What a Bargain at Refurbished Trinity Thrift & Boutique

What a Bargain at Refurbished Trinity Thrift & Boutique

Photos by Dillonkeenphotography

By Leonard Shapiro

There is a spectacular newly refurbished boutique in downtown Upperville these days, with incredible rock bottom prices on a wide variety of antiques, art, high (and low) end men’s and women’s apparel, bridal wear, household goods, books and even horse tack, riding jackets and boots.

Welcome to the three floors of merchandise at the newly rebranded Trinity Thrift & Boutique. So what if it’s all just a tad slightly used? Where else can you find an Evan Piccone tuxedo priced at $25, a stunning woman’s blue polka dot wool jacket from Nieman Marcus at $20 or a shiny pair of men’s cowboy boots, size 12, for $35.

Business class.

Laurie Volk always arrives in grand style.

Trinity Episcopal has had a thrift shop for more than 30 years, with proceeds going to the church’s outreach programs. Outreach ministries at Trinity fund local, national and international projects brought to the attention of the Outreach Committee or Vestry.

But until Eloisa Miller, who prefers to go by Chloe, came along last May and warily walked into what once was a cozy country home, the place had never looked like this.

In fact, she said, back then it looked virtually beyond salvation.

“It was a mess,” she said. “I was in shock.

It was covered in dust. Before I started, you couldn’t even walk in here there was so much trash. There were racks and racks of clothes everywhere. I went upstairs to one room and underneath a pile of stuff a heater had been left on, maybe for a couple of years. They’re very lucky the place didn’t burn down.”

They were also very lucky that Chloe, after a long and continuing career as an interior designer based near Front Royal, had decided to take a part-time job managing the shop. She’d been contemplating retirement, but instead made it her mission to turn it into a warm, welcoming space that keeps drawing big crowds the three days it’s open every week—Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dog on it, belt and buckle.

What the duck?

Needless mark-up.

If the shoe fits.

“The reason I wanted the job was because all the money goes to their outreach,” she said, adding that she recently took in $3,600 in sales one day. “On Saturdays, you can hardly walk through this place there are so many people.”

Laurie Volk, pictured here modeling some of the fabulous fashions, is a member of the church vestry that decided to upgrade the thrift shop.

“She’s done an outstanding job,” Volk said. “It now creates more funding for Trinity’s outreach ministries to reach local needs. It’s open longer hours and is more like an attractive boutique. It continues to meet the practical needs of local shoppers in need of kids clothes, housewares, etc. The more practical stuff is upstairs. Downstairs may have designer items, but at very reasonable prices. The renovation is a huge success thanks to vision and effort of countless people. I’m delighted.”

And so is Chloe.

“I like things to look perfect,” she said. “Right now, there’s no perfection yet, but we’re trying to get there.”

Happy New Year, bring on 2023.