Thrifting in the New Year 2008 Tupelo Mississippi

A good many people have commented to me recently that they'd like to be a bit more environmentally friendly in the new year. What better way to marry the American habit of consumer spending and green living, than to shop at thrift stores. Just buying one used rather than new garment has an environmental impact of saving 360,000 gallons of water.

The good people of Northeast Mississippi have much to celebrate then with the impact of *four* thrift stores in the Tupelo area. I was fortunate to be able to spend many unaccompanied hours with my new ipod guiding me throughout and it was well, "just Like Heaven."


Heading east On Highway 6 from Oxford, Tupelo is a 45 minute drive.Just as you turn from Ponotoc to the outskirts of Tupelo, you hit the "19th Hole Thrift Store"
adjacent to the decaying Ponotoc Country club.It's on your lift and you cant miss the huge ranch house and blinking neon sign. It's worth it to turn around, if only for the spectacle (and Deliverance dream perhaps) of a family that lives right next door to its own thrift shop.
Dont let the caged and chained dogs scare you,just entering the shop and having the lady sneak up on you is a bit more frightening, especially if you've just seen Sweeney Todd.The bulk of her wares seem to be yard sale discards but there are a few good wearable current recycled clothes to take advantage of. Especially size 4 jeans. I stocked up on a good bit of vintage childrens books to make pendants out of and then it was off to the next adventure which was City Thrift.


Quite frankly I wasnt prepared for City Thrift. Housed in an old Walm-art?Kmart?Hancocks? The place was ginormous and there were tons of racks of great stuff. My first pick was these great old Johnson brothers transferware dishes for my collection.At 29 cents each, just ebaying them could pay for my gas to the thrift shop and back if needed.City thrift was full of great 70's Pucci-esque fabrics, great old leather items, and nice coats.They also have an entire wall of vintage books and games.It's the kind of place you could go crazy in so watch it so that your own landfill doesnt get bigger.


Tupelo, as any good town its size, also sports two Salvation Army stores.
The first at 816 Robert E Lee Drive, is within a mile and a half of City Thrift. This store is much much cheaper but really picked over.

The other Salvation Army is at 703 Daybrite Drive.

Make sure you vist Eli's Barbeque & check out Elvis' birthplace before checking out of Tupelo and Happy thrifting!