Two local retail outlets on a mission to give back
If you’re looking to update your wardrobe, get some new furniture or flesh out your record collection, Mission Thrift Store has you covered for all that — and a whole lot more. This is the first Saskatchewan location for Mission Thrift Stores — a non-profit organization that runs more than 50 thrift shops across the country, turning second-hand items into cash to support Bible League Canada’s literacy and leadership programs in more than 40 countries worldwide. The thrift store chain donated $12 million last year alone.
With the freshly renovated 21,000-square-foot location and prices ranging from 50 cents to $400, there are treasures of all sorts to be discovered in every nook and cranny.
Galenzoski says he has seen a few designer purses hit the shelves along with some donated furniture from Abode Crafted Wood Furnishings — one of which he said would normally retail for around $4,800.
The pieces are not only affordable, he said, but they also likely have a rich backstory behind them.
“One of the buyers out east was down in the southern United States, and they were bulldozing a number of these U.S. mansions down to the ground,” Galenzoski said. “He was in a situation where he bought a couple of these mansions and painstakingly took every spindle out of the wooden staircases and took all the wooden frames off the walls.”
If you’re looking to declutter your own home, Mission Thrift Store, with a warm enclosed space to deliver donations, is the perfect place to drop them off.
“Virtually, we take just about anything as donations except food and mattresses. We obviously don’t take toilets and stuff like that, either,” he said. “We have a special shipping and receiving area in the back with big doors. If you come to the back and hold the buzzer we will let you in and unload your donations for you.”
Galenzoski adds they also accept cash donations for the Bible League of Canada and are always looking for volunteers interested in working in the store — it’s as easy as stopping in and chatting with Galenzoski or one of his fellow managers.
MISSION THRIFT STORE
Address: #102 — 810 Circle Drive East Hours: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 306-227-4576 Website: missionthriftstore.com
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Longtime fashion enthusiast Jeanny Buan — who previously opened a shop on 33rd Street to house her sustainable and ethically made fashion brand Viahera Canada — has purchased Mylynh Bridal and moved Viahera into the new space, creating a space for sustainable fashions for brides and beyond. Already friends with the previous owner who was looking to retire, the opportunity to purchase the city’s second-longest running bridal store came at the perfect time Buan said.
Though the store already has a 22-year history in the city, Buan is dedicated to putting her own stamp on the shop, hoping to bring in more eco-friendly and ethically sourced items — with a portion of the proceeds going to send girls to school in Indonesia.
“I’m a huge advocate for sustainable products,” she says. “Back in May and June, before I took over, I went to Indonesia and volunteered in a school there and I ended up partnering with the school so the proceeds from the sale of my dresses are sending those girls to learn English.”
With more than 150 girls already sent to school since Buan bought the shop at the beginning of November, you can be sure the purchase of a dress at Mylynh Bridal will keep on giving long after your wedding is over.
The shop also offers a lot more than wedding dresses. Buan says they have options perfect for any age and any special occasion, from children’s party dresses to graduation gowns and evening wear. They even offer alterations and custom designs so you can be confident you’re getting the perfect dress with a perfect fit.
Buan knows it can be stressful finding the perfect dress, and she is hoping her shop can become a safe space for those who may not feel comfortable — or welcomed — at other stores in the city.
“We have a lot of friends from the LGBTQ community who are shy to try on dresses, especially if there are other women in the store,” Buan said. “So, we like to work with them personally, so if they’re not comfortable to shop during regular store hours we have special after-hours fittings for them so they can try on dresses comfortably.”
MYLYNH BRIDAL
Owner: Jeanny Buan
Address: #106 — 1640 Idylwyld Drive North
Hours: Monday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Phone: 306-384-9977
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