookstore, in the the same building, but a couple doors down in another suite.  SPCA Thrift Bookstore next.