Have you taken a Frenchys Road Trip yet? Any serious fan of the used clothing and household goods store has heard that the best locations are in the Valley, and have either done or dreamed of doing the Valley/South Shore loop. If you’re considering a Frenchys Road Trip, here’s what you need to know.
Frenchys or Frenchy’s? There’s a difference.
Edwin Theriault opened the very first Frenchy’s in Meteghan, and his store “inspired” Guy’s Frenchys, which opened its flagship store in Digby in 1972. Today, Guy’s Frenchys stores are larger and better organized, with higher quality modern items. Frenchy’s original stores are less enjoyable a shopping experience for some, but they typically have more vintage and upper-tier designer pieces. In our list of Frenchys locations below, we’ve noted which stores are which, in case you have a preference for which stores you want to stop in on the loop.
Neither store offers returns or exchanges, but most do have change rooms (dedicated thrifters are still holding a grudge about Value Village permanently removing their change rooms during Covid).
All Guy’s Frenchys locations are open weekdays 9 to 9, Saturdays 9 to 5, and Sundays noon to 5, so a Thursday/Friday or Friday/Saturday Frenchys Road Trip is ideal for giving you the most shopping time.
New Minas (Frenchy’s)
927 Commercial Street
Coldbrook (Guy’s)
6931 Highway 1
Berwick (Guy’s)
104 Front Street
Wilmot (Guy’s)
14384 Highway 1
Digby (Guy’s)
343 Conway, Highway 303
Meteghan (Frenchy’s)
2-182 Maxwellton Rd, Meteghan Centre
St. Bernard (Guy’s)
4118 No. 1 Highway
Yarmouth (Guy’s)
10558 Highway 3
Yarmouth (Frenchy’s)
1 Glebe Street
Shelburne (Guy’s)
72 King Street
Liverpool (Guy’s)
344 Main Street
Italy Cross (Frenchy’s)
17198 Fishermen’s Memorial Hwy
Bridgewater (Guy’s)
61 North Street
Frenchys Shopping Etiquette
While more Frenchys locations are offering racked clothing (much easier to browse!), most stores still have some clothing, shoes, and household goods in bins. To ensure you avoid dirty looks from Frenchys pros, here are a few tips:
- Pick a spot in front of your chosen bin, then start selecting items and discarding them in an orderly manner.
- Don’t toss your discards on someone else’s pile.
- Don’t grab items from an area someone else is clearly working through.
- If you’re not sure you want it, add it to your basket anyway. You can always change your mind before you check out.
- Do inspect items carefully for holes or stains.
- Do offer to swap spots with someone working in the same bin if you’re done in your area.
Are you considering moving to the Annapolis Valley for a slower pace of life? Check out MovetotheAnnapolisValley.ca to learn more about the various small towns and communities in the Valley.
