Super Bowl 49 was not the only reason why people from all over the country visited Arizona, as a day later St. Vincent de Paul’s Apache Junction thrift store held its biggest sale of the year. Now in its 20th year, Southwest Days is the place to find unique items ranging from jewelry to clothes and furniture with a southwestern theme.
Every year, hundreds of people visit the store on the opening day of the sale and customers keep coming back every day to see new and fresh items on display. The sale usually lasts two weeks.
“We have people from Iowa, Illinois, California and everywhere else in the country,” said Ed Dubiel, director of retail operations at St. Vincent de Paul. “Some people even camp overnight to try and be first in line for opening day.”
Clifton, who lives in Illinois but stays in Arizona during the winter months, stood in the middle of the store examining some of the boots on sale on Monday morning. He said he has been coming to the sale for 10 years now.
“I’ve been shopping at St. Vincent de Paul stores for decades,” he said. “They get some really neat stuff that I can take back home with me.”
Clifton owns a Western store in Illinois and takes advantage of getting some unique items he might otherwise not be able to find.
To prepare for the sale, the store will close its doors on Sunday as staff and volunteers work all day to put the thousands of items on the floor.
For those who wanted to get a head start, the thrift store offered a special “Power hour” tickets. The tickets, which cost $20, got people in the store an hour before it officially opened. Betty Swanson was one of them.
An avid collector of Southwestern items, Betty has been coming to the sale since it began more than 20 years ago.
“Getting a chance to see the unusual items that are here in the store is amazing,” Betty said. “Southwest stuff is getting harder to find so this is an amazing opportunity. That’s why I’m always here on opening day each year!”
Dubiel said the most remarkable part about the sale is the fact that it is the main opportunity for St. Vincent de Paul’s retail operation to raise funds for the mission of the organization.
Established in 1946, SVdP is dedicated to feeding, clothing, housing and healing our neighbors in need across northern and central Arizona. Some of the programs include services for the homeless, medical and dental care for the working poor and charity dining rooms.
“The sale is very special because people love finding unique treasures in our store,” he said. “But it’s even more special knowing their purchases will have a direct impact in our community.”
