ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — When it comes to shopping on a budget in Asheville, there are many spots that can’t be beat. From hidden thrift havens to undiscovered discount books, here are five low-cost alternatives to try for gift shopping this holiday season.
For the reader: Mr. K’s Used Books, Music and More
Perhaps the most underrated shopping spot in Asheville is Mr. K’s Used Books, located at 800 Fairview Road in East Asheville right off of I-40.
Mr. K’s offers thousands of curated, gently used books in all genres as well as scores of previously owned CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, records and comics. There are even a few toys, bookmarks and bumper stickers in the mix.
What makes Mr. K’s unique in the landscape of Asheville budget shopping is the trade system it employs.
Patrons of Mr. K’s can bring in their used books, movies and music and turn it in for trade credit to be used across the store. The trade credit is typically worth about 1/3 of the item’s retail value and can be cashed in towards any book with a white sticker.
The trade credit slips leave the shop with you and can be cashed in at Mr. K’s locations in Johnson City, Tennessee and Greenville, South Carolina too.
While not everything in the store is available for purchase with trade credit, many, many books are. If you are a voracious reader with a couple of already-read hardcovers sitting on the shelf at home, bring them by Mr. K’s for a few new used ones. The staff at the shop are knowledgable and selective, meaning even if a Mr. K’s find was used, it looks and feels brand-new.
Check out the archive of Mr. K’s inventory online at www.mrksusedbooks.com or go in blind. Treasure hunting is half the fun.
For the fine diner: Hopey & Company
Right next to Mr. K’s sits Hopey & Company, a family-owned shop that advertises itself as “WNC’s favorite budget friendly grocery store.”
Hopey & Co. features an eclectic blend of foodstuffs, from shop-labeled bulk snacks to wholesale items from stores like Whole Foods, often for far less than they cost at their original groceries.
Hopey & Co. is a great choice for the hungry giftees in your life. Need a white elephant present or a quick NYE party spread? Hopey has your back.
Visit Hopey & Company at 800 Fairview Road in East Asheville or visit www.hopeyandcompany.com.
For the fashionista: Goodwill Outlet Store
While Goodwill is a classic thrifting spot nationwide, the Goodwill Outlet Store at 1616 Patton Ave. in West Asheville is on another level.
The Goodwill Outlet Store, or “pay-by-the-pound” as it’s colloquially known, is a two-fold shopping experience. One side of the massive thrift store is a traditional retail space with an organized selection of thrifted goods. The other side, on the other hand, is a fantastic no man’s land of bins filled to the brim with potential special finds.
Going through the bins is a titanic undertaking, but for those willing to put in the time, the rewards you may reap are as exciting as they are cheap: clothes cost less than $2 a pound.
If you know your loved one’s measurements and fashion sense, there is no better spot to find their next favorite wardrobe staple than in Goodwill’s blue bins of wonder.
For more information about Goodwill Outlet Store, visit www.goodwillnwnc.org/locations/goodwill-outlet-asheville.
