Derick Jones and his partner Evan Stevens approach thrift like an art form. Their collection of hand-chosen and donated items in their shop, Olive Street Thrift and Vintage, draws you in. It only takes a few minutes of looking around to feel like the treasure hunt is officially on.

When you walk into the store, a few statement pieces may initially catch your eye – an underwood typewriter, a mid-century modern desk, crates of records, and other Americana pieces, not to mention their menswear.

“We have the largest selection of vintage pearl snap shirts in northwest Louisiana,” said Jones.

And then you notice the prices – collectible glassware mixed in with mismatched pieces on a shelf labeled 25 cents; a Porter Wagoner-style women’s shirt with a price tag more affordable than Goodwill and black and white photos for under a few dollars.

“It is very rare to see [a thrift store] so well meaning and well-curated,” said shopper Jared Boles. “Honestly, this is the first I have seen [in Shreveport].”

While shopping, I asked Jones what he thought about thrift as art, noting that vintage pieces often give us reason to pause and simply admire their style and condition.

“It really is a big history lesson learning about it all – like the way a zipper can change in 15 years and the way buttons correlate with a time frame,” Jones said.

“I would like to change what thrift means to people,” he added, “Most of the time people think cheap, and that is a part of it, but salvage is also a part of it.” He elaborated on this idea by pointing out the ways in which repurposing items can create unique merchandise.

In terms of their low prices, Jones said, “We want to deliver the vintage lifestyle to everyone.” He added, “We don’t have expensive things, because we want everyone to be able to shop here.”

Jones and Stevens have made the decision to divide the store in half. One side is items they have selected for the store, featuring more average prices for the everyday shopper. The second side of the store is dedicated to donated items. Everything on the donation side of the store is discounted significantly as, Jones said, they make a point to not mark up donated items.

Although they are not a nonprofit, it is my opinion that Olive Street Thrift and Vintage does more than one form of community service for the Highland area.

“We preserve, repair, and clean items that otherwise may wind up in a landfill somewhere,” said Jones.

According to an article in The
Atlantic, Americans send 10.5 million tons of clothing to landfills every year. When you read data such as this, as well as statistics on the economic multiplier effect of buying local, it makes buying vintage seem like not only a more fashionable choice, but also a decision that betters our local community in more ways than one.

When asked about contributing to the local economy as a small business, Jones said, “I believe it is important to keep money as local as possible,” he added, “When you are spending money on items made in China, it is not helping anyone.”

Olive Street Thrift and Vintage, along with their neighbors, Healthy Chef Meals and Lotus Studio, bring a certain flavor to this area of Highland – it reminds me of an artsy neighborhood block in big city like Portland. “This is a funky little plaza,” said Jones, “I love my neighbors.”

It is slightly off the beaten path in terms of Olive Street, not being directly in the heart of Shreveport’s big box commerce area, but this section of Highland is a hidden gem certainly worth the short drive.

As Boles was leaving with a handful of goodies, I asked him about his score. He held up a book, a handful of vintage photographs, and three old postcards. “I had a hard budget of ten bucks today,” he said.

He went on to say he could have easily dropped over two hundred. It turns out, much like myself, Boles was a big fan of the underwood typewriter. He smiled and said, “I saw things that I have been looking for a long time that I do not want anyone to take from me.”

Olive Street Thrift and Vintage 1st Birthday Bash!
444 Olive St, Shreveport
11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, December 20
Featuring raffles, giveaways, food, vendors, and live music.