By April Blake

It only takes a little driving around the Meeting St. area of West Columbia to notice the dense population of thrift and antique stores that reside along this main thoroughfare. Why the abundance of these types of stores in one area? Who knows, maybe we “west siders” just love a great deal.

Since one woman’s trash is another woman’s come-up, I’ve rounded up all of the re-sale shops from State St. down to 12th St. – with what to expect at each one.

Pickin Peddler | 633 N 12th St.

The first thing you’ll notice about this store is their fantastic seasonal window displays – a combination of holiday-themed merchandise, mixed with intriguing handpicked antique finds, that lure you right in.

Walking through this store involves navigating the tightly packed maze of really nice china hutches and shelves filled with pretty glass things and primitive-style kitchen gadgets. A selection of jewelry, other cookware, and books rounds out the picks here. (Though, sometimes, really amazing surprises lay just around the corner, like an honest-to-God fancy vintage globe bar that would both look amazing and take up a quarter of my living room.)

St. Paws | 304 12th St.

St. Paws has a seasonal clothing display in their windows that’s visible from the street, and actually reflects the good selection of quality clothes within. I’ve found tops for myself and sweaters for my husband in here that we both keep in our regular wardrobe rotations. They’ve also got good pieces that will work as bases for costumes or themed outfits. A selection of kitchen items, glassware and books round out their biggest offerings. This nonprofit store has donated over $70K to benefit animals since opening in 2013.

763 Meeting St Antique Mall | 763 Meeting St.

This store is deceptively large. It looks like a small white brick storefront but opens up into a much larger, hidden in plain sight warehouse of 11,000 square feet. Filled with dozens of vendors that specialize in everything from jewelry to vintage books to all sorts of vintage knick knacks and collectibles, and a great selection of dressers, side tables, and chairs, there’s no shortage of things to find.

His House | 3 locations

There’s always activity happening at this His House because they have good prices. They use the profits from their stores to directly benefit changing people’s lives, and they have a wide variety of items that change out very frequently. Clothes, dishes, and furniture are common finds here. Ninety cents from every dollar at His House goes directly to funding their outreach programs.

Three Rivers Antiques | 615 Meeting St.

It looks like a cute little blue house from the front, but enormous, warehouse-sized additions behind it create a multi-dealer antique wonderland. More than 30 vendors showcase their wares which gives the shop a different vibe in each room or booth. One may specialize in old editions of National Geographic magazines while the next features primitive kitchen tools, and the next, exquisitely colorful Depression glass. A frequently rotating array of merchandise guarantees that every visit will be different.

Three Rivers Antiques | photo by April Blake

Meeting Street Interiors | 614 Meeting St.

Comprised of three buildings – formerly a stately home – this is the place you go when you need to get your house ready to be featured in Southern Living. I’m only halfway kidding here, but this place is not a thrift store, it is an antiques and interior store. Here you’ll find a lot of china hutches, china settings, silver serveware, large vases, and really nice tables and chairs.

But for being such an upscale shop, the folks who run it are incredibly nice and helpful, even if you wander wearing tennis shoes. They frequently have sales in the medium sized building to the right of the main storefront.

Meeting Street Interiors | photo by April Blake

Old Mill Antique Mall | 310 State St.

A mecca for the vintage, the weird, and those who want to spend a rainy day wandering around this massive antique mall, everyone will find something here they like. Vendor booths, some which have been there for years and years, dominate the massive two story building on State Street. Books, kitchen items, and home decor are the main draw here, but they also have a nice selection of furniture, records, and vintage paraphernalia.

There truly is a ton packed into this one space and for a first-timer, you can easily spend several hours in here. They have sales running at vendor booths frequently, and are some of the nicest people you’ll ever want to meet. I estimate at least a third of my coolest belongings come from here, as I stop in once a month or so to peruse.

*Editor’s note: Agree. I have the coolest real-marble and wood rolling pin from Old Mill.

Pro tip: While you're waiting for a table at Cafe Strudle just down the street, browse the Old Mill Antique Mall. | photo by April Blake

Ed’s Editions | 406 Meeting St.

People complain about the lack of bookstores these days, but Ed’s Editions remains a steadfast purveyor of books at the corner of State and Meeting. Get that old school, “browsing a bookstore on a rainy day” kind of feeling with the upwards of 40,000 books crammed into their shop. You may not find the latest New York Times bestseller here, but you will find rare, vintage, and out of print books here. They also offer appraisals if you’re looking to sell, too.

The Warehouse | 312 State St.

One of the newcomers to the vintage scene, The Warehouse literally is just that. It shares a parking lot with the Old Mill Antique Mall, making it the perfect place to peruse on the same trip. It’s a combination of antiques and newer items laid out in chic vignettes. Rustic bed frames are juxtaposed with locally made pillow covers. They have lots of other art from local artists as well, scattered in thoughtfully designed vignettes of antique sideboards and silver candlesticks, for example. It’s always worth a peek in, especially on a sunny day when they have the large bay doors that face the back parking lot flung wide open.

Newfangled Consignments | 351 Meeting St.

On the corner of State and Meeting St., this building was brought back to life just like many of the treasures inside, which fall into the midrange between thrift store finds and fancy antiques. Newfangled is a consignment store where people can bring in one or dozens of pieces of items in great condition that just need a new home. Oversized vases, funky chandeliers and sleek couches and chairs are just a few of the things you’ll find here. This store is filled with home decor items and furniture, mostly, with a small selection of jewelry that’s as eclectic as the home goods within.

Where are your favorite places to find vintage, upcycled and thrift goods? Have a photo of a great find at one of the shops mentioned? Send it on over.

Good luck on your next pickin’ spree,

–April Blake, a freelance writer and recipe developer who lives in Cayce and writes at TheAprilBlake.com

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