What I Thought of It

The NIMBY Store
Main St (see map)
Turner Valley AB
Phone: 403 933 5186

The NIMBY Store in Turner Valley is the kind of store you need to check out at least once, not only because of the merchandise, but also because of the store, the staff, and the message.

Owner Cheryle Dobbyn started The NIMBY Store to support animal welfare. She gives 100% of her profits (after rent and utilities) to animal causes like the Pound Rescue.

Now back to the store…remember that everything you buy here is for the good of our animal friends!

You’ll find The Nimby right on Main Street in Turner Valley. You won’t miss it, since it kind of stands out.

As soon as you enter, you’re surrounded by secondhand and antique objects packed like sardines. At first, the amount of stuff filling the store feels overwhelming, but as you stroll through you sense a pattern by which things are grouped.

The Nimby houses all sorts of hidden pre-loved treasures, like clothes, furniture, books, toys, collectibles, and much much more. Books and children’s toys are free.

If you like birds, Cheryle keeps a big cage of feathered friends right in the store. On our visit we also met a dog who was enjoying his new life with Cheryle after having been neglected by his previous owners.

Visiting The Nimby can make a difference in the animal world and perhaps in yours. So go treasure-hunting, and better yet, bring along some nice things you no longer use that others may enjoy.

Last thoughts: Visiting a secondhand store is not a typical tourist activity, but why not? You may find just the thing you’re looking for at The NIMBY Store in Turner Valley. I will definitely pop in again the next time I drive through Turner Valley.

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Find The NIMBY Store on the map.

The Pendulum, Inglewood
1222 9 Ave SE
Calgary AB  T2G 0T1
Phone: 403 266 6369

The Pendulum is one of many shops in Calgary’s Inglewood district, but it’s pretty easy to find as it’s almost right across from Kane’s Harley Diner.

The Pendulum sells women’s and men’s secondhand clothing and accessories. As soon as you enter The Pendulum you’ll notice the smell of incense. I’m not a fan of incense, but other patrons may like this olfactory experience. The ambiance is homey and alternative, and the staff will make you feel right at home.

On entering, you’ll immediately see a selection of shoes to your right, and then your eyes will spot the racks and racks of well organized clothes in the rest of the space. The clothes are more than just secondhand - they are mostly brand names and a bit more upscale than a thrift store. The staff are friendly and willing to help with whatever you need.

There are 3 dressing rooms in the back with big mirrors for seeing how your off-the-rack selections look on you.

Besides clothing, you’ll find a wide selection of accessories and jewelry at the counter.

All in all, The Pendulum is a great store to browse for unique additions to your wardrobe.

If you’re not looking for “new” clothes but wanting to get rid of clothing that’s still in good condition, The Pendulum accepts clothes for consignment everyday except Saturday.

Last thoughts: Shopping secondhand is certainly more popular during an economic recession. At The Pendulum you’ll find a wide range of secondhand clothing, even for men, that you wouldn’t mind owning even if you could afford to spend more.

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Fair’s Fair “For Book Lovers”
7400 MacLeod Trail S
Calgary AB  T2H 0L9
Phone: 403 269 7778

Fair’s Fair is a secondhand bookstore, and they have four stores in Calgary. I went to the one on MacLeod Trail, close to Glenmore Trail and easy to find with lots of parking.

My first impression was that the bookstore looked very organized. The place was spacious and seemed to have a lot of room for future bookshelves. I was greeted with great friendliness by a store associate, then I took a little tour around the store. Fair’s Fair secondhand bookstore offers a huge variety of books from numerous genres, so whatever you’re looking for, you will certainly find it. Aside from books, they also have a section of DVDs (that I personally thought were overpriced) and a section of VHS tapes.

On that Saturday morning there were a fair number of people browsing, and when they had questions the staff were quick to respond.

The store buys and trades books, so if you have a nice collection of books that you’re not using anymore, Fair’s Fair could be interested in them.

Last thoughts: Fair’s Fair on MacLeod Trail is a nice secondhand bookstore offering lots of choice in books. I will definitely think of Fair’s Fair the next time I am looking for something special.

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