Thrift store, auctions draw customers

The Classy Moose on 61 has something for everyone, even some four-legged friends. A black cat named Tank and Gus (a dog) greet shoppers when they enter the thrift store and auction site in Barnum.

"Tank is a rescue," said Dawn Schubert, one of the owners of the Classy Moose and the online auction, Classic 61 Sales, located in the same building. "He is the best-known cat in Carlton County. He just loves people. One little girl sat on the floor and played with him while her mother shopped."

The Classy Moose on 61 and Classic 61 Sales (moosebid.com) are located in the log-sided building at 3767 Front St. in Barnum, right across the street from the fairgrounds.

The thrift store is stocked with items personally chosen by Dawn. "I find items in storage lockers and from the auction itself," she said. "I love garage sales. That's been a passion since I was little. Some people bring in items that I will buy and we've had people offer to donate items."

The Classy Moose is not an ordinary thrift store.

"We like to carry quality, brand-name clothing, purses and household decorations," Dawn said. "We have DVDs, cassette tapes and record albums. People just go crazy for those. I also like to have quirky and vintage items that people like to collect."

Dawn has a soft spot for the Disabled American Veterans group.

"My dad was a veteran," she said. "I like to donate to help those guys out. We have a bin for donations to the DAV in our parking lot."

Their auction business started five years ago in another location on the north end of Barnum. Dawn and her husband, Scott, and their sons, Nick and Adam, work in the business.

"We put in a lot of hours, blood, sweat and tears and love," Dawn said.

"We had the opportunity to get this building across from the fairgrounds," she said. "That's kind of how the thrift store started growing into this fabulous little place. This is the third year in this building."

The online auction had featured larger equipment and things of interest to mainly men.

"I told my husband that we should sell things that women want," Dawn said. "Women buy things at auctions. This way, they get to shop in the thrift store. It just kind of happens."

The online auction now features clothing, household items, work boots, fishing tackle and poles, tools, toys, jewelry and a wide variety of items that people have brought in to sell, as well as large equipment. Two or three auctions are held each month.

"People can look at the items online from the comfort of their homes," Dawn said. "If they are interested in something, they can come to the store and see the item in person to see if it will work for them. We help two sets of clientele that way, the people that sell and the people that buy."

Shoppers can bid for one or two weeks on a particular item. Bidding closes at 7 p.m. the last night of the auction. Winning bidders can pick up the item in a day or two.

The auction side of the business is now taking items for spring and summer. For more information, call Scott Schubert at 218-391-9169. Auction items can also be viewed.Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

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