Redux Studios & Gallery:Social Enterprise of SVdP Alameda County

A combination thrift store/​art gallery. It was interesting to pop in and see what it was all about. The art seems reasonable for a fun gift, the ‘second hand’ items seemd a little pricey. I’m glad I took a look with my galpal though and I’m certain we’ll stick our heads in again!

Really neat space with original pieces on the walls.
Bright, open, and quiet.

This place is pretty groovy. Interesting concept. More rare/​upscale/​vintage things that are selected out of items that have been donated to the Saint Vincent dePaul. I don’t think the prices are too high. I am a fan of SVdP and what they do for communities.

Maybe I’m not used to curated thrift stores, but I wasn’t very impressed by what I found here at Redux. Don’t get me wrong — they have a lot of pretty neat stuff and their jewelry is pretty gorgeous. But I don’t necessarily believe that the items warrant the price tags that are attached. I do, however, like that they have the art studios in the back of the store for local artists to rent and use in order to create their work. It’s also pretty cool that the store doubles as an art gallery as well. I think the store just isn’t what I look for when it comes to thrift and consignment stores.

I’ve always found great deals here on a huge array of things. The art shows/​workshops are cool too. I’ve found the staff here to be very helpful and are willing to haggle even on dirt cheap prices. I love this place for what it does.
Reuse stuff and what it stands for don’t throw it away, give it away. Thank you.

I can go on and on about the great books I find at Redux. Paper back books are 75 cents to a dollar and are hand picked from a warehouse by Redux staff. Books I’ve appreciated and/​or have acquired :
Death of a Salesman
Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde
Brave New World
Dr. Sax
Pride & Prejudice
All of which are aged publications in above average condition with original or early re-​released cover art.
I once visited the shop and found Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde (which is actually a comic book) and I forgot to bring money. The shop manager told me to take the book home and pay him later. It was very sweet of him. I always find the most unique trinkets here. I die for the day I can purchase a refurbished type writer or one of the hand painted rings I always swoon after.
I appreciate most, the support Redux gives to local artists by advertising artist curated workshops and providing the space for some very interesting exhibits.

This is a curated thrift store and gallery with artist studio spaces in the back.
I love thrift stores for the treasure hunting/​deal finding aspects and low prices but sometimes get dismayed over the seas of mediocre mass produced merchandise; and I love antique stores for the wonderful objects from past times but am not delighted by the prices. Redux is sort of a happy medium.
For example, instead of a hundred copies of cheap, chipped dishes Redux has a few interesting pieces of table ware that have an artistic, handmade, or vintage quality. The price is a little higher than a thrift store, but really reasonable for the unique and interesting selection. They usually have a few pieces of furniture, books, house wares, and illustrations or photographs. The small selection changes often.
Because the selection is small, I would not necessarily drive out of my way just to visit Redux, but it is a good complement to the antique stores on Park street and the Goodwill next door. The open studio nights are also a nice time.
I stop in a few times a month to check out their new stock and regularly find something interesting for my home.

Really great space for classes and kitsch! I like the space very much and the classes are very affordable. I could not help but get very drawn to the merchandise that is either hand made by local artists or redone/​restored 50s/​60s furniture, appliances and the like –some genuine treasures. Enjoyed very much and came home happy!

Friends — do you know about this place? I noticed it once, but it was closed. I was in the neighborhood again with time to kill and wandered in. It’s a green hearted locavore’s dream. Fun found objects and art focusing on found objects or old items being given a new lease on life by local artists. Sure, fine, they picked out the more hipster friendly items and plunked them down in this little boutique for more money, but it’s a curated selection of fun, funky stuff, that yes, I want to buy, and yes, is still way cheaper than any other little boutique, PLUS the money goes to a good cause! What’s wrong with that?
They offer art studios for rent as well, which is so fantastic I can hardly stand it. The artists share a large, very well lit warehouse type space with individual nook/​rooms, with a shared kitchen/​bath and «freebie» section for the artists to pilfer from. Plus, the shop will then help you to sell your wares. The display in the gallery was great, and the staff was friendly and completely helpful.
This place IS a hipper, cooler version of a thrift store with sustainable art, and YAY! Methinks yes.

Great cheery shop with unique items… I’m not sure why this is listed as $$$$ since there are many very affordable things in there from a buck on up. Vintage chairs from $ 10? C’mon! And the staff is helpful. We’ll be back for sure.

Redux — formerly a St. Vincent de Paul thrift store — is a great place to find unique gifts, vintage goods and local art. What’s more, the wares are all reclaimed, recycled or upcycled. The money you spend here supports employment programs at St. Vincent de Paul and local art, so you can feel doubly good about opening your wallet. This place has its finger on the pulse of the hip and now; but the stock rotates often. If you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, come back in a week! If you’re an artist, inquire about the fairly-​priced studio space in the back.

SVDP has morphed into something pretentious and douchey. I preferred the clothing, tapes and kitchen ware for cheap to the pricier «boutique» items.
There are already several antique shops in Alameda, this place is trying to be a hipper cooler version of that with sustainable art.
Meh. Methinks not.

I feel the rumblings of eco-​chic growing and growing. Saint Vincent is a social enterprise, and now they have this amazing space for well curated art, and fun books and odds and ends. I love it and hope I can soon collaborate on some amazing project. This seems to have flown out of my dreams, right here to my beautiful town.

The minute I walked in I could feel the rumblings of a new art movement.

Today was my second visit — the first time I picked up a pair of vintage hi-​ball glasses for a song (ok — a six dollar song :)) and today I had the chance to take a tour with my daughters art class. The manager gave the kids a talk about creative reuse and recycling as well as a tour of the art studios. They also got to check out the new hat exhibit (I’ll post pics — it’s great!). Great addition to Alameda. I’ll definitely be back.

They look like that have some really cool handmade stuff in there (review is for Redux studios). I loved the vintage school chairs they have on display.
Unfortunately the store entrance isn’t very wheelchair friendly… and well the staff and customers (I think the person was a customer) weren’t very friendly either…
My mother, who is in a wheelchair was coming in the front door and accidentally tipped over the thin cardboard sign they had sitting on an easel. The easel was so close to front door it was practically blocking it. She accidentally tapped the easel and the sign came floating down.
My mother was startled, embarrassed and was trying to fix the sign… she didn’t need the extra drama… There was a staff member behind the counter and a woman (I think it was a woman) standing next to the counter. I’m not sure if the woman worked there but regardless she yelled out «WHAT THE HELL?!?» was huffing and puffing with her hand over her heart — as if she’d just been assaulted. Total Drama Queen — a cardboard sign fell over for Christ’s Sake! Accidents happen…
Anyway
I was both embarrassed and annoyed but hurried my mother out of there instead making an even bigger scene by saying something to the traumatized woman or shocked looking guy behind the counter.
There products look very cool, I wish I could of gotten to look around. But their customer service sucks. I feel the guy behind the counter should of come over to see if she was okay, or even yell across the gallery, if he was too lazy to get off his butt and walk over and see if she was okay… but instead he just sat there staring at her and commenting to the woman in disgust.
I’m not sure if I will return or recommend this place to anyone else… which is a shame because it seems like it’s a positive program to help people get back on their feet. Hopefully, they’ll get a customer service oriented staff.
The 2 stars are for the 1 or 2 products I did get to see…

The St. Vincent de Paul thrift store has morphed into something far more wonderful than I thought it ever would be. It’s now Redux, a gallery of sustainable art made from recycled/​donated materials, behind which are affordable studio spaces for local artists.
The renovation was done with reused, recycled, sustainable materials — a series of old doors became a room divider, for example — as is every aspect of the studio space and the art itself. Artists get reduced rent if they ride a bike, walk, or used public transit. And they get FREE materials from the St. Vincent de Paul.
Even better: Proceeds help support St. Vincent de Paul’s social programs for transitional employment, artists in residence and so on.
Some of the work in the gallery is amazing. All of it is affordable. And the wearable stuff is fabuloso — created by fashion artists in residence. The gallery is rentable for shows at standard rates. Gallery takes 40%, artist gets 60%.
Seriously, check this place out. It’s good for all of us.

I’m not crazy about this thrift store.
Every time I come in its a struggle to get assistance if I need it.
Their selection is small and I NEVER find anything cool that I want. I don’t agree with their upper-​level overall rating average on here, either.
So 2 stars is what I assign ‘em.
Check ‘em out & you’ll see.

If this place and the goodwill next door joined forces to make one nicer thrift store with everything this would be ideal. Instead if you are thrift storing it you likely have to go to both to make sure you get a chance to see furniture and household items here, and clothing and the like at Goodwill.
Average staff. They also sometimes buy new press board furniture and put it to gether and sell it for a marginal profit (certainly that is what it looks like when you have 15 identical bookcases from target lined up). I regularly check this place for good stuff, but just never find much (or anything) worth buying. Still it is a decent store, but I can’t give it more than 3 stars.

Do not ever underestimate thrift or consignment stores. You can find the best deals and things no longer sold in department stores at these places. I highly recommend taking a gander at St. Vincent De Paul if you are in need of some furniture to spruce up the pad. At St. Vincent De Paul they don’t just sell crusty smelling torn couches, they also sell brand new furniture at bargain basement prices! Modern, country, and traditional furniture to suit all styles and tastes. I’m talking really cool stuff like cherry bed frames, velvet chairs, wooden wine racks, kitchen and dining tables, bar stools, etc. If you need something, they probably have it. The two old filipino ladies who work here are really nice and if you’re in with them they will even set things aside for you or call you when new inventory on what you are looking for arrives.
St. Vincent De Paul also has a good selection of used books and old National Geographics and Cooking Magazines. Might be a good place to stop by if you need something for an elementary school project or just want to try out some new recipes.