Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette

I donate frequently to Goodwill, and enjoy coming to see what items these stores provide. If you have the time and enjoy rummaging through lots of stuff, this is the place.

So, last week I needed to shop for clothes that represented a certain look. Specifically, a scholarly look; even more specifically: the «liberal college professor» look. I had most everything that I was wanting, with the exception of some kind of blazer/​sportcoat. I wanted to go for the whole Birkenstock/​jeans/​collared shirt/​blazer with elbow patches/​tiny rimmed glasses thing.
I didn’t expect to find much in the way of sportcoats at Goodwill. I really wasn’t giving them the benefit of the doubt, since it’s been a solid 20+ years since I’d set foot in a Goodwill of any variety. So, I was thinking they’d have something between a half dozen and maybe 15 different coats to pick from. Boy, was I wrong. At this store, there’s an entire WALL full of coats to pick from. See the picture I’ve uploaded. Every variety is represented, from the most conservative navy blue double breasted jobber you could imagine to velour smoking jackets. Honest to goodness smoking jackets, I kid you not. Replete with pre-​installed real smoke smell. On a side note: yuck.
I found the perfect light brown cord jobber with elbow patches. On the way out I grabbed a perfect little pair of tiny round rimmed glasses. Total bill: $ 17. Little bit north of what I wanted to spend, since this costume is for a retiring co-​worker, but it’ll be worth it.
I didn’t look through anything other than the jackets and glasses, but the eastern portion of the store is filled with all the nicknacks that you would expect at a Goodwill. I saw motorcycle helmets stacked right next to 6 foot tall lamps. About par for the course for a Goodwill, yes?

This place is a flea market person paradise the stuff that can be found here can’t even be imagined. It is a place that has to be experienced to fully appericate to be understood. What ever a person is looking for or didn’t even knew they wanted will pass through this place within time. Tens of thousand of items come through this place daily. You better be willing to get your hands dirty digging through the endless bins that are constanty being brought out. New books costing $ 15 in a store run a buck. Electronics cost $ 80 or more go by the pound. Were else but the growercy store can one find stuff by the pound?