Penny-Wise Thrift Shop

This thrift shop is a nice one, esp for home goods. Lots of pots and pans (many Calphalon, Revere, etc), sets of glassware, and I’ve found MacKenzie Childs, Portmerion, Byer’s Choice, Waterford, and small Tiffany silver items there on occasion. Good place for picture frames, sometimes nice pictures (quality varies). They usually have fun holiday decorations, often vintage. Sometimes they have interesting small furniture pieces, but it’s a little small to have very many. Nearby Bryn Mawr Hospital Thrift Shop has more room for furniture. They have linens, but it takes some patience to really see them as they are hung on hangers in the second room. Prices tend to be good, but remember thrift shop prices are generally set by the consignee rather than the store, so can be very cheap, sometimes more than you’d expect. The staff is very nice, especially Lorraine and the manager, Bobbi, is a real gem. Proceeds go to Jefferson Hospital so I like that feature. Like all thrift shops, it’s always hit or miss, depending on what you’re interested in finding. They close a little early on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays. They are very nice to consigners, call first to see what they are taking.

Drove from Philly to check it out and they put up the closed sign 10 minutes before the actual close– 4:30! They yelled at at us to leave! What shop closes at 4:30?!? Bad business practice!

Like most thrift stores, it has a lousy selection of men’s clothing, but at least the prices are fair so it’s worth checking out. They get great kitchen stuff and small appliances.

i would much rather give my $ to a thrift than a big box, and if one is selective, discerning, eager to unearth a treasure, they are there to be found! anecdote: once, i had been given the wrong change and the woman there didn’t believe my claim. but she told me that if the register supported me, she’d remember and give me my dollar the next time she saw me. because i was a «regular,» expected to be given the benefit of the doubt, but weeks later when i was in there and she was too, that lady remembered the change i was due and gave me my dollar. i mislaid a pair of earmuffs while shopping there, called, they found them and put them safely away for me to retrieve! that’s customer service. and while i mourn their closing in summer, i do rejoice at their end-​of-​season sale, where i’ve found some pretty miraculous buys. moreover, it makes it a good buy to know the proceeds go to Jefferson.

It’s always a coin toss. Pennywise or Neighborhood League Thrift shops. Today was nasty and rainy, I was in Ardmore so Pennywise won out. Over the years I have purchased nesting end tables, which I later found out were pretty rare and some odds and ends silverware, stemware and dishes for my college student. Once I found an amethyst ring that I continue to wear years later.
Its a fun place to shop with knowledgeable staff and fairly priced items. And proceeds go to Jefferson, Win-​Win.

It’s hard to pass by a thrift shop and not at least walk in.
This one is operated by Jefferson and is pretty small. It has two rooms, but offers everything you’d expect from a typical thrift store and seems to be on the cheaper side. I happened upon a map-​styled unused notebook for a buck, so that was exciting.
They close at 3 on Saturdays, which is a little surprising. They also prefer you pay with cash since they’re a nonprofit, according to the sign I saw while leaving.

the Penny Wise has been an institution in Ardmore for a very long time. I have many memories of going there as a child with my mother, spending my hard — earned babysitting money on such finds as the treasured purple suede jacket with fringe (it was the 80s, I was New Wave, it was awesome and I regret nothing) and a pair of gold sparkle boots. Adam Ant had nothing on me.
This shop’s proceeds benefit Thomas Jefferson University. The shop is staffed by volunteers, many of whom are spunky senior citizens. They close in July and August every year. Price tags are hand-​written. The shop is divided into two sections — one side contains their household items, the other side their clothing. Generally, their housewares/​knick nacks, and small furniture quality is better than their clothing.
I have noticed that their pricing is becoming, well, a bit on the pricy side. The Junior League effect? Except the quality is not quite comparable to JL, particularly in the clothing. Where you used to be able to pick up a shirt for $ 1, $ 2 now they’re pricing at $ 6 or $ 7 for the same shirt. Same with housewares, now you will find Corning ware not priced at $ 3 but at $ 9, which is a bit much I think.
The Rev. Dr. Steak spun by there the other day after lunch and I did find a couple of nice suits for him to wear at family functions that require them — for $ 12 each, and I scored a hand-​stitched double wedding band quilt, queen size, with only a need for very minor repairs, for $ 40.
There are still ‘finds’ to be had, but they are harder to come by, and they’re on the verge of being thought of as, well, a bit nuts. Yes, their goal is to earn as much as possible to support their very worthy cause. However, there’s a psychology to running thrift stores. Buyers love ‘finds’. Sprinkling them amongst your stock helps your reputation and brings more buyers in. This benefits all.
I have no doubt the Penny Wise will continue. They are, as I said, an institution here in Ardmore. I just hope that their pricing becomes more, well, realistic, otherwise they may end up as that place many people used to go before they went off the deep end.

Thought I would come back here today to take a second look at something I spotted last week. I called around 3:55 and asked the woman who answered whether the item was still there, and how late they were open. She told me it was there and that they would close the store at 4:30. Great, I’m on my way.
I hurry over there, arrive at 4:20 exactly, and the shop is completely locked up, no one is inside and there are no signs of life, the lights are out, and the «Sorry, we’re closed» sign is on the door.
Really?!

Pretty expensive shop, though the employees are decent and helpful. Not much selection, and the items they have don’t seem to move quickly. They had a half decent bicycle one time at a somewhat decent price — wasn’t my size, but it also didn’t look like it sold for about a week.
I’ve gotten some perfectly fine kitchen items here for less than they would be new: toaster, Oster blender, little bowl, etc. However, some other items are way too much: $ 10 – 15 for a pot with lid.
Oh well. Can’t win ‘em all.

The clothes selection was pretty bad, but they have a decent amount of furniture, home goods, and various other knick knacks. I ended up with a glass table that is currently acting as a coffee table, although its a little too small for the space, and a vintage tennis racket that I’m going to hang on my wall of tennis photography. The parking situation is tough, and the staff wasn’t super friendly, but I think they were a little frustrated by some of the impatience of other customers.

Meh, not a fan. I checked this place out for the first time today and it was so crowded for such a mediocre place. Everything seemed way overpriced, and the staff wasn’t attentive at all. The only good thing about this place is the convenient parking lot out back.

Fantastic thrift shop, That first reviewer is crazy, and upon further review, she rated all thrift shops around here a 1. This place just got a face lift inside and out, to make it appear as it did back in historic Ardmore — It’s fantastic. Wide variety of products and items, great prices, and friendly staff. Also a great place to sell items and part of the money goes to the hospital. A++++++!!!

This place is close to Harry’s Treasures so I decided to check it out. Really dissapointed, clothes were awful… knick knacks were way overpriced…$ 8 for a clear glass loaf pan that brand new at Home Goods is $ 4.99? And clearly they dont know a fake handbag when they see one, because they had several fake Louis’s in cases, as well as fake Chanel jewelry. That did make me laugh:) I didnt buy a thing. I wont go back.

I really like Pennywise. The people there are usually friendly and they accept credit cards, regardless of amount — key when buying in a thrift store.
It seems like their prices have gone up in the past month or so but maybe it’s my imagination.
Not much furniture, but plenty of doo-​dads and household goods and some chairs and bookshelves. (You’re not likely to find the bigger things like sofas, desks, dining room tables, or beds here.)
I don’t generally get really exciting deals from Pennywise, but I always enjoy stopping in.

one of my favs. Found everything from earrings to cheap paintings. I even got my intellifax machine here! only $ 2! Such a deal.