KalispelI, Montana seems to have three main industries: fishing tourism, gambling casinos, and thrift stores -tons of them for such a small and remote town in northwest Montana.
We had just arrived in town in August, and it was 90 degrees, and my wife was sweating like a pig in her long pants, preparing for hiking in colder temperatures in nearby Glacier National Park.
We check into the Super 8 motel, and across the highway is the mother of all Salvation Army stores, as large as a supermarket! The wife needs some shorts pronto, before she keels over from the heat.
We walk or rather run across the 5 lane highway, dodging the 25 mph traffic and past the huge parking lot in front, and get in just before they close at 5pm. Wife purchases 2 pairs of shorts, and we get booted out of there before she can try them on.
Wife tries them on in our motel, and we return the shorts the next day. No refund, but we get a store credit. Not knowing if and when we would be back in Kalispell, we shop around.
Wednesday Kids clothes 50% off, but our kids are beyond that age. Furniture and lamps 25% off -not carrying that stuff back on the plane. Green clothes tagged 50% off. $5 minimum for credit card purchases. $25 purchase gets you a $5 coupon.
This store has everything. Clothes galore, shoes galore, mainly women's clothes. Looks like Imelda Marcos' estate dumped all 700 pairs of her high heels here!
Almost no men's clothes or shoes, so I checked out the women's sandals, and didn't see any, just regular women's shoes. No woman is giving up their sandals in this 90 degree heat!
Tons of golf clubs and golf bags, ski boots -didn't see any skis. Ski boots in August!? No guns , but I did see a crossbow for sale. No fishing rods, and no cowboy boots. I guess folks here keep them for life.
They even have a story time 10:30-2:30pm every Wednesday in the gazebo for the little demons. 4 hours of free baby sitting -can't beat that!
Small section of books in the back, and I grab a few paperbacks for one way reading on the airline trip back home.
Wouldn't you know it, but its Tuesday, and we miss the Monday books 50% off, but cash in on the Seniors 25% off.
Cashier gives us the discount without batting an eye. You know you are getting old, when they don't check your driver license for the senior discount! read more