By Ruby Fox
This month’s great op shop discovery is Yarraville’s Uniting Op Shop. Now, while I’m sure I’ve walked past this store a hundred times, I’ve never actually been inside before, but I’m so glad I finally have.
On one of Yarrville’s busiest streets, Anderson street, this op shop is in the perfect place for an easy visit. Just a three-minute walk from Yarraville train station, and an even shorter walk from quite a few restaurants, grocery stores and other shops, it’s the perfect place to stop while running some errands.
There is also a three-hour car park and a bus stop right next to the station so it is easily accessible by train, bus or car.
Shopping here is a great way to help out your community while having fun as according to their website, “money raised at the Op Shop directly benefits local Uniting services including those offered at Footscray and across the western suburbs”.
They offer quite a range of services, assisting people with addiction issues, housing issues, family difficulties, learning difficulties and so much more.
One of my favourite things about this op shop was how it was organised. Each section was colour coordinated as well as separated by garment and style. The pants with the pants, the pinks with the pinks and the frills with the frills. Super easy to navigate if you’re looking for something specific.
The first section that caught my eye, at the front of the store, was the “fancy” dresses. They seemed to be curated amazingly, with really beautiful items, all in great condition.
This was a consistent theme as I went around the store. Because the op shop is a bit smaller than some of the op shop giants around, their selection of garments was more curated, presenting great quality items in great condition.
They also had quite a large range of unexpected items. A friend of mine who came shopping with me picked up a pair of skiing goggles for an upcoming trip.
I also noticed a lot of great business casual attire, with lots of nice coats and blazers, perfect for anyone struggling with what to wear to work in these chill winter months.
This shop also had a whole wall full of accessories and jewellery. I even picked out a nice scarf and beanie for myself, as well as a trendy off the shoulder top.
One thing I really appreciated about this store, which can often be hit or miss with op shops, was the changerooms. This op shop had a few change rooms that were quite large, with sturdy wooden doors and hooks on the walls for your items as well as big mirrors. There’s nothing worse than no change rooms or ones without mirrors so this was great.
Overall, I would say Yarraville’s Uniting Op Shop is definitely worth a visit. This community-driven treasure trove nestled in the heart of Yarraville, known for its friendly volunteers, well-organised layout, and a surprisingly eclectic mix of goods, perfectly suiting everyone’s shopping needs.
