DRIPPING SPRINGS BABBLE: SHOP DRIP: HILL COUNTRY SENIOR CITIZENS THRIFT SHOP

SHOP DRIP: HILL COUNTRY SENIOR CITIZENS THRIFT SHOP

The Babbler's family is thrifty. Perhaps it's our Scottish roots, or maybe we're just cheap, but we've always taken great pride in bragging about how little we paid for something. Thrift stores are our meccas and, thusly, we are regular browsers, and often buyers, at the Hill Country Senior Citizens Thrift Shop here in Dripping. Like any good thrift shop, the place is always packed with merchandise, and takes a thrifty shopper's patience, and determination, to sift through.

On one visit we found an ethereal Mary McFadden couture skirt — a skirt that most likely went for many hundreds back in the day — for just $10 (one of the shop's more expensive items). Clothes for men and children also pack the racks at the front of the store, along with a doll collection and board games. In the back, you'll find the bulk of the shoes, a rack of belts, suitcases galore, books, a few computer-related items and loads of coffee mugs, glasses, and various kitchen and dining items. This Babbler recently bought a matching set of 6 dessert glasses for $3 (total). In front of the shop, there is almost always a selection of kid bikes, and around the side at the drop-off point is a revolving selection of furniture-type items. Some days are better than others, but such is the way of thrift store shopping. We recently stopped in a thrift shop in another small town, and not only are some days better, some thrift shops are better (that thrift shop made the Dripping thrift shop look like Neiman's Last Call).

Unfortunately, because people were using the thrift shop as a dumping ground (shame, shame), they were forced to put an aesthetically-challenged chain-link fence around the property. But don't be put off by the prison camp exterior, although you may feel like a thief with some some of the steals you find inside.

The Hill Country Senior Citizens Thrift Shop is located at 1310 Highway 290 West in Dripping Springs (just across from the Valero/Subway). They are open Monday - Wednesday from 9:00AM - 3:00PM and Thursday - Saturday from 9:00AM - 4:00PM. For more information call (512) 858-4663.