And you thought my favorite treasure trove couldn’t get any better! Well, folks, it has. A local vintage seller, Violet Velvet, has consigned a section of The Bomb Shelter where affordably priced vintage clothes and accessories for men and women are bountifully displayed for our shopping pleasure. Come on out to Akron, Ohio, and places like this might make you second guess ever going back home. You think I’m kidding? I’m definitely not.

Even though Violet Velvet is located in an annex of a larger store, The Bomb Shelter, there’s plenty of room for several organized racks of clothes, and space for several shoppers to comfortably browse the great vintage selection. You won’t find high-end vintage at Violet Velvet, but I bet you’ll be surprised at the friendly price tags on the easy-to-wear ’50s-’70s clothes that are for sale there. Since there aren’t dressing rooms, I was happy to find measurements listed on many of the tags. I walked away with two garments that I happily discovered fit me perfectly! If you’re not a regular Etsy vintage shopper like me, you might want to know your measurements and bring along measuring tape to be confident that whatever you buy will fit you when you bring it home.

First and last photo by Kyle Michaels. All other photos by Mandi Johnson

Living in the rust belt these days means experiencing a lot of community revitilization, and also a surge of reclaimed industrial items that pay homage to our area’s past. Akron and Cleveland have historically been Ohio’s hub for industry, including large manufacturing plants that supplied the whole world with rubber and steal. Akron’s known as The Rubber City, and while they’re still hanging onto Goodyear and Firestone, a lot of businesses have gone by the wayside, leaving us with the industrial fallout that has recently influenced a decorating trend.

I’m happy that Northeast Ohio’s economy is springing back, and I’m so into the industrial decor trend that’s swept through after the manufacturing crisis. Marque signs, moving carts, neon lights, and steel cabinets combine perfectly with the patina and prettiness of vintage furniture and accessories. So, of course it’s amazing to find all of these things under one roof! We have such a place here locally, in the heart of Akron, Ohio, called The Bomb Shelter.

Located just off of Route 8 near The University of Akron sits what I think is Akron, Ohio’s best vintage store- The Bomb Shelter. It’s a large warehouse packed to the brim with an eclectic range of mid century vintage, mantiques, collectibles, reclaimed industrial pieces, marque signs, and well, basically anything you’ve ever wanted to find but never knew where to look. I dare you not to find a treasure inside! But if you do go to visit, be sure to budget a lot of time! It’s easy to get lost in nostalgia, or to just plain get lost while browsing at The Bomb Shelter.

The great thing about vintage shopping in Northeast Ohio is the affordable price point. Visitors from out of town are always surprised, and usually wish they had brought a moving truck! At The Bomb Shelter, you can find marquee letters anywhere from five dollars to one hundred, depending on how massive of a letter you’re looking for. Furniture prices range depending on an item’s collectible value (a mint condition arco lamp was priced at around four hundred dollars), but I spied a yellow mid century patio sofa for only one hundred bucks. Now I’m just deciding which of my recent finds needs to come home with me to be my forever friend.

“A Visit To” is a continuing series featuring Mandi’s favorite local haunts in Northeast Ohio.

Sometimes when you're running around to complete your to-do list, and overwhelmed with holiday party preparations and other hair pulling activities, the best thing to do is reenergize yourself with a little "me time." In my book, that usually means cuddling up with a good old movie and warm drink. But last week I decided I should head over to The Hidden Pearl and see what kind of fun winter accessories I could dig up.

The owner, Sea Houser, is a lovely lady who always entertains me with her gushing compliments, readiness to pin a hat to my head, and lavishing of discount deals. I don't think I've ever left her boutique empty handed, on account of the affordable prices and amazing selection. This time my loot entailed a couple of fur collars, a ruffly red dress, and a super cozy fur coat. If you are ever in the Cuyahoga Falls area, be sure to plan some time in the morning or afternoon to head over to the Falls River Square District and visit the lovely shops! It will lift your spirits, and most likely pad your wardrobe a bit.