mom and pop thrift

Gracie's Thrift, located on Apache Boulevard, is a 

non-profit store run by Grace Community Church.

Even thrift stores are dominated by "chains" like

Goodwill and Savers, so it's nice to have a place like 

Gracie's. Sameness is boring and bland; I prefer 

unique stores with one-of-a-kind names.  

along the apache trail

Apache Boulevard, also known as Apache Trail, was a 

former highway connecting Phoenix with Globe and 

Superior to the east. All along Apache Boulevard are

the sort of businesses - service stations, restaurants, and

motels like this pastel pink one - that one would expect 

would spring up along a busy highway. Then in the 

60's and 70's, new highways were built, and Apache became

 just another street with an eclectic mix of roadside businesses. 

Now that Apache hosts several miles of the light rail, it will be

 interesting to watch how the revitalization of the street 

as it becomes an important travel corridor once again.