Citizen Staff
Julie Schall poses in front of her resale store at 166 E. Oak St. in downtown Juneau, Things 4 Gotten. Schall predicts, "You'll pretty much find whatever you're looking for," in her eclectic mix of merchandise.
JUNEAU — At their worst, resale shops are piles of items that people wouldn’t pull out of the trash.
At their best, they’re full of treasures that people can’t help but covet.
And then there’s the unique shop at 166 E. Oak St. At “Things 4 Gotten” anything that people can use might find a home. Shoppers of all income levels are welcome to enjoy the many offerings available for exchange and/or purchase.
The enterprise is operated by Julie Schall, who came to her husband’s hometown about eight years ago.
Schall has been in retail sales most of her adult life, and dipped her toe into local commerce last year by opening a shop at her rural home.
“I wanted to go more local and have a better location,” Schall said of her decision to move downtown.
She has seen her fair share of locations, being born in Ripon and raised in Florida.
“I had a shop like this in Florida, and I kind of came home with the shop here in Juneau.”
Schall rented the former pharmacy/Curves franchise and opened on May 1.
There wasn’t a lot of work that had to be done, and a handicap accessible bathroom had previously been installed.
“It was a lot of cleaning. It stood empty for a few years. But that was about it,” she said.
A large basement provides lots of space for storage.
Although she specializes in vintage and retro items from the 1950s and 1960s forward, there are also a few Victorian items and other things that are nearly new.
In addition to bric-a-brac, there is clothing, small furniture, decorative accessories, and items from her own collection of vintage glassware.
“My favorite things are the pictures,” Schall said. “Because one picture can really brighten up a room.
“Clothing includes baby sleepers up to size 3T or 4T, and those are all $1.99. I have women’s clothing, and the majority are size 14 and up. They’re all higher-end at very low prices. I think the most expensive suit I have is $18.”
Shoppers can also find anything from bars of soap to fake lottery tickets.
She also makes jewelry and beaded curtains.
“It’s all handmade, and it‘s guaranteed,” said Schall. “With the beaded curtains I can match any color pretty well.”
A scrapbooking and craft area is now in the works, and will offer supplies at highly discounted prices.
More than just resale, Schall has some offerings that make her shop unique.
“Up here being so cold for much of the year, I have a book exchange,” she said. “Bring one in, take one out. Bring 10 in, take 10 out. I also have a free puzzle exchange and a VHS exchange. Those items are available for purchase, too, if you want to do it that way.”
Things are not consigned, meaning that Schall purchases or accepts all of the items she offers for sale or exchange.”
If somebody wants to donate something from a garage sale or something - like household items - I’ll take them in and clean them up. If somebody moves into the area and needs something like a set of pans, they can have them. Or silverware, or ... something that’s a life’s necessity. If I have it they can have it.”
She continued, “I donate coats and blankets. If somebody doesn’t have a whole lot of money and they have a 3- or 4-year-old kid who needs some clothes, there’s no charge.”
How will she make any money, one might ask?
“You’d be amazed,” she said. “One good thought and one good heart is pretty much what everybody needs.”
People respond — partly because that’s the way people in the area are, according to Schall.
Reaction to this eclectic mix of antique/resale/charity/jewelry store has been pretty universal.
“When they walk in the door their mouths just drop,” Schall said. “Because I have so many different things. If you can’t find it here, tell me. I’ll find it.”
All of which promotes her mission of finding things that people may have forgotten, but will add joy to their lives.
“You’ll pretty much find whatever you’re looking for,” Schall said.
kthomas@capitalnewspapers.com