This Week at . . . Scout

Writing this piece was a bit tricky for me, as I'm in no way impartial; I've been making weekly (sometimes daily) trecks to Scout since Larry Vodak opened his urban antique shop four years ago. To make it even more tricky, I'm a contrarian by nature, always seeking to stir things up, sometimes as an intellectual exercise but often because I simply see things in a different way. By nature, I get suspicious when things get too popular, when ideas or memes gain a foothold among the masses.

So loving Scout (and I really do love Scout) is a different experience for me. Scout stands for everything that only a few of us are supposed to "get" - finding beauty in the old, making the world a more interesting place, going against the grain . . . but there's one problem with this particular "supposed to" - I'm in no way alone; my voice is part of a chorus (which hasn't begun to reach its crescendo). Scout somehow strikes a chord in everybody without watering down (or dumbing down) its offer.



On several occasions, I've had the pleasure to be on-the-scene when Larry receives a new shipment, his cadence quickening, his arms gesturing as he darts from discovery to treasured discovery. His passion is infectious, and it's usually not long before I'm just as excited as he is (and standing at the register waiting for my receipt). Unlike many of the shops I adore, Scout's affordable, and as a result, the goods (which are oh so good) turn over quickly, making even my weekly trips more distinct than yearly trips to other stores.

Perhaps most importantly for me, Scout helped me rediscover myself. At some point, I forgot how much I loved antiques and vintage "stuff"; I dipped a toe into consumer culture (just to test the water, just because I could) and before I knew it, the undercurrent had me and I was drowning in an ever faster stream of Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel and Target goods. Larry threw me a life preserver (a vintage one, of course) by helping me rediscover my love for objects with a little history, a little soul.

And that's why my Scout review tops off this week, which will focus on the best places to buy vintage - places like Scout, the Broadway Antique Market and more. Where do you go to find secret treasures?

For all my Scout thumbnails, click here.
For a Flickr slide show, click here.

Scout's located at 5221 N. Clark Street. For questions, call 773-275-5700