Chris Grey
The Golden Goose Thrift Shop in Catalina likes to bill itself as “a thrift shop like no other,” which immediately sets itself up for comparison to every other such store in the known universe. Fortunately, all one needs to do is make one visit to be convinced that those words ring true.
It’s not as large as a big box store, but it has almost as many departments. Today, we’ll take a look at two of them: Art and sporting goods.
One of the first things you’ll notice when you enter is that art hangs everywhere. It’s all been donated, and it’s more varied in size, media, and subject matter than any art gallery anywhere. You may find original paintings, limited edition prints, signed posters, and even framed and dried botanicals. Frames range from simple to ornate, and while they might have once been expensive, they’ve been nicely discounted from their original value. And thanks to the Goose’s team of art volunteer experts, each piece is inspected for defects before it hangs in the store.
Golf is huge in Arizona, especially in the winter months. A recent walk through the golf portion of the sporting goods section saw more than two dozen Ping, King Cobra, and Tight Lies drivers and woods, in a range of lofts, for male and female golfers. If you’re like me and send your drives into deep rough where the cacti claim them, you can buy large bags of used balls for just a few dollars—bags and shoes, too.
The best part is that you can feel good about shopping or donating at the Goose because 100% of the profits go to support two charities: IMPACT of Southern Arizona and SaddleBrooke Community Outreach. Since the Goose is mostly staffed by volunteers, that means $20 million cash so far.
So, take a walk with a Goose and see what you can find (stock changes almost daily!), or donate items you no longer need. There’s even a truck available to pick up large items. Find out why the Golden Goose really is a thrift shop like no other!