I recently visited as a wheelchair user, knowing it was inaccessible. (Mobility aid users and stroller carriers please read!!!) I’m someone who likes a challenge, and wanted to see for myself the inaccessibility. And upon calling they said it was “technically accessible”. You either go through a back alley (snow not plowed) to their garage, or have a companion carry your chair/stroller up the stairs in the front. Once getting to the first floor, yes, the first floor, after the stairs troubles, their idea of accessibility has its time to shine. They’ll have you go through the back to a lift straight out of the 1950’s. Not to mention, in order to get to said lift, you must travel across a floor of metal sheets stacked on top of one another. My wheels did better on grass than this comically ridiculous excuse for a floor. Once getting to the long awaited second floor (the main section of the store), it’s not too bad. I was able to get through the racks of clothing and such with little trouble. Until I came across a whole new section, with a large step you have to pass to enter. For a while I believed I couldn’t get up there at all, until I discovered the ramp. This ramp BARELY meets the ADA requirements (if it even does), and is so steep I was afraid even after a year of being a wheelchair user. I luckily have enough arm strength to have gotten myself up, but going down was a different story. I truly thought I would plow into somebody or something while descending satan’s ramp. I felt like I was at a skate park. I don’t have the grippiest wheels, so that meant I had to put extra effort into inching myself down the ramp without losing control and turning customers into bowling pins. Besides this, the store itself was good, they had a lot of variety. I bought 2 or 3 things totaling into 46 dollars. Quite pricy for thrifting but it’s understandable for the quality and theme of the store. If you’re like me and are in a chair, or you’re short, you’ll have a hard time shopping as half of the store is mounted on the wall. Like not even a tall person could reach the bow ties an inch beneath the ceiling. Also, the whole store smelled like plain oatmeal.
Overall, the store had some really cool decorations and items. Would I go again? Not a chance. Would I recommend this to a slightly tall able bodied friend? Sure! It’s a shame the store failed so miserably to accommodate for the hundreds of mobility aid users and people with strollers’ needs, I’m sure they’d have a lot more business.
If you’re in a wheelchair or stroller but up for the challenge or just really eager to shop there, have at it! It’s a pretty cool spot. It’ll be very helpful to have someone tag along. But do keep my warning in mind, please. 😭 Nothing against the employees, though. Cool people.