Valmart

«So, how many thrift stores do you go to a week?»
Sorry, Valmart dude. Some people crack their knuckles. Others stalk strangers on Facebook.
Me? I impulsively dig through thrift stores. What can I say — I like the rapid fire click of hangers as my hands flip through them, like an otter paddling through water.
Which is how I ended up here (on multiple occasions, sometimes within the same week). Located in the same strip mall as America’s Thrift Store, this store glistens like a suspicious sparkle in the distance.
Park in front of ATF, walk past the pool hall, peek at all the moms in Shapes with a look of curiosity and horror, and then find yourself here.
Quantity-​wise, it’s nothing to be excited about. Another downer: everything is organized by color rather than size. Even downer-​er: prizes are a bit steeper, seemingly because they’re assigned a flat rate by section.
But if ATF is this area’s mother thrift store, this is the eccentric cousin.
What makes Valmart shine is its disproportionately huge collections of really weird stuff. Like books on the occult. And vintage plaid wool shirt jackets. And crossbows. And military-​issue camo jackets. Where are they getting this stuff — from satanic rednecks?
According to the guy I always talked to, the mixture of donations and purchases come from all over. At the time, they were expecting a shipment from New York, though I’m not sure I’d be able to differentiate New York thrift goods from local ones.
In any case, there’s usually a super friendly staff of one or two. They’ll let you try stuff on in the bathroom in the back if you ask nicely. Visitors are usually limited to a handful of older shoppers or giggly teens.
In my series of visits, I’ve only pulled the trigger on a Perry Ellis button-​up and a vintage military cold weather shirt, both priced a little over $ 4. (Supposedly, the higher prices are meant to reflect a focus on recycling and higher-​end brands [ehh]). But there are always fun surprises.
And, despite this store’s unfortunate name and unlikely location, it’s a worthy addendum to any Marietta thrift excursions you might have. Happy clacking, y’all.