Citizen Journalist written by gil rebollar
edited by sarina e. guerra
My name is Gil Rebollar. I’m a millennial, a father, and currently serve as the Mayor of Brawley. Since I officially took office in 2022, I have made it a point to advocate for streets, community building, and reviving our local downtown economies.
The story of Brawley’s downtown is similar to many others across California: an area of town that was once the center of activity and commerce that has slowly faded into the background. First came the big-box stores, then the rise of online shopping, and then, a pandemic that closed more doors than it opened. Despite these setbacks, our downtowns still carry the history and soul of our cities. All it takes to bring them back is a little respect and a willingness to rediscover what already exists.
I didn’t grow up thrifting. I didn’t know the thrill of the hunt, the joy of finding something unexpected, or the feeling of wearing a garment that’s lived a life before. This passion of mine started one day when I noticed new home décor and kitchen items that my wife had placed around the house. A wooden frame here, a cast iron Dutch oven there, and colorful vases throughout that made our home feel…
There was a charm to it, an added bit of meaning. And as it turned out, all these items came from none other than our local thrift stores.
So, I followed my wife’s lead. One Saturday, I walked into a local thrift store and headed for the men’s rack, not expecting much. It was there that I discovered a brown cashmere overcoat, worn and weathered, but totally unique. I tried on a few ties too. Thick, patterned silk—the kind you just don’t find anymore unless you’re willing to spend way too much.
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
Then, it hit me: I wasn’t just buying clothes…
There’s something deeply personal about wearing secondhand clothes. You know it’s been through life. That garment or accessory may have been worn by someone attending their child’s graduation or giving a eulogy, maybe it accompanied the owner to a life-changing job interview or first date. It’s fabric that’s felt celebration, maybe even heartbreak, or perhaps just the daily rhythm of being alive.
I have similar experiences with books at thrift stores too. I’ll grab one, flip through the pages, and find underlined sentences or corners folded. You begin to wonder why they may have wanted to revisit that folded page or what they were going through when they underlined that quote. What did they learn? And now, what might I learn from both the printed words on the page and the marks left by the reader before me?
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
Thrifting isn’t just about saving money. It’s about slowing down. It’s about appreciating the imperfect, the slightly scuffed, the individual lives that helped shape these items. Here in our local downtown areas, we’re lucky to have a handful of these story-filled places hidden in plain sight. And in no particular order, these are a few of my favorites.
Brawley Thrift Store – best for ties, jackets, clothes
530 Main St., Brawley
9:30AM – 5:00PM
Ft. Back to Eden
Ties can be expensive, but the collection here is amazing. I’ve discovered designer ones, vintage ones, colorful ones, silk ones, cotton ones, and everything in between. I’ve also found some great blazers, in addition things here and there for my kitchen.
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
Family Thrift Store – best for shoes, jewelry, books
528 Main St, Brawley
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
They have a great selection of shoes, both casual and formal. I recently purchased a nice pair of designer cuff links that I look forward to wearing. I’ve found several books here, both fiction and non-fiction, that I’ve read and added to my library.
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
California Thrift Store – best for shirts, bags, jeans
549 Main St., Brawley
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
There’s been times when I’ve walked in and walked out with 4 or 5 shirts. During the winter months, I’ve found some great coats and jackets. It was here that I discovered how well the quality was/is of jackets made decades ago. The stitching, material, and craftsmanship was apparent in an overcoat I found here a few years ago.
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
Womanhaven – best for local charity
742 Main St., El Centro
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Sundays
You can find anything and everything at WomanHaven. They have two separate rooms, one for clothes and another for furniture and fixtures. They are constantly rotating their items depending on the season and daily specials for seniors and others. Every purchase goes towards a great local cause.
Photo courtesy of K B on Yelp.com
Photo courtesy of K B on Yelp.com
Tiendique – best for vintage clothing
617 Main St., El Centro
Wed-Saturday, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM (Summer hours vary)
If I’m in El Centro, I always make time for Tiendique. It’s a thoughtfully curated vintage boutique that feels kind of like walking into a friend’s stylish closet. Liz, the owner, always has great finds and, alongside Sergio, who has a photo studio inside the shop, makes for even better conversation. If you are looking for something in particular and it’s not at Tiendique, Liz will go out of her way and do her best to find it or something similar. The shop is a reflection of its owner, stylish and unique.
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
Simply @ Home – best for antique decor
607 Main St., El Centro
Located to the left of Tiendique is a hub for antiques and collectibles that seems to have a little bit of everything. When visiting Simply @ Home, you can be certain that no matter what you find, every item has a story behind it. From golden era comic books to vintage musical instruments, Bill knows how to keep it interesting. You can go in not looking for anything in particular, and still find something you didn’t know you needed.
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
Photo courtesy of Gil Rebollar
Before I leave the area, I’ll usually stop by to see Victor at After-Hours Bookstore just down the street. He’s also great to chat with about books, life, and sometimes golf, and though this shop may not be a secondhand store per say, it’s still a must-see in my book.
***
It’s no wonder why thrifting has become a regular hobby of mine, to the point that I might even outdo my wife these days. All jokes aside, I think supporting our local businesses in more intentional ways, especially through the heat of the summer, is crucial for our local economy and also the planet.
In a time where everything feels fast and algorithmically served up, these humble little shops, and the real people who run them, remind me of why I continue to serve our community despite all the ups and downs that come with holding political office. That true value isn’t found in a price tag—it’s foraged in the stories. From wearable chapters hanging on racks to tarnished epics sitting silently on shelves, hidden treasures like these are out there just waiting for you to find them…
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