It goes by many names: Junque, vintage and recycled, to name a few. But whatever its called, its clear the public loves rummaging through other peoples castoffs looking for that diamond in the rough. Or a set of dishes and a bedspread for that first college apartment. Or a lightly used suitcase for that vacation.

A digest to all of these enterprises might fill this entire publication, and part of their fun is the thrill of discovering new ones for yourself. So here is just a sample of the thrift stores on the North Coast and in Pacific County that visitors and locals alike mine, hoping for an obscure Picasso or a priceless Stradivarius hidden behind an 8-track tape player and a dense layer of dust.

Astoria

Coastal Rehabilitation Services, 208 Seventh St., just behind McDonalds

In addition to a wide variety of clothing, the thrift shop has a sizeable collection of books and furniture. A set of bunk beds that had just gone out on the floor was generating interest during my visit. If you and your VHS cassette player are still on speaking terms, stop by; Tom Cruise would be happy to show you the money, and there are tons of others to choose from. If you need help carrying loading your purchases, the staff is friendly and eager to help.

The organization provides residential, employment and day supports to people with developmental disabilities. The thrift store employs 14. In addition CRS has a window washing crew, a janitorial crew and a lawn care crew. All money from the store stays in the community.

Déjà vu, 1389 Duane St.

Readers who shopped at the Astoria Co-op in its former location will feel right at home at Déjà Vu. But instead of the Co-ops organic vegetables local honey youll now find clothing, furniture, electronics and regular thrift shop items. In addition, the shop offers a greeting card section. Need a fireplace? Theyve got it, complete with hearth. Need some coffee mugs? Got em, and a coffee table to go with them.

The thrift store is run by the Womens Resource Center. The group aids victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and provides shelter and transitional housing. The group also provides help for men as well.

Seaside

Helping Hands Thrift Store, 84834 US Highway 101

Youll find plenty of furniture in this shop heading out of Seaside. Much of it appears to be gently used. The oak roll-top desk with dovetail joints was impressive as was the certified Amish-made dining room set.

If you dont have room in the RV for an oak desk, there are also housewares and plenty of other items to choose from. Its a great place to get muggedcoffee mugged, that is. Mugs hang from the ceiling in one room; the selection in June ranged from mugs celebrating the Kiwanis Club to promoting Blue Shoals Lake, Arkansas.

Lindas Rag & Bone Thrift Shop, 1011 Seventh Ave.

Military buffs wont want to miss this shop. Co-owner Mike Martin has a collection of vintage military uniforms dating back to World War I. There are more recent uniforms for sale as well as medals, knives and military surplus items. Theres a Nazi flag Martin says is signed by the soldiers who captured it. Check out is guest book signed by U.S. veterans.

If military collections arent your thing, dont fret: There are also housewares, electronics, some tools, clothing and books. Just take a look around. For those looking for the ultimate bargain, co-owner Linda Iles-Martin places items she doesnt want in a free pile outside the store when the weather cooperates.

Rag & Bone 2, 2339 N. Holladay

Gamers, rejoice! This shop, an annex of Lindas Rag & Bone Thrift Shop, will delight owners of Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega, Genesis, Xbox, PlayStation, Wii and other systems looking for games at a discount price. The antique Atari game system brought back memories of Christmas 1978 when my family got this state-of-the-art system and became the toast of the neighborhood.

While youre there, take a look at the furniture. In mid-June the teak tables looked like a steal. For the movie fans, check out the DVDs. In the display case youll find a selection of knives. And what dorm room would be complete without a lighted beer sign? Rag & Bone 2 has em.

Warrenton

North Coast Community Thrift Store, 110 S. Main St.

Dont bypass downtown Warrenton if youre just passing through. The charm of this town is not to be missed. Part of that charm includes this thrift store on the corner of Main and SE First. My favorite was the of 45 rpm records. I havent seen that many on one place since the 1970s. Youll also find clothing, books, frames and kitchen wares. If you think youve come to the end of the line, look for a doorway; theres probably another room.

Anglers will be interested in the reels for sale. In the back room there is a collection of box wrenches if youre working on the clunker. Tom and Lori Degandi have owned the store for five years. Some of his personal collection decorates the store and is not for sale, Lori said.

PennyWise Thrift Store, 737A E. Harbor St.

If you like to dig for bargains, youve come to the right place. PennyWise has several rooms to hunt through and will soon be expanding. I found everything including the kitchen sink here; it was right next to the shower pan (just add bathroom). There were backpacks, suitcases golf clubs and furniture. The donated televisions work; they were showing Family Feud during my visit, and the quality was excellent. There is clothing in the main store and more next door. Plan to spend some time, and say hello to co-owner Pat Fessler.

Proceeds support the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of the North Oregon and South Washington Coast, which is paying off a house in Warrenton used for transitional housing. It has five rooms, and the residents pay rent, Fessler said. Shes passionate about the organization and can point you in the right direction if you need more information.

Ilwaco

The Green Dragonfly, 110A Lake St. SW

Dorothy Jolivet has been in business for eight years, offering clothing, furniture, electronics, housewares, games, books and more. Everything gets cleaned before it goes out for sale, she said. Her shop is stuffed with glassware, figurines and more. Plan to spend some time.

Jolivet is always willing to help out if somebody needs a hand. Since 2009, her shop has donated 17 18-wheeler loads of items to areas around the country for humanitarian relief. Her work is appreciated, as evidenced by the comments of a regular shopper on her way out the door, Dorothys the best!

Olde Town Trading Post Espresso & Antiques, 108 First St. N.

If youre looking for fine furniture, fine art, nautical antiques and a cup o joe, stop in and see Luanne and Chester. You wont have to duck as you cross under the heavy wooden ships boom that stretches nearly wall to wall.

In the back youll find more nautical equipment, including pulleys, floats and other items. The shop also offers photographic equipment. The collection of woodworking hand planes included some gems in early June. See if the Tennessee red cedar hope chest is still available; the cedar aroma is divine.

Long Beach

Blue Dolphin Center, 1401 Pacific Ave.

Clothing, furniture and a ton of dishes await shoppers here. The spacious fitting room is a nice bonus for clothing shoppers. If your soles are wearing thin, stop in and give the shoe rack a look. The furniture ran the gamut, from contemporary sofas to well-loved chairs.

Look for bargains among the electronics. A particular standout among the displays was the Christmas corner. The display had recently been added. If you want to get your holiday decorating taken care of especially early, stop by the shop just north of town. If you dont see what you want, just ask; the staff is helpful and friendly.

His Supper Table Thrift Store, 911 Pacific Highway

As the name implies, this store uses money from its operation to provide meals. Through its outreach program, the ministry provides free hot, nutritious meals two nights each week. It also helps people in need of clothing or household items.

Look for the usual assortment of clothing, housewares, lamps and fabulous hit movies on VHS. The Man Cave offers a variety of hardware and other hearty items. Mattresses donated by a local resort have less than five years of use on them. If youre a fan of 8-tracks and vinyl, theres a small, but eclectic collection. If nothing else, stop in, browse and say hello to the friendly volunteers; theyre always up for a laugh.

Hobo Junction, 105 SW 13th St.

This eclectic shop offering pre-owned finery looks like an artists rendering of a nautical supply store. In fact co-owner John Guimond says the shop has been the subject of artists canvas. Its easy to see why. The stacks of crab floats, miles of crab lines and rows of architectural salvage could easily make a picture postcard. Guimond is a fan of recycling and repurposing items. Look around the shop for ideas. He turned nut trays into a potting stand; its all in the imagination.

Old single-pane windows can be repurposed into a variety of uses. All of this is before you even enter the building. Inside youll find vintage glass bottles and glass balls. Marilyn Monroe fans will like the pictures on the second floor. Guimond says debris from the 2011 Japan tsunami has made its way into the shop. He has large Japanese floats for sale, including huge black floats used in the Japanese oyster industry; the small ones he gives to children for show and tell.

Much of Hobo Junctions constantly refreshed inventory eventually makes its way to surprising destinations in California, so check back often to get first pick.

ReachOut Thrift Store

Look for clothing, a shoe department and a variety of pillows as you enter the store. Dishes, furniture, figurines and a selection of VHS tapes are among some of the standard offerings. Sewing magazines, large mirrors and window blinds were among some of the more unusual items available in early June.

A leather Drexel chair looked like a steal at $40. The Class of 1964 University of Omaha beer stein probably had some stories to tell. The store is part of ReachOut Ministries, which supports youth camps and scholarship on the Long Beach Peninsula.

Ocean Park

Crows Nest, 25112 Vernon Ave.

Youll find nautical equipment, tools, bottles, and early hunting, fishing and trapping equipment at this shop as you come into Ocean Park. Spend some time and look closely. While I was looking around, another customer found a level that came from a store his father owned in the Tri-Cities decades earlier.

Decorating one of the rooms is a heavy wooden timber the owner, Jerry, salvaged from the beach a few years back. The timber was part of the cargo of a Canadian vessel that sank in 1926, he said. It sat preserved in the sand until a storm unearthed it.

Jerrys store is a prime destination for much of the flotsam and jetsam that comes ashore from Klipsan Beach north to Leadbetter. Its an interesting place with much to stir the imagination.

South Bend, Wash.

Grace Community Thrift Store, 108 Central Ave.

This store right on Highway 101 offers a variety clothing, housewares, electronics, books and more. The racks of baby clothing seemed impressive, but manager Alicia Gonzales said the supply in early June was actually lower than usual.

The Christian thrift stores goal is helping its community by offering affordable goods. All jeans are $4. Shirts and blouses are just $2. If you need dishes, check out the ever-changing stock of kitchen supplies. The shop also offers furniture, TVs, walkers, shower chairs and more. For retro music fans, there was a small selection of vinyl, including some 45s. However, if you see it, snap it up sooner rather than later, Gonzales advises. Things dont stay on the shelves too long.

Raymond, Wash.

Pennywise Thrift Shop, 302 Second St., just off Commercial Street

If youve given away the shirt off your back, stop here and talk to the volunteers from the Willapa Harbor Ministerial Association. The shop has racks and racks of clothing to choose from and receives shoes by the ton.

Youll also find dishes, toys and other items that have found their way in. All the proceeds benefit people in need and community groups.