Thrifting Southwest Georgia

Columbus has one of the South’s largest thrift stores, plus a dang good Goodwill.

Joey's Thrift Mall, Columbus

Writing’s a lonely business and sometimes I need to clear my mind, move my feet. My tush always thanks me when I do.

My go-to action has long been perusing antique malls and thrift shops, rows and rows of cool and sometimes strange items that all have a history. It’s an Americana museum you can take home if you like.

When the pandemic hit, my sister and I would visit at a quiet lunch spot but we longed for some form of entertainment. Goodwill and others fit the bill, stores that promised few crowds. My wardrobe, once containing standard office items from the mall is now filled with unique finds I nabbed at thrift stores and consignment shops. Somehow, it’s more thrilling to put on an outfit purchased for a song that I saved from a landfill than an item created overseas paying who-knows-what to its creator and using fossil fuels to arrive in America.

In other words, I feel I have made a difference in some small way. When I look at the pollution in the world today, that feeling helps get me through.

So, imagine my delight upon reading that Columbus, Ga., has a massive thrift store in the heart of the city. It’s a gigantic warehouse—maybe more than one, hard to tell from the outside—called Joey’s Thrift Mall at 1100 10th Ave. and sports 180 vendor booths inside!

I started shopping like I always do, down one aisle, up the other, and criss-crossing my way through the maze. At least I thought that was a good plan. In addition to the main floor, there are corridors peeling off, sections with names like “Central Park,” with two giant areas filled with all kinds of furniture. Joey’s website says you need all day to filter through—and hard-core thrifters may need that much. I investigated fairly hard but it took me two hours.

Items you’ll find:

Clothes

         Tools

         Puzzles and books

         Children’s items and toys

         Collectibles

         Antiques

         Artwork

Vinyl

Furniture

         And lots, lots more.

I was especially intrigued by one vendor called "Cajun 101." Turned out they had another stall a few aisles over. Every item they sold had "Cajun" on the tag so I was on the lookout to spot the owner, to offer up a "Where ya from, chèr" and do the whole "Where'd you go to school, who's your mama?" thing we do from Louisiana. Alas, my Cajun friend didn't show.

But wait, there’s more!

If you visit Columbus, don’t miss a trip to the Goodwill on Veterans Parkway. I made out with a hot stash there, all great items, plus the people were super nice.

And before you go, let me quickly bend your ear on the sustainability of thrifting. You’re not only finding what may be an ideal gift for someone—or yourself!—but keeping tons and tons of items from finding their forever home in a landfill. This holiday season, instead of adding to the earth-destroying production cycle of creating new products, try buying and repurposing items that may be the ideal gift for that special someone. It usually means keeping a small business in operation as well.

One of the two furniture rooms at Joey's Thrift Mall, Columbus

A place to stay

Columbus was once a thriving mill town but today some of those mills offer historic, unique accommodations. City Mills boutique hotel sits on the Chattahoochee River but instead of weaving textiles, it offers a luxury experience with a chance to do yoga at its in-house River Flow Yoga and Wellness, and to dine at the Millhouse Kitchen & Bar with a gorgeous view of the river! Pets are welcome and visitors are situated right on the riverwalk, so a stroll along the "Hooch" is a must.

City Mills hotel, Columbus

City Mills, Columbus, Georgia

A place to dine

Gear up for a day of thrifting at Plucked Up Chicken and Biscuits at 1208 First Avenue in downtown Columbus where the decor is as fun as the delicious breakfast items—you can visit for lunch as well but never miss those biscuits!

Plucked Up Chicken & Biscuits, Columbus

Weird, Wacky & Wild South is written by Cheré Dastugue Coen who always brakes for a thrift store—and a great biscuit. That's Cheré with fellow travel writers at Plucked Up Chicken & Biscuits in Columbus. If you need more ideas on great places to thrift, check back often and click on the Eco-Tourism section.