The Bargain Store, Mission, BC

Store entrance with pet crates featured in the window

There are very few real second-hand stores left. I mean the old-style owner-run second-hand stores that used to be in nearly every community.  Stores run by the original recyclers, long before second-hand shopping became trendy & chic. And long before the large corporate “thrift” stores came into play, trying to gentrify the business and dominate the market.

Luckily though, one such store still remains. By far the best one I have found in many years is the Bargain Store, located in Mission, BC. It is owned and operated by Heather McCormick who has run the shop for 31 years and unfailingly manages to have the most incredible selection of goods on offer at any given time.

Heather buys and sells. Pretty much everything in the store is something she has bought for re-sale. Yet her prices continue to remain more reasonable than many stores that actually get their goods by donation. The Bargain Store is not in a shopping mall! It’s in the same place it’s always been, down on Railway Avenue - a location that has worked well for Heather and her customers for 31 years.

To me, it’s what second-hand shopping is supposed to be.  Thanks to Heather’s great eye, there is always a good collection of antiques and vintage as well as an unending selection of furniture and overall useful items. The Bargain Store is also well known for having the best selection of pet crates in the Lower Mainland.

So kudos to Heather (who just turned 80 in 2018) for all her hard work in keeping this truly authentic and wonderful second-hand store running for all these years! Your customers appreciate you more than you know!

(Update: In the spring of 2019, Heather retired from the store, passing on the name and location to new owners. As one of my friends said, "Eighty-one is probably not too soon to retire". Nevertheless, we miss you Heather!)

Heather (center) with two of her customers

Heather's famous old van