Guide to Thrifting in Lake County

By Local Thrifter Christie White

One of the things I love about living in Lake County is the access to the outdoors. I enjoy hiking and discovering new places to walk with my dog, kayaking on Clear Lake or The Blue Lakes, and spending time tending to my flower garden. But when I’m not outside, especially when it’s too hot in the mid-afternoon, I love to jump in my air-conditioned car and explore the area, including the many thrift and antique stores.

It’s easy to wile away an afternoon in our top spots for thrift finds and rare treasures. I keep my eyes open for things I collect and items my friends and family love. My brother adores old fishing gear and lures, my childhood friend collects antique kitchen gadgets, and my husband is fascinated with vintage wine openers and pocket knives. I lean towards items I can repurpose and vintage cocktail glasses.

I usually start in Kelseyville, where I visit Two Sisters and Dogwood & Crow. You enter Two Sisters through a courtyard with rustic finds and succulent planters into a shop filled with farmhouse décor. They also offer local honey, jams, relishes, eggs, and regular craft classes.

Dogwood and Crow, a new addition to Main Street Kelseyville, is a wonderfully curated vintage shop with pieces for your closet or home and great local handmade items. I always find a treasure or two here!

For thrifting, my top two spots are in Lakeport. The Hospice Services of Lake County Thrift Store at 1701 South Main Street is clean, well-organized, and constantly receiving new items from housewares to clothing (including an excellent range of children’s clothes) to fun games, toys, and craft supplies. They also have a second location in Clearlake at 14290 Lakeshore Dr., which is just as organized and full of gently used items, including some designer finds.

Next stop is always People Services Thrift Store in Lakeport at 50 S Main Street. I love their mission of supporting people with disabilities, and their shop always offers top-notch finds. On my last visit, they had a great collection of wet suits for the lake. Plus, it’s right on Main Street, so once parked, you can easily pop into other shops on the street or grab lunch or ice cream!

You can easily spend an afternoon browsing fun finds in Upper Lake. First up is the George’s Last Chance Second Hand Store at 1285 Hwy 20. It’s well-organized with lots of items with interesting stories. They have a fun assortment of old enamelware, hardware, and lighting. On my recent visit, I spotted an old accordion in their musical area and scored some great garden urns for a steal!

Upper Lake is also home to Vintage Antiques and Auction Barn at 375 E Hwy 20, one of my favorites with all kinds of treasures from furniture to art, vintage windows, doors, appliances, and a great collection of vintage western memorabilia. The owners are knowledgeable, and on the first Saturday of the month, they have a parking lot sale and auction with great deals.

Continuing around the lake, you’ll find the Vintage Antiques and Auction Barn at 3628 Manzanita Dr., right off Hwy 20. They have a great collection of household items in the front and fun vintage clothes in the back. I scored a great basket for a houseplant for $5!

If you are heading to Calistoga from Lake County, make a stop at Middletown Antiques at 24524 Bradford Road in Middletown. It’s a delightful experience, well laid out, and not to be missed! My favorite is the outdoor patio with all kinds of interesting garden items, and their prices are excellent.