The Salvation Army

I was wandering down Bourke Street just minding my own business — and giving the Victorian economy a boost — when something caught my eye. Not in a good way mind, it was one of those bejewelled strapless ball dresses that I thought only existed within the televisual confines of ‘My Super Sweet Sixteen’ but it caught my eye all the same.
Imagine my surprise then when I looked up to see the ‘Salvos’ name on the window. This, I realised, was the very definition of an inner city op shop. All ‘look at me’ window displays and delusions of charitable grandeur. I know from experience that these are not the charity shops where bargains are found.
I went in for a gander all the same and — much as I thought — the clothes weren’t much to get excited about. The selection here is mostly second hand Kmart stuff mixed with a bit of regional ‘dress shop’ garb thrown in for good measure and nary a vintage or designer piece in sight.
On the plus side, the Salvos’ Bourke Street store does offer a good range of books — ranging from tomes by the Dalai Lama to a practical guide to going through the menopause — and I’d imagine that if you pop in regularly enough you’ll find a gem eventually.
In a nutshell: OK. If you’re a die-​hard op shop fan who doesn’t mind sorting through some dross this place is probably worth a visit; if you like your op shops at the more quality end of the scale: avoid.