Photos by Jack Fitzpatrick
By Jack Fitzpatrick and
Tara Boyd
A skeleton wearing a bowler hat and blazer, an ancient-looking baby carriage and two portraits of women with penciled-on mustaches were among the stacks of furniture, art and trinkets at a new vintage shop near the light rail.
Sweet Salvage, located on Seventh Avenue and Camelback Road, opened its second four-day sale Thursday. The shop sells a collection of rustic items ranging from light fixtures to small wall hangings, appealing to shoppers interested in vintage or re-purposed goods. This month’s exhibition featured a “Harvest Moon” theme, including items with warm, autumn tones and Halloween themes.
The vintage shop opens once a month for four days, beginning on the third Thursday of the month. Each month features a new theme and a completely new set of merchandise handpicked by co-owners Katie Hibbs and Kim Rawlins.
“The mix is what makes it beautiful,” Rawlins said, describing their merchandise as “quirky, odd” and “funky junk.”
Rawlins said the short-term sales make the shop more interesting for visitors.
“The event creates urgency and a really fun shopping experience,” Rawlins said.
About 40 customers packed into the small shop Thursday morning, searching through the dense collection that sprawled into an outdoor area behind the shop.
Less than an hour after the shop opened, several customers had purchased an odd assortment of items. One man walked away carrying a full-sized skeleton. Another man had a large metal chest with rusty clasps. One woman left with the lower half of a wooden leg, fitted with a dusty leather loafer.
Sweet Salvage is located in the Melrose District, an area known for its vintage vibe.
Judy Bidwell said she has been coming to vintage shops in the area for “a number of years.” She bought a rustic, painted birdcage Thursday, and said she got hand-made curtains and a few feather boas at last month’s sale.
“It’s vintage, salvage, industrial, a little shabby,” Bidwell said. “It’s a popular look.”
Sweet Salvage seems to draw in customers who are looking for “the up-to-date stuff they see in the magazines,” Bidwell said.
Stacy Hancock didn’t buy anything Thursday, saying she was slightly intimidated by how crowded the shop was. Last month, she bought some old baking pans and a few baskets. Hancock said she liked the variety in the shop’s collection.
“They have everything from new to old,” she said. “They have some eclectic pieces. This (month) has a little more of a Gothic twist because of Halloween.”
During Sweet Salvage’s off weeks, Hibbs and Rawlins travel and shop for other merchants who are willing to sell their vintage wares. For this event, Sweet Salvage worked with eight other designers and dealers that “got it going on” to put together a collection of merchandise that represents various styles, Rawlins said.
The concept behind Sweet Salvage has been a work in progress for many years. Rawlins moved to the Valley seven years ago from Minneapolis, where she said occasional sales are common. After moving, she wanted to open a shop but found that the Valley did not offer many options for occasional salvage sales. People did not really understand the concept, Rawlins said.
At the beginning of this year, the owners began talking with other investors and eventually the store took shape. When an ideal location on Seventh Avenue became available earlier this year, Rawlins said they took the opportunity.
“We love our location,” Rawlins said, “and we have the right people on board.”
The store’s team has now expanded and everyone works well together, Rawlins said. She said it is helpful to have multiple sets of eyes looking out for merchandise.
“The store became what I dreamt it would be,” Rawlins said.
Rawlins said the owners were initially concerned about attracting customers, but word spread through their website and social media sites. Rawlins and Hibbs had also built a strong client base at their other store, Not Too Shabby, that carried over.
The store’s grand opening in August was “overwhelming” and saw a wide range of customers, Rawlins said. She added that “the energy and vibe about it was fabulous.”
Sweet Salvage was open Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Contact the reporters at john.l.fitzpatrick@asu.edu and tara.boyd@asu.edu
