Yes indeedy, it’s a good idea to head south into this prosperous territory for some great deals on all kinds of things, plus some inexpensive eats and places to explore.
For me it turned out to be a lucrative assignment. Here’s what I found along the way ?a pair of brand new Cole Hahn shoes for 50 cents and a handsome 16-by-20-inch gold picture frame for $2 at Helping Hands Ministry shop, a tangerine Talbot’s blouse for $3 at Graceworks, a pair of Josef Seibel sandals for $9.98 at French’s and a cute Jones New York jacket for just over $18, including tax, at The Consignment Shop. Phew!
Bargain shopping
Mallory Station Storage Consignment has two Williamson County stores, 7102 Bakers Bridge Ave. near CoolSprings Galleria, 221-0070, and 600 Church St. E. in Brentwood, 377-1299. These stores have new and used furniture and home accessories, everything from sofas to saddles.
Habitat ReStore at7115 Bakers Bridge Ave. in the Cool Springs area, 791-4035. This store, which benefits Habitat for Humanity in Williamson County, has a surprising amount of brand-new merchandise. Much of the furniture and appliances looks new and some actually are, because local retailers have generously donated items instead of holding sales at their stores.
Finders Keepers in the Cool Springs area next to Publix, 333-9801, has everything from new and used upholstered items and dining room and kitchen sets to antiques and knick-knacks. Prices range from $3 candlesticks to $1,500 for a table and chairs.
The tag system is easy to follow; look for signs explaining it throughout the store. For the best deals, go on the first day of the month, when items are marked down. That discount is preceded by several days of 10 percent off, so you just have to decide whether you are willing to gamble to get the better
Finally, Nordstrom is coming to New York! A Nordstrom Rack is opening in Union Square where Virgin Records used to be. It will open next spring, probably with a celebration that won’t come close to the Kate Moss fuss-fest that occurred when Topshop opened in Soho this year — which is fine by us. Nordstrom Rack carries the same brands as Nordstrom with 50 to 60 percent off original prices. Nordstrom Rack can be hit or miss in our experience, but the merchandise will probably be considerably better than that of it’s neighbors, Filene’s and DSW. We only went in the Virgin Megastore about once a year, but always had a good time in there perusing the cheap DVD rack. The Nordstrom Rack is more than a worthy replacement, but it would be nice if Virgin re-opened a Not-So-Mega Store in that terrifying zoo with the blue sign and white interiors on 14th and Broadway that calls itself a shoe store. Maybe the recession will be the best thing to ever happen to Union Square shops.
