Snapshot: With a little digging, you too can be an Indiana Jones-level archaeologist of decor treasures.
Home Goods has become my ace up the sleeve during holiday season shopping. This particular outpost rises head and shoulders above other stores in the chain. Whether they simply get better shipments or my visits coincide with the most interesting stock, I delight in coming here. Head's up though: you need to treat a trip here like an archaeological expedition. Put on your favourite battered leather fedora, pony up a cart and your patience, and expect a minimum one hour to peruse the aisles to do the place justice.
At first dig, you might not locate much spectacular. Don't lose hope. Treasures await behind the initial sweep of a shelf. You may need to dig in to the products several deep, but rewards soon follow. Rather like a miniature household Amazon, Home Goods boasts a little bit of everything thrown together into broad categories. Have some crystal over here, linens over there, and household pots and utensils over yonder. Every so often something completely off-kilter shows up, like the pig-shaped coasters that appeared to be made of bacon at different grades of crispy (awesome!) and these invariably end up in my cart or causing a spontaneous snicker.
Girl laughing for no reason in the aisle? Yeah, that's probably me.
Certain aisles might come as a surprise, like the pet section or the surprisingly good stock of children's toys. Seriously, I've bought the showpiece toy for my little one for the last three Christmases here -- an awesome sled, a baby piano in red, and a stellar set of wooden blocks from a very expensive German company. At Christmas, put Home Goods on your stop if you have little ones to gift, and you shan't be disappointed. (TJ Maxx, I'm totally looking at you.)
The kitchen section invariably sucks me in with its deep, diverse selection of things I know I need and never find. Cherry pitter? Essential for those who jar, can or try to transform sour Michigan cherries into edible pies. The selection of essential gear for any bar, ranging from different sized glasses to whiskey sour and about a billion ice cube trays, is deep and surprising. Tucked away behind the endless selection of cute pig, chicken, and cow-themed sieves, drain stoppers, and timers are some real finds: high-end knives, lovely pots, and ramekins at a fraction of the cost you'd pay at the likes of Bed, Bath & Beyond for the three times a year you attempt to make onion soup or creme brulee.
My rule of thumb for places like this: if you're thinking on it, buy it and take advantage of the return policy than trust in it being there a second time. Savvy shoppers wipe out stock fast, and seasonal selections turn over very quickly. Home Goods receives a great selection, but especially for furniture and holiday decor, you're going to fight against every other customer in a seven-city radius.
For as busy as this place gets, the cashiers keep the lines moving quickly and negotiate furniture and rug purchases quickly. read more