Emmaus Leeds

This secret haven of bargains is yet another hidden spot that I would have never unearthed had it not been for Unilocal.And, I’m glad I found it –since it really is out of the way. Basically, the chances of me randomly wandering about Mabgate (or there abouts) and stumbling upon it are zero, truth be told. Don’t let that put you off finding it too though, it’s dead easy to get to. Go through the car park behind the West Yorkshire Playhouse, and cross over the bridge. Turn right up the road and it’s there in a minute.
As you walk in you’ll be confronted by a sea of knick-​knacks, furniture, bric a brac. It’s not tidy, it’s not overly organised, but it’s full and it’s a proper treasure hunt. In some ways, it’s similar to Poverty Aid –a huge space filled with a range of things, tons of antique cheap furniture, from wardrobes to chests to beds. There was even a piano and an old school writing desk, cheaper than you’d expect to pay as well. After all, it’s still a charity shop, which means bargains are abound.
The clothing section was a jumble, pretty messy, but that’s where your inner explorer comes in. Seek and ye shall find, etc. I did come across a mental pair of home made harim pants, in the most bodacious blue ever, but even at a single English pound I wasn’t sure I was cool enough to pull them off.
There’s a wee café too, if you need a caffeine break, and tons of literature on other local charities, events, and what Emmaus get up to to keep you clued in. Bonza.
Basically, it’ll always depend on what you’re after as to whether you’ll succeed in a shopping mission. But, it’s well worth a right rummage for all you bargain hunters, treasure seekers, vintage magpies and so on. Take a wee wander, and have a look. Who knows what wonders you might find!

There are some days when one needs retail therapy. You know you should be doing your bit for the world and resisting the sheen of a brand new garment, but those pesky vintage shops are so in vogue these days and they can’t wait to get their moth-​eaten mitts on your hard-​earned dosh. You’ve been robbed and you know it.
When you lay your head down at night, a ghostly voice calls to you, reminiscing of days gone by… «ooooh, ooooooh, Oxfam… Supersavers…» What you wouldn’t give to see those signs flashing before your eyes… «Ladies tops £1.49», «Jeans £1.99» You used to curse that tramp who waddled in after you, spouting a guttery cough in your ear whilst reciting Bee Gees lyrics from the back of an old record. But these days you’d be happy to feel the beer/​bile scent of his breath on your cheek as you scour through old piles of junk. For those of you who never knew the joy of Oxfam Supersavers in Liverpool, it has now been turned into one of those fancy emporium charity shops, which sucks the fun out of second-​hand a little.
For those of you also not ready for Oxglamming, who prefer a wild jungle of jumble to colour co-​ordinated rails, there’s a gem to be found in the centre of Leeds, tucked away behind gloomy Mabgate. Emmaus is a charity shop supporting homeless people, which also has a very reasonably-​priced café and staff so gleeful they might as well be chanting Ian Dury’s Reasons To Be Cheerful at you from dusk till dawn. Oh, the playful joy of rummaging through the piles of ladies’ tops knowing one won’t cost you a penny more than £2.49. It’s a great place to find furniture on a budget too, big old leather chairs from all angles inviting you for a quick rest. My last purchase was a vintage straw bag straight from the fifties’ riviera and a weird parrot brooch straight from my warped imagination. I managed to barter them down from £3,763.77 pence to the princely sum of £1.75 for the two of ‘em (oh, those cheeky chappies behind the till).
Make sure you have a full spare hour for this treasure hunt.

Emmaus is a total gem, if you manage to come across it. It is tucked away on the edge of town near the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Quarry Hill, in the kind of place that you wouldn’t really go wandering around for fun unless you had a reason. Make that reason Emmaus. It is a charity shop with a difference because it is also a community that helps homeless people out of homelessness. I fist heard about it on Radio 4 a couple of years ago and decided to see if there was one in Leeds. It was set up in France in the 1940s and is now a worldwide organisation. People in the community renovate and resell furniture to develop theirs skills and help them out of homelessness.
The shop part of the community in Leeds is pretty large. Most of this is dedicated to second hand furniture but there are also clothes, brick a brack and a book area around a café where you can get cakes and very cheap meals. It is possible to donate to Emmaus and it is definitely a worthy cause or you can support the cause by visiting the shop. I believe there is also a small branch in Leeds City Market.