thrift store: american cancer society discovery shop

I have been known to haunt a thrift store or two. I think the bug was instilled in me when my mom dragged me to every thrift store & antique shop in Big Bear Lake, California on a long ago vacation. It's the treasure hunt and the possibilities that I enjoy. This post is the first in a series on the local thrift shop, antique, and consignment scene in Orange County, California. By the end of the series, we should have a virtual Orange County thrift shop directory amassed.

American Cancer Society Discovery Shop
Mid-Century Rating: 3 out of 5 stars (3.4)

2600 E Coast Hwy
Corona del Mar, CA 92665

(949) 640-4777

discoveryshop-coronadelmar.org

Rebecca's 5 Point Rating Scale:

• Store Size / Inventory - 2 (fairly small store, not worth a long drive)
• Merchandise Quality  - 2 (some cool retro items, but not always consistently)
• Organization - 5 (very organized)
• Pricing - 3 (fairly inexpensive, but these ladies don't give it away)
• Service - 5 (nice ladies, happy to help)

Total Rating is 3.4 (3 stars)

Link to Yelp Reviews.

Because this store is near my home, I stop in fairly frequently. The Discovery Store is run as a charitable fund raiser for the American Cancer Society, and their donors can contribute high end items to this shop. There is an assortment of clothing, but the styles tend to be on the matronly side and will be a turn off for the young folks or the young at heart. So let's focus on the stuff.

This corner shelving unit is always stock full of old crystal and glassware. You just never know. See the crystal tumblers on the bottom shelf. Very heavy and decent quality.

Jim Beam bottles. Nothing wrong with that.

Assorted Jim Beam

In the back of the store, there is usually one or two sets of fairly decent china. Below pictures are some old Noritake. This may have been my Grandmother's pattern, coincidentally.

Noritake Blue Bell - I looked up this at replacements.com,
prices were fair

Talk about retro. Cool. sugar container.

If these dishes didn't have silver on the edges, I would have bought them.
Very nice set of of white china.  Forgot to check the pattern.

A Kennedy picture for $14.
And a professional photographer.

There is a goody cabinet behind the main register that contains an odd assortment of high end collectibles that the staff feels the customers shouldn't be handling directly. Worth a peek.

What treasure awaits?

There is a small amount of furniture in the store. Whatever they can cram in. Sometimes fairly decent pieces.

Nice captain's desk in perfect condition

Monitor Furniture Co.
Don't know a thing about them except I found this chest on ebay.

Cool old silverplate set

Interesting collection of Japanese goodies
on a traditional low Japanese tea table. Good price, not cheap at $125.

EXCELLENT Tiki Bar. Very retro. They want $375 for it (half off)

Stools are great.

Check out the metalic wallpaper shelf lining. This is very 70's.

Always have an odd assortment of pots. Usually under a table.

Pots.

I got these two pots below. One of the right is an oversize turquoise Bauer for $15. SCORE.

Bauer pot on the right.

 And vases of course.

$5 vases

To fill with flowers from the local market as hostess gifts when the time comes.