“What’s on 2nd?”
“What’s on 2nd?” is a vintage thrift shop located on 2nd Avenue North in downtown Birmingham.
Here you can happily hunt through three stories of items that tell tales of the past. The rafters are filled with unique objects ranging from vintage records, old school cameras, historical documents, trading cards and more.
Since 2007, the shelves have been filled from “an army of pickers who are constantly bringing in new items,” co-owner Steve Gilmer says.
You may not visit “What’s on 2nd?” with any intent of making a purchase, but any shopper is bound to make a connection with a nostalgic item to take home.
Unclaimed Baggage
Unclaimed Baggage is tucked in the small mountain town of Scottsboro in the northern corner of Alabama. The family-owned business has been thriving for more than 40 years.
Here you can discover other people’s treasure as you browse unclaimed luggage from all over the country.
The store covers an entire city block with more than 40,000 square feet of unclaimed airplane luggage. Items range from laptops to top-of-the-line cameras, designer clothes and purses and everything in between. All of the products are available at discounted prices.
Their huge selection of unique products draws customers from all over the map. Unclaimed Baggage is sure to keep any thrifty shopper busy for hours.
Homewood Antiques
Homewood Antiques and Marketplace is a family-owned business in Edgewood with an always changing, never ending stock of rare and fun antique pieces.
The store supports more than 50 vendors that supply a variety of merchandise. These vendors have created homemade items and several refurbished antique pieces. Other pieces sold in Homewood Antiques are ready for their purchaser to fix them up and show them off.
When you make such a purchase, owner Chris Collins bids you farewell with one request: “Make sure you send us pictures showing what you do with this piece!”
Charlotte Woodsen
Charlotte Woodson is a local antique store nestled in Mountain Brook Village that offers high-end antiques.
Owner Dinah Toro buys most of her products in France. She is available to answer any questions you may have about antiquing along with her dog, Mr. Foxie.
Although he isn’t for sale, shoppers can find almost anything else in Charlotte Woodson including books, pictures, large furniture and home décor.
The atmosphere of the shop is conducive to getting lost in a beautiful store while hunting for items with a rich history.
By Stevi Sappenfield
Photos by Kaitlin Bitz and Stevi Sappenfield