Try your hand at the sport of salvage almost any day by looking into these permanent stores. They maintain steady working hours, are staffed locally by “junkers” or retail buyers who might help you locate an elusive item, and—unlike weekend salvage sales—are not subject to the whims of weather. Some blend timeworn pieces-parts with nostalgic-looking new items; others deal in exclusively secondhand or strictly new design objects.
• Modern on Melrose: Three-dimensional metal letters and numbers from decommissioned signs lie scattered in the yard behind this reseller of elegant midcentury furniture. Source the whole family’s initials and mount to a hallway wall for personalized shelf space. 4610 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, 602.264.4183
• bungalow: New coral, crystal, burlap and batik home accents work well to soften the sharp edges of a modern home. 15330 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, 480.948.5409
• Antique Trove: Build a bespoke library with antiquarian books, complete an heirloom dinner set with a lone plate in a matching pattern, and make greeting cards or fill picture frames with sepia-toned photographs of strangers. 2020 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480.947.6074
• The Willows: A French farmhouse feeling prevails in brand-new striped tea towels, wrinkled-on-purpose bed linens and gold-flecked glassware. 3743 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, 602.334.1345
• Botanica: Insulated from street noise in the middle of The Farm at South Mountain, this gift shop is a place of quiet considerations. Featured local artists reinvent scrap metal, slate and mirrors into small sculptures and jewelry. Limited hours/days: 9:30 am-3 pm W-Su. 6106 S. 32nd St., Phoenix, 602.368.1385
For information about fleeting salvage-sale events, see Trending in Phoenix: Salvage Sales.