This is hands down, my favourite op shop in Brisbane. I did think twice about writing this review,…read moreas there is a part of me that desperately wants to keep this place a secret. But I says to myself I says, "Asthma Foundation is an op shop, and the more business they get, the more help they can provide to others". Yeeah. You're best to treat Mitchelton Asthma Foundation like a genie that will provide you with eternal materialistic wishes. I walked in there yesterday wishing for a large, oven proof casserole dish, (rare as hens teeth in op shops these days I find), and sure enough, up in the back corner of the shop, I found exactly what I was looking for. Other times, I've wished for sequined costumes, Victorian style brooches, crocodile figurines, all sorts of things. If you can imagine it, you'll probably find it in here. The back end of the shop is devoted to costumes. They have organised it into eras- from 1950's- 1990's. They've even got a sign that says "We love helping you with costumes, please ask us for assistance as we have more out the back that you may like". Bless! I don't know how it happens, but this Asthma Foundation has great costumes and clothes. It is a gold mine in every way you look at it. The real treasure trove part of this shop is the fabric collection at the back end of the store. If you're into sewing or textile crafts, this is the place to come. You'll even find some well priced vintage fabric if you're lucky. Because it's a suburban op shop, the prices haven't been jacked up which means it's a great place to find a bargain find, or more likely, finds. Bring a large garbage bag when you go in there and stock up. This shop makes everyone happy, from the shop ladies who sing along to the olden goldies radio station they listen to in store, to the customers who dance in store and sit on the ground making monstrous purchase piles.

What a FANTASTIC Op Shop and hidden away on Blackwood Street. This great little store is packed…read morewith great clothes, toys, homewares and bric a brac. Reasonably priced, well presented and neat but still heaps to dig through and find a gem. There is parking on the street at the front but it can be a bit difficult to snag a spot during lunch hour. The clothes are well organised into sizes, womens, mens and kids and the range of accessories is fantastic. Some awesome bargains to be had. The staff are always friendly and happy to have a chat. I have never failed to find an amazing score each time I go (including a beatiful brand new black dress with lace details and POCKETS for under $5). So good I almost don't want to share.

Great range of bikes, parts and accessories. Knowledgeable, friendly staff who are actually keen to…read moreprovide assistance without asking. Top product exchange policy and worth getting to know the staff by name if you're planning on becoming a regular; just makes for a more personal shopping experience.

I was expecting a large bottom line for what needed doing on my bike and reluctantly took it in for…read morea service. Whilst it was a bit hefty the boys at E-P explained why it was needed and how it would extend the life of the bike plus enhance the safety for a bloke like me who is getting on a bit.

It's not every day that you walk into a place where a powder puff store keeper comes up to you and…read moreoffers you a cool beverage. She handed me a drink and said "just have a browse around, and come have a chat with us in the front window". Lisa and her two friends were posed like mannequins wiling away the afternoon in the shop's front window. I was in love. Lisa took charge of the space 10 months ago now, and it looks like business is going swimmingly. She says she's going to celebrate Atomic Martini's first birthday with a prom (keep your ears to the ground). Her clothing racks are plump with high quality vintage and retro beauties. She has some great stuff for the gents as well. A nice added touch is the price tags that site the specifics of each item: era, style, and condition. Her prices are hefty (expect to pay anywhere from $100- $500+) and aimed at, as she states "people with good taste who have some money to spend". Lisa is an enchantress. On the day I met her, she was wearing a 1950's boat necked yellow dress, with matching yellow head scarf and with olive green heels. If you give her an idea of what you're looking for, she'll run off and find garments for you that might interest you. I happened to be looking for 'baking dresses'- dresses I can wear while baking. She ran off and returned with a beautiful 1970's cotton, navy blue, embroidered mu-mu. "Cotton, light, breezy, won't get in the way of your baking- I spend all summer in these, I do. I really do." I was impressed by such a practical suggestion to my abstract question. Come here to enjoy browsing through the clothes, accessories and Lisa's genuinely easy, laid back hospitality. What a way to spend an idyll Saturday afternoon- in a retro store in the 'burbs with a couple of new found, and very well dressed friends. Delight.

You wont find better Vintage in Brisbane anywhere! Lisa is…read morethere to guide you into whatever era you like, with knowledge of what styles will suit, and fit you. A great range at reasonable prices with special sales every now and then (so make sure to follow Atomic Martini on facebook) conveniently located right near the antique centre at Clayfield so you can go drool at antiques you can never afford, then pop into Atomic Martini to not only drool, but buy some amazing vintage clothing

Oohlala, oui tres bien! My French may be awful, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the…read morecharming quality of The French Corner. The shop boasts an air of cluttered decadence; everything is kind of mashed into one place but it only adds to The French Corner's magic. They have some singularly gorgeous pieces, including a thickset white bedframe and the most amazing 20th century vanity and mirror I have ever seen. They also have an array of dazzling jewellery and accessories littering the side cabinets. Wading through the organised chaos is half the fun, because it allows you stumble across some hidden treasures. Just make sure you don't bump anything. I find that walking into The French Corner transforms you into a glutton; you can't just stop at one item. Once you pick up one thing you see a million others and can't bear to leave them behind. And yes, some of their pieces are rather expensive, but they also have a range of fairly priced items - most of them unique items that you'd be hard-pushed to find elsewhere. You can distinguish the shop easily from its trademark sign and if that fails, its beautiful vintage luggage and dressmaker mannequins lining the shopfront will give it away. It's an excellent place for gift ideas and for bits and bobs to add a stylish and quaintly furnished touch to any décor. If you're in the area and have some spare time, I definitely recommend popping in for a look and getting lost in another world.

Driving along Enoggera Rd, The French Corner entices you to stop and have a look. You know it is…read moreopen when the entire outside is lined with unique furniture, classy mirrors, old clocks and all sorts of other glorious decorations. You can tell that it gets a lot of customers from the road as cars pull up out front just for a quick browse. It is the kind of store that is way out of my price range (most of my furniture is second hand and falling apart) but is filled with the stuff I dream of having. There was an old clock outside that I would die to have but the $260 price tag was enough to stop me from impulse buying it. Walk inside and there are three rooms packed with everything from a dining table to a small model vespa. If you are like me and never know what to get someone for their wedding, or birthday than this is the perfect place. Everything is that little bit fancy and very very French. There is barely enough room to walk and if the place has more than a few people in it you end up doing those awkward dances to get around each other. But it is well worth it just to look at all the decadent decorations they have on offer.

This Salvo's is a real hit and miss affair. It looks promising to start with, it's a big shop by…read moreop-shop standards, and as it's off the 'vintage' beaten path a shopper could be excused for feeling a frisson of bargain hunting excitement. The pro's of this Salvo's are definitely furniture / homewares. No amazing vintage finds, however they had some very good furniture pieces that would represent solid value for money for struggling students or families. Ditto in homewares, I got a great Deco cake container for $5 (with the cake lift out, God I love that), however their cake tins were about what you would pay for a new one. Oddly enough, they also had quite a good range of new discounted household products such as toilet paper, detergent and washing powder. Cons of this Salvo's are clothes and books. Part of this is the fact that geographically Australia is in Asia, which makes it so cheap to buy new clothes and books here. Why would you pay $10 for a pair of shorts with a stain on them when stores like Trade Secret exist? Ditto for books, I found a seafood cookbook I wanted, but it said $15 on it! I took it to the counter, and he marked it down to $10. I bought it, however it's a sad fact that book stores across the country are going out of business and it seems every shopping centre has an outlet where incredible books can be bought for $10 or less. If you're in the neighbourhood it's worth going for a look at this store, but I wouldn't be putting it on any shopping tours any time soon.

Agree with Sun E - this Salvos was really over priced and disappointing, the clothes and book being…read morethe worst. The cheap plastic homewares that should be cheap were generally $5 and over, but i did find some cool retro bar accessories. I would recommend the Salvos at Red Hill that has more range and better pricing than this store.

If there were any shopping centre in need of a desperate makeover, it would be Brookside. The…read moreinside is still quite nice, with carpetted flooring and a Myer, even a supa IGA, but you can tell that over the years, whilst awesome in its heyday... it is time. There is a really daggy foodcourt, with only a few shops, the shops range from your Target, Loot, Myer and Donut King to antique gifts and miscellaneous stuff by Anthea. Whatever the case, this northside icon, needs a facelift. A little bit daggy, a little bit worn. But it's still got that certain je nais c'est quois of the Northside.

Brookside isn't really my closest or most convenient shopping centre but it offers an interesting…read moremix of shops and that is what draws me to it on a weekly basis. There is convenient parking (inc. undercover), Woolworths, Myer, multiple cafés, clothing stores, EB Games, Chemist, Big W, Nail Salons, Bottle Shops, Bakeries, Shoe Stores, Barber & Hairdressers, Jewellers, Doctors, Banks and everything in between. You can literally come and run your errands and have a wonder around too. If you're someone like me who has a lot of time on their hands, that sort of thing is important to you. Brookside is a real gem!