Tea sets and Chippendale, Prada and Baccarat; all under one roof. Forget about hopping a flight to the hallowed halls of Harrods. It’s all in your own back yard! In this corner, an elegant seating area, tricked out with sleek sofa and leather wing chairs for dads and kids too bored to be bothered. A few steps away, glass cases boasting coveted still life paintings and crystal goblets. (Waterford on the front cover). There’s the boutique women’s wear section; cocktail gowns and furs. For men, Brooks Brother, Burberry and Boss rule. And, of course, furniture: A regency dining table here, a scan design chair over there. Never heard of the place? Well, here’s your official notice: Vintage, Etc. is here to cure your shop-‘til-you-drop syndrome. And… it’s all pennies on the dollar!
But do NOT call it a “thrift” store. No smelly stuff piled helter skelter in a musty humid warehouse. This is Vintage, Etc. a unique concept in the world of, shall we say, “pre-owned”.
And, once you meet the woman behind the wonder, it all makes sense. Ann Morrick should have her own T.V. show. Funny elegant, tough and tender, she’s a buzzsaw of determination wrapped in silk and diamonds, Jimmy Choos, and Coco Chanel; sort of a real life Oprah: “Come here, baby, give me a hug”! She doesn’t need the paltry paycheck, and certainly not the headaches, but Ann loves herself some Jesus, and has a heart for helping others. “It’s about meeting needs and being a blessing.”
Vintage is a ministry of grace family church. After she pays the light bill, all of the money goes to dozens of local and global missions supported by the church, Ann’s unique approach ensuring there’s plenty of profit for spreading the spiritual, physical, and emotional, and material needs of the gospel.
A few years back the Grace pastor approached Ann about the idea of a thrift store. She did some research and quickly set some standards pros in the field said were impossible. It’s based on her four “NOTS’. The store will NOT: Smell like, fell like, look like a thrift store, and “thrift” will not be in the name.
A former “Professional Beggar” for the Catholic Archdiocese, Ann doesn’t take no for an answer: she convinced consignment store to take a tax break and donate things that wouldn’t sell, used the same approach for unclaimed clean clothes from area dry cleaners, and ditto for used furniture store, stuff Vintage can easily, cheaply “re-hab”.
Ann’s mantra is: Excellence that reflects the integrity of the gospel. Her staff is trained to treat those who arrive by Bentley of bus, all the same way; “It’s not about the sale, it’s about serving and meeting the needs of the person.”
Do yourself (and someone else) a favor. Aim your Bentley or your bike to Gandy and Manhattan. And, if you take in this Newsletter you’ll automatically get an extra 20% off your entire purchase!
