LEE ELLIS, e-PRO. "RealtyLee" Green Homes & Technology Consultant

With the economic recession, shopping at thrift stores in Northern Virginia has become a reliable, and often fun, way to save a bundle by bargain-hunting. The appeal of “recycling” used goods -- those which may be worn but not worn out -- helps many get over the notion of wearing others people’s stuff, yet it’s the substantial cost savings and the sheer variety of still-useful merchandise that seals the deal for many thrift store shoppers.

The two Northern Virginia thrift stores I sampled recently, Act II Resale Shop in Lorton, VA and Village Thrift in Woodbridge, VA provide important services in their communities. These thrift stores accept donations of clothing, household items and furniture, sort and resell many items, then use the proceeds to help those in need. According to the manager at Act II Resale Shop, “There are children living in the woods...with their parents.”

In the case of Act II Resale Shop just off Route 1 in Lorton, extra items (you can only sell so many pairs of jeans in a day) and those not suited for resale (sample toiletries) are sometimes picked up and re-distributed to local children and adults through charitable organizations. Act II Resale Shop directly benefits the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) which is housed nearby and has an outreach and training center a few doors down the sidewalk. LCAC hired its new Act II Resale Shop manager only about a month ago, and she’s revamping the store’s layout and merchandising. Though this Fairfax South County thrift store has only two rooms, they are filled from the floor to the ceiling with low-priced men’s, women’s and children’s clothes, bags and shoes, dishes and cookware, books, toys, magazines and ready-to-reuse furniture. Bargains are easy to come by, like a fashionably striped, button-down, silk blouse for $5.

Shoppers at Village Thrift in Woodbridge in Prince William County readily find great deals, like new-with-tags clothes from Lands End and nearly new duds from Ralph Lauren, Patagonia, Nike, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor. (A brand-name silk skirt in a fall, fashion-forward plaid was $7.) The volume of items -- many of unquestionably high quality -- is almost overwhelming at this Woodbridge Thrift store: neatly color-sorted clothes for every size (including maternity wear); hats and other accessories; bed linens; plates; candleholders; artwork; and more. To encourage swift turnover of inventory, the good deals get better with select tag specials every Sunday, and even better on Mondays when three colors of tags are 50% off, and other tag colors are at least 30% off the price. There’s a lengthy row of fairly modern computer printers, with CD and DVD players and televisions sharing that shelving; small appliances like microwaves and a spacious area with toys are nearby, too. Just watch out for the little ones who are diligently testing out the toys!

If you’re bargain-hunting for wardrobe or household essentials or just want to to amuse yourself for a while, both Act II Resale Shop in Lorton, VA and Village Thrift in Woodbridge, VA are good bets. A thorough wash or careful wipe from their new owners is often all the goods from these stores need to be put back into service -- and not put into a landfill. These two Northern Virginia thrift stores provide people an economical and enjoyable way to (re)use items while helping their local communities.

If you're hunting for bargains in Northern Virginia, especially along Route 1 from Alexandria to Woodbridge, VA you're bound to notice signs for several discount stores. Here are two which my real estate and staging clients and I have shopped in, and which can offer substantial savings for those with flexible timing or requirements.

Tuesday Morning. Engleside Shopping Center. 8644 Richmond Highway (aka Route 1). Alexandria, VA 22309. Tel. 703-799-0889. Main hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Sunday 12 to 6 p.m.

Tucked in the corner of a shopping center with a Safeway grocery store, this store features small to medium furniture near its entrance and a myriad of toys, linens, pillows, gardening implements, cookware, stationery, small appliances and clothing. Most items are competitively priced, though a few are within the range of prices one may find online for similar items. Sometimes when they don't have enough matching items at this store, it's possible to find related items at another local store, such as the Tuesday Morning in Rose Hill, Alexandria, Baileys Crossroads, Falls Church, Vienna, West Springfield or Woodbridge, VA. For a bite to eat nearby, there's Quizno's sandwich shop.

Big Lots. 13969 Jefferson Davis Highway (aka Route 1). Woodbridge, VA 22191. Tel. 703-492-9388.

Bargain-hunters trek to this overstock supplier which sits in the middle of a shopping strip with a vast parking lot. The merchandise varies from school supplies to snack foods, and clothes to car seats. Some items are not current, so it's wise to check expiration and manufacture dates, especially on items like child safety seats. The retailer's Web site entices people to sign up to get advance notice on what's coming to the stores and to learn of special buys on popular items. The next closest store in Virginia is in Sterling Park, VA to the west, and there's another store south of Woodbridge in Fredericksburg. If you're hankering for a snack, The Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins combination store just north on Route 1 has a drive-thru and has inside tables with oh-so welcome air conditioning. (I am writing this in August afterall.)

Since many discount stores sell overstocks and discontinued items, it's hard to predict what one will find, so patience and frequent visits may be key. If you seek more standard merchandise, matched sets, or several coordinating items, then Wal-Mart, Marshalls and TJ Maxx also have stores along Route 1 in Alexandria, VA which provide a similar variety of clothing and household items, though fewer overstocks, and often at reasonably low prices compared to typical department stores.

As a Northern Virginia real estate consultant, I sometimes field questions about bargain-hunting around Fairfax County, VA and nearby Washington, DC suburbs. After some prodding from friends, I’ve decided to share some shopping ‘savoir faire’ with this blog series. I’ll write about where, when and how to find great deals on all sorts of products, services and entertainment, and real estate in Northern Virginia and the DC area.

Since Fairfax County, Alexandria City, and Arlington, VA in Northern Virginia -- just south of Washington, DC -- have so much to offer, my topics in this series will range from A to Z. That is, I’ll start with some fun items like Accessories via high-end retail stores and venture to contrasting topics like Zucchini and other vegetable bargains at local farmers markets, with a lot of other great finds in between.

For example, a few weeks back, the well-loved team at a Fairfax, VA hair salon provided two days of hair cuts and styles free of charge as part of their “stimulus” for anyone needing a boost. The Virginia tax-free school supplies weekend was a success, and the National Park Service just concluded the third fee-free weekend for the year. This week, a local gym hosted a two-day open house featuring their lowest enrollment fees for new members. And there are still plenty of bargains to be had.

One item I noticed recently -- the Dunkin Donuts on Route 1 in Woodbridge, VA is currently offering a small iced latte for about $2, and for nurses who show their professional identification, a free coffee on Tuesdays in August. Caribou Coffee in Lorton, VA has three drink deals on Mondays and the Lorton ZPizza shop offers a free kid’s meal with adult purchase on Mondays and a two-for-one large pizza deal on Tuesdays.

Your topic suggestions and shopping tips for fellow Northern Virginia and Washington, DC residents are welcome. Feel free to contact me about what kinds of bargains you’re seeking. And, sure, you closet shopaholics can inquire on behalf of a ‘friend’ of course. I'm up for the challenge. If you stump me, I'll tap into my Northern Virginia network to find you terrific bargain-hunting resources.

Sandwich lovers in Lorton are enjoying toasty goodness again, now that the local Quiznos Sub restaurant has reopened in August under new ownership. It's the 9433 Lorton Market Street location near the Shoppers Food Warehouse and UPS Store. For about a month, signs in the windows at the South County sandwich store noted that the store would reopen soon, so many neighbors were waiting and watching.

With a revitalized appearance and a well-trained staff, the new store is once again offering sandwiches, soups, salads and satisfying the taste buds of those who crave "toasty subs." Two favorites for the locals -- the "Bullet" for $3 and the larger "Torpedo" for $4. Quiznos also serves kids meals, and has optins to add a drink and chips or a drink and soup for an add on price to any entree.

So, try them out, and please do let them know you read about them here! If you'd like to know my favorites at our local Quiznos sub shop, please contact me, Lee Ellis, Fairfax South County REALTOR.

Quiznos Sub. 9433 Lorton Market ST, Lorton, VA 22079

Fairfax South County Slurpee fans got a surprise this Monday when the former Gunston Food Mart and Deli officially turned into a Lorton, VA 7-Eleven store. Many neighbors learned about the store conversion when they saw the bright "Now Open 7-Eleven" signs on the sides of Lorton Road and Silverbrook Road and the banner on the Gunston Corner Village Center marquee. This location is so new, it isn't showing up with a 22079 ZIP Code search on the 7-Eleven Web site, and the primary signage isn't up yet.

The Lorton 7-Eleven store layout and offerings are quite different from the Gunston Food Mart and Deli, while the ownership is the same. Some veteran 7-Eleven employees are staffing the store to give it a good start, and ensuring that the coffee, Big Gulps (R) and Slurpees (R) are true to the brand. One employee noted that she's worked with the company for many years, and would be reducing hours once the school year starts and others are trained to take over; her other job is as a school bus driver in neighboring Prince William County, south of Fairfax County.

Lorton locals may miss the deli counter where one could custom order breakfast, lunch and dinner, and hopefully they'll appreciate the trade-off of having more ready-made foods like taquitos and pizza by the slice. That seems to be the case with one customer who works nearby and was marveling at the variety of the new 7-Eleven offerings. "I can't tell you how happy I am!" she exclaimed in delight, on her way to the Slurpee dispensers. If it's already this well-received by Lorton area professionals, I wonder how it's going to to over with anyone going to South County Secondary School and Laurel Hill Golf Club players?!

The new South County area 7-Eleven. 8228 Gunston Corner Lane. Lorton, VA 22079. Tel. 703-690-2463.

If you're curious about how the new 7-Elven store is doing in this Lorton, VA neighborhood, want to buy or sell a home near it, or want to know my favorite Slurpee flavor, please contact me, Lee Ellis, Fairfax South County REALTOR!