Thrifting with the Gals in Wilmington NC

Since I have spent so much time thrifting in Wilmington, NC, I thought you might like to know where I’ve been thrifting and where to find the best vintage thrift stores. This is a complete guide to vintage and thrift store shopping in the Wilmington, NC area and my thoughts on the shops I’ve visited.

Have you ever visited Wilmington, NC? It’s such a wonderful holiday destination and vintage lovers will not be disappointed.

What do you like to do while on vacation?

Some of my favorite things can be found in this historic coastal town that I’m fortunate enough to vacation in on a regular basis.

We have owned a tiny beach cottage for approx. 30 years and it is only 20 minutes from all that Wilmington offers.

Historic Wilmington North Carolina

Our proximity to fine dining, sight seeing and shopping has always been a great perk to the location of our beach retreat.

When we tire of the sun and waves, we are only 20 minutes from a bustling city.

Wilmington’s 2 mile Riverwalk hosts many great shops & restaurants with outdoor dining and perfect views of the historic Cape Fear River and the Battleship North Carolina which is open for tours.

You can also walk along the cobblestone streets and view many historical homes that have been carefully preserved. To learn more about the preservation efforts you can read this article.

A visit here during the annual Azalea festival is an amazing sight to behold.

The port city of Wilmington has a little something for everyone due to its location next to Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.

In addition, you are only minutes from Fort Fisher Civil War Museum and the North Carolina Aquarium. As a side note my daughter’s wedding was held at the aquarium and it’s was a magical under the sea experience.

In addition, you can catch a 20 ferry ride to neighboring South Port on the Fort Fisher Ferry .

(Posts on The Ponds Farmhouse may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See the full disclosure details here.)

Thrifting in Wilmington North Carolina

It’s time for our Thrifting with the Gals monthly blog hop. The thrifting gals all live in different areas of the country but we all share a love for vintage, repurposed and thrifted decor.

We share our thrifting adventures on our Instagram stories and once a month we invite a guest thrifting friend to join us to sharing thrifting tips, ideas and more.

We are so happy to have Jennifer from Cottage on Bunker Hill join us for April. Jennifer is so creative and share tons of diy and decorating ideas on her blog.

If you are stopping in from Ann at Dabbling and Decorating, I’m so glad you stopped by today. Didn’t you love Ann’s Spring Flips and DIY’s.

Vintage Thrift Stores

In addition to all the wonderful historic sights, beaches and restaurants, Wilmington and the surrounding area is filled with vintage thrift stores. I’ve been thrifting here for years and still have a “must visit” list that I’ve not been able to get to yet.

Today I’m going to share shops that I have visited and purchased from. Then I’ll share a few of the ones on my “must visit” list.

Where are the best deals and finds?

I want to begin todays guide with one statement. You can’t determine which vintage and resale shops have the best deals because of their ever changing inventory. All the shops I’ve visited have something to offer and I’ve not been to any that didn’t have something I would love to take home. The key to successful thrift store shopping is to visit often. Prices vary from shop to shop and from vendor to vendor. You just never know when you’ll find the deal you are looking for. It’s always a treasure hunt. See more tips here.

Vintage Market Place – Oleander Drive

Y’all may remember these vintage ceiling tiles that grace our front doors.

My first visit to Vintage Market Place was while we were searching for architectural elements to add to our farmhouse.

The house was under construction and we were on a mission to find vintage items to give the new construction the character of a much older farmhouse.

That day we met the owner Janey and left with vintage ceiling tiles salvaged from an old furniture store in Wilmington.

Since that faithful day, my car doesn’t pass by Janey’s shop without pulling in to see what treasures have been added. If you follow along on my Thrifting with the Gals stories, you have seen many videos from Vintage Market Place.

The Ivy Cottage – Market Street

Another must stop shop is The Ivy Cottage which is actually 3 separate consignment buildings located beside one of our favorite restaurants, Indochine.

You may recall our most recent purchase here was the French Champagne Crate that we transformed into a coffee table for our newly renovated beach cottage.

You can see more of the thrifted finds on last months Thrifted Coastal Farmhouse Decor on a Budget.

We also shopped here while our farmhouse was under construction and found the second sideboard that makes up our DIY Kitchen Island.

I recently added these treasures to my collections.

Legacy Architectural Salvage – Dawson Street

Legacy Salvage is a non-profit project of the Historic Wilmington Foundation and is a great source for reclaimed wood, windows, doors and more.

The wooden top we made for our Champagne crate coffee table was rescued from their great supply of reclaimed wood.

In addition, there are many other non profit thrift stores where I have found great deals.

• Habitat Restore, Carolina Beach Road, Market Street & 3rd Street
• Salvation Army Thrift Store, Floral Parkway
• Assistance League Thrift Shop, Eastwood Road

---

Click to Shop

---

Fleabody’s Antique Mall – Market Street

Another fun stop just down the road from Indochine is Fleabody’s. They have an ever changing inventory which makes it a great place to walk off our lunch and pick up some great vintage deals. They offer a great selection of repurposed furniture and paint supplies.

---

The Village – Recollections Vintage Village – Carolina Beach Road

A little closer to our beach cottage is The Village. This is a multi-unit consignment shop that I stop by often and always find a few treasures to being home such as this shell planter and the adorable vintage dishes.

Baker Street Curiosity Shop – Market Street

You never know what you might find in Baker Street Curiosity Shop. The shop is filled with antique furniture and vintage goodies. I’ve visited several times and always find a deal.

Orange Blossoms – Merchants Circle, Hampstead

Just outside of Wilmington is Orange Blossoms resale shop. I’ve only visited once but found some great deals so I will be sure to check back often when I’m in the area.

The Junky Monkey- N. Kerr Avenue

A recent thrifting with the gals adventure took us to the outskirts of Wilmington to visit The Junky Monkey!

We all brought home several great deals. You might remember seeing my haul on Dirt Road Adventures that week. I’ve already found a use for every item.

More Thrift Stores in the Area – First Impressions

• Port City Peddler, Market Street – Great mix of old and new
• High Tide Home, Market Street – Great accessories for the home, some repurposed furniture
• Shops at Seagate, Oleander Drive – Beautiful Coastal Art and home decor.
• Thrill of the Hunt, Oleander Drive – Unique Furniture, repurposed pieces, etc.
• Michael Moore Antiques, Castle Street – Great antiques at good prices.
• The Primrose Cottage, College Road – Great coastal furniture & accessories

Thrift Stores and Resale Shops that are on my list to visit

Here is a list of recommended shops that I’ve not visited but definitely want to check out.

• Up Town Market, Market Street
• The Where House, Market Street
• Rescue Mission of Cape Fear, Castle Street
• Nifty Thrifty, Carolina Beach Road
• Azalea Antiques

I’m sure I’ve missed some great shops and if so, please let me know where I should shop next.

You can also find more information about shopping resale at this Treasure Guide site.

More Thrifting Adventures

Up next is Kristin at White Arrows Home and I know you are going to love Thrifting Finds to Display Encouragements.

Be sure to click on all the great thrifting adventures below…

Kristin – Thrift Finds to Display Encouragement / Robyn – Beautiful Spring Centerpiece with Thrifted Pots

Jennifer – Spring Thrift Store Home Decor Haul / Ann – Thrifty Spring Flips and Decor DIY’s

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I look forward to sharing my next adventure with you!

PIN IT TO REMEMBER IT