(written for
the Camarilla.)
You want to talk about ridiculous thrift stores, hole-in-the-wall-super-secret-spots that only you and your closest friends know about, the best thing to happen to clothing since the seventies, (or sixties, or eighties, depending on how old you are... 20 year rule..) then listen up. What I'm about to tell you is the most amazing thing Pennsylvania has to offer. (citation needed) This is the grand-mother of all used clothing stores. I'm talking about the highly underrated
Avalon Exchange.
When I last went there, it was in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh, right around the corned from Five Guys and the O. It was upstairs above a bank and something else random... Now they've moved to Squirrel Hill, which is where
Jerry's Records is... the best record store in the country (but that's for another time)
buying clothes:
All I can say is that this place is absolutely incredible. High classname brands, they only take in GOOD stuff, and the prices are extremely good. The clothes are all super clean and usually in near perfect shape. They only buy high end stuff, and if people donate stuff, they only sell the good stuff.
selling clothes:
bring all your old gear in here and lay it out for them... they'll pick through it, take what they want, and give you 30% CASH on it. Or, if you feel like trading in, they'll give you 45% retail value in store credit. not a bad deal at all.
Avalon has a
myspace,but their last login was on 7.19.2007 so I wouldn't expect any comments or top friend spots from them.
Their "General Interest" section simply says:
your clothes.
beards.
vintage.
jokes.
and the music section:
we used to listen to bad things but currently we are listening to good things.
Contact info:Avalon Exchange 5858 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA
phone: 412.621.1211
hours: mon-sat 11-8, sun 12-6
some of my favorite things that i've gotten there.
perfect replica flight of the conchords vest ($10):
an awesome bright yellow and green puma jacket ($12):
(really dumb picture of me but you get the idea)
and a pair of deisel jeans for $10. ridiculous.
here's the kids who run the place:
and here's just one of my favorite pittsburg pics:
(myself and
shameless plug)
Moral of the story: it's probably worth a trip to pittsburgh just tovisit this place. I don't care where you live.
-chris renne.
