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Thrifting for Tiki in the urban jungle |
John in Montreal
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 16, 2003
Posts: 212 |  Posted: 2010-03-28 7:20 pm Permalink
RE: Tiki Sun
Hey folks... I believe we did mention the old Tiki Sun Polynésien on the south shore of Montreal in one of the first issues of Mai Tai. The place had just closed down and we at the Montreal Tiki Appreciation Society never got to visit it. I did check out the original building and, if I remember correctly, it looked like it might have been a good place. They did reopen sometime later at the strip mall location in Longueuil (with the horrible sign!)... A place I did check out once but have not frequented on repeated occasions. Sounds like its worth another look... Thanks for finding it Carl.
[ This Message was edited by: John in Montreal 2010-03-28 19:24 ]
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1692
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2010-04-11 06:39 am Permalink
A new thrift store is open in Kalamazoo. You will love this.........it's in the former Cheeseburger in Paradise building. The fake water tower is still there and so are the fake palm trees out front. The grand opening featured free food and there were two local radio stations broadcasting from the parking lot. I drove by and it looked like a Beatles reunion was going on so I didn't stop. I did finally stop in and it was still crowded as hell and nothing but clothes. I think I'll check this one off my "maybe I can find a Tiki in there" list.
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1692
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2011-04-07 06:25 am Permalink
Ah spring. Mud, rain and warm and cold on the same day. I saw my first garage sale sign of the season here in my part of the world yesterday. I smiled and slowly turned to my wife sitting next to me in the car and in a low ominous voice stated "and so it begins". Spring cleaning here brings out the good stuff and soon the thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets and antique stores will have a new crop of trash and treasure to dig through. It has been a long cold winter up here and the big hunt is on again.
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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Big Kahuna
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 11, 2007
Posts: 2163
From: SoMass
| Posted: 2011-04-07 06:37 am Permalink
I hear ya Trav. I have been getting skunked all winter. Well, except for that amazing trip to SoCal. I can't wait to see what treasures are exposed by "The Big Thaw"! 
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trutiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Sep 08, 2010
Posts: 56 | Posted: 2011-04-07 07:17 am Permalink
Hard to find the in-between thrift stores in Miami... most are high end "consign of the times" or dollar-store and other crap outlets. I was told by one owner that he takes all his tiki to a licensed ebay drop-off dealer in Ft. Lauderdale because he can get more money for it from all those tiki crazies out there (re: suckers like me). The charity stores here are very savvy about the collecting trend... mostly about $$ raised for said charity and less about making thrifting fun for the masses. They too run their own ebay business for obvious collectibles.
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Bongo Bungalow
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2007
Posts: 1268
From: Indiana
| Posted: 2011-04-08 03:37 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2011-04-07 07:17, trutiki wrote:
Hard to find the in-between thrift stores in Miami... most are high end "consign of the times" or dollar-store and other crap outlets. I was told by one owner that he takes all his tiki to a licensed ebay drop-off dealer in Ft. Lauderdale because he can get more money for it from all those tiki crazies out there (re: suckers like me). The charity stores here are very savvy about the collecting trend... mostly about $$ raised for said charity and less about making thrifting fun for the masses. They too run their own ebay business for obvious collectibles.
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It does make it rare to find the treasure that slips through their systems, but satisfying too. At the Goodwill stores I never find anything in the "Collectibles Case". And the tiki mugs are almost never with the coffee mugs. I think it was TikiTrav who mentioned that he always gives a thrift store a "final sweep of the shelves" before he exits. That's good advice.
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1692
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2011-04-09 05:45 am Permalink
The "final sweep" is indeed one of my number one rules for shopping at the thrift store. I almost forgot the rule and nearly missed one of my best thrift finds ever. The good stuff is still out there, just keep looking.
http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=37725&forum=5
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1692
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2011-12-31 05:29 am Permalink
It has been the driest season for hunting vintage Tiki that I have ever had in my corner of the world this year. I have had a few good finds but nothing that was a "WOW" find. I don't want to over analyze it with social and economic trend charts, just say I had some enjoyable drive time and met some nice folks.
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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Mr. NoNaMe
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 10, 2006
Posts: 1907 | Posted: 2011-12-31 07:32 am Permalink
In this corner of the thrifting world at least five Salvation Army thrift stores have closed in the last three years. However, Goodwills have increased by one and a few have remodeled. Several Mom & Pops have closed too.
The stores here have been very dry for a good five years when it comes to tiki. One mug per 20+ visits? I thought the swap-meet would be promising when Buzzy took to the desert but, no.
Erik the Red
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Viva Kate!
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ka'lenatiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 13, 2009
Posts: 188
From: redding ca.
| Posted: 2012-01-01 5:06 pm Permalink
Sound like around here in the north state. A coupe of flea market finds back in oct. but other than that not much. Pleanty of the plastic tiki stuff but what we look for.. nada. Kinda depressing.
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1692
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2013-05-02 05:30 am Permalink
Here in Kzoo the weather is perfect and the yard and garage sales are in full swing. Lots of spring cleaning means fresh finds. I'm off work at the moment but it is better than being off in the dead of winter. Hell, I even had to mow the lawn for the first time this year. I hope the finds come easy and frequent for all of us this season.
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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Pele Paul
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 26, 2008
Posts: 393
From: San Dimas, ca
| Posted: 2013-05-14 08:52 am Permalink
I go to my 3 local ones twice a day since they restock the shelves 3 times a day, also stores like goodwill will split up collections of ideas, like Ive found 5 size M 1970s Hawaiian shirts in 2 different Goodwills, also the Tiki Hula queens wound up in two stores also, but Im guessing they came from the same donor, id tell people go every day, search hard and dont be upset if you dont stike it rich every time!! sometimes its a dry hole
found this for 3.99 by accident at goodwill, went back and went through the pic frames a second time, always love leaving the price tag on too!! thrift stores Rock
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1692
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 19 days ago; 06:32 am Permalink
Garage sales seem a long way away here in Mi and the thrift stores are pretty dry. I did score this lone bowl last week though. Sitting all by it's self with no other Tikis in sight. $3.99
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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SandraDee
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 11, 2011
Posts: 839 | Posted: 19 days ago; 07:15 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2014-02-20 06:32, uncle trav wrote:
I did score this lone bowl last week though. Sitting all by it's self with no other Tikis in sight. $3.99
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1 bowl is better than no bowls 
Uncle Trav I am going to offer something to you that many have asked for but I won't ever do...if you find yourself in NorCal you let me know and I will take you to my hunting grounds.
Bring a BIG carry on for the trip back home my friend...you need to get out of the frozen tundra!
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1692
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 19 days ago; 10:44 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2014-02-20 07:15, SandraDee wrote:
1 bowl is better than no bowls
Uncle Trav I am going to offer something to you that many have asked for but I won't ever do...if you find yourself in NorCal you let me know and I will take you to my hunting grounds.
Bring a BIG carry on for the trip back home my friend...you need to get out of the frozen tundra!
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WOW !!! I would be honored to have a guided thrift tour. Sounds awesome! Now if I can get all the stars to align it's a date. Right now I think the damn things are all frozen in place up here  Thanks SD your the best.
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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