Funkiest Wackiest Most Foolish but my Favorite Shops

[pretty cheap jewelry]

Are we naturally lucky around here? Or am I such a extraordinary bargain hunter?

There are several most unusual retail stores nearby which are hard to believe have stayed open--

The Overcrowded Beauty Supply store. Many beauty supply stores sell to the public (not just licensed beauticians) and normally are great for bargains in hair salon, cosmetic and other items. But there is one near me that must have 200-300 types of brushes, a dozen types of spray bottles, little jewelry bling, specialty soaps and shampoos and so forth. It's safe to say many of the items are unsafely past their expiration date. But a great place to browse and pick out gift basket items. How do they stay in business?

The Floor to Ceiling Party Store. There is an independent party store nearby that has so much inventory there couldn't be a question the owner has no idea what is in stock. The first time I walked in many years ago I laughed out loud (alot). This place is wacko at Halloween, but all through the year there is every concievable type of birthday character napkin/plate/decoration (as well as over the hill, 40, 60, 65, 80, 100?!), wedding items, party favors (a veritable made in china factory), luau things, ethnic party things, there's parties you didn't even know you didn't know. I absolutely love going through the sale stuff, because there tons. How do they do it?

The Concrete Tilt Up T Shirt Factory Warehouse. This one is one big concrete building. No walls. No flooring. No heat. Good quality screened T shirts are 3/$10 adult sizes and 5/$10 kids. Not to mention the sweats, coats, golf shirts, luggage, underwear, socks, caps, even bras. Great for sending off 'California' shirts as gifts elsewhere in the country. (They wish they were here.)

There's actually a couple others, a crazy jewelry store that really basically sells components (sterling charms, stones, fossils, ring mounts, etc.) wholesale to anyone, and I'm sure a used book store that I can't even remember the details right now.

Anyone else or am I just lucky?

[fairy74]

Van Nuys/Sylmar area is also great for this kind of stuff:

Largest 99 cent store I've ever seen, shoe shops attached to the factory sell all kinds of shoes 3 for $20 and a tshirt factory that does all the big brands (Nike, PhatFarm, etc...) t-shirts are 3-5 dollars. Also deserving mention the homemade pinata shops where you custom order and a huge pinata is around $5.00