Spring is a big time of year for local resale shops. As “spring cleaning” commences, many people come across a bunch of DVDs, video games, and other things to get rid of. If you’re looking to unload old entertainment items, or if you are on the hunt for rare treasures, here are some of the best Toledo-based resale shops to look at, and some of the amazing things you can find in them.
Replay
Locations: 3816 W. Alexis Rd. and 1855 S. Reynolds Rd.
Been Around Since: June 2007
Specialty: DVDs and electronics
Hours: All locations: 11am–8pm Monday-Saturday, noon-5pm Sunday
Both locations are well stocked with electronics and DVDs. In fact, employee Melissa McJilton explained that many High Definition TVs and recent video game consoles go through the shop like a revolving door; the items are sold as soon as the store receives them. Replay is also stocked with other oddities, such as art from local graphic designers, locally-made films, and rare seasons of television shows. If Netflix doesn’t have a television show you’d like to see, searching through the racks of Replay is your best bet.
What I found for a dollar: UMD copy of U2: Rattle and Hum
Rare/Hard-to-find Item: Nintendo Entertainment System-game Panic Restaurant
Game Over
Location: 3151 W. Central Ave. (in Cricket West)
Specialty: Video games, comics, DVDs
Hours: 11am–8pm Monday-Saturday, noon-5pm Sunday
Toledo’s newest resale shop (opened in February 2016) is more a geek haven than resale shop. The lower level of the two-floor store contains racks of DVDs (including top picks from the store’s employees), along with a comic book collection and a wide selection of action figures and other oddities. The upper floor contains a wide array of video games and consoles, including factory-sealed games that collectors desire. The upstairs also has an area where the store runs Super Smash Bros. gaming tournaments, and a few pinball and arcade games you can play.
What I found for a dollar: A comic book, Batman #552
Rare/Hard-To-Find Item: Ceramic Wolverine/Weapon X figure
Video Game Underground
Location: 6725 W. Central Ave. (in St. James Plaza)
Specialty: The best video games in town
Hours: 11am–9pm Monday-Saturday, noon-5pm Sunday
If you’ve watched any local TV channels in recent years, you’re probably familiar with this store’s theme song. Like it says, Video Game Underground “has the best video games in town.” In fact, shop owner Mike Piddock says people still call the shop just to sing along with the robotically-voiced theme. Any and all video games you could think of are here, from the newest Playstation 4 and Xbox One releases, to old and rare Sega CD and Neo Geo games and consoles.
What I found for a dollar: Xbox 360 game NBA 2K6
Rare/Hard-to-find Item: Sega Saturn game Shining Force 3
Allied Record Exchange
Locations: 1710 S. Reynolds Rd., 1734 W. Laskey Rd., 3253 Navarre Ave.
Specialty: Records, CDs, and any machines you’d need to play them
Hours: All locations: 11am–8pm Monday-Saturday, noon-6pm Sunday
Music lovers of all stars and stripes will find something at Allied. As the name implies, all the locations have a wide selection of records, along with CDs, DVDs, and video games. The Reynolds Road location also doubles as a musical history museum, as the shop carries a lot of ancient music listening devices. Store manager Gabriel Beam showed off a tube amplifier from the 1950s and a reel-to-reel player among the many listening devices for sale.
What I found for a dollar: “Bayou Country” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, on vinyl
Rare/Hard-to-find Item: Minor Threat LP, signed by lead singer Ian MacKaye
