End of an era

As of late July the in/famous Cornucopia on Tachbrook St in Victoria will be no more. Sadly, this treasure trove of vintage goodness is closing. At this point there is no exact date and no apparent reason, besides “I’ve been here for 40 years” (Jerry – Owner/Curator) so I’m guessing it's just time to go.

I’m a Cornucopia regular, however, this dusty, over crowed space is not for the impatient or shy consumer. You will need to a set aside a good hour or more to sort through the racks and racks of coats, suits, skirts and dresses - from personal experience, a lunch hour will never suffice. The coats are crammed so tight it actually requires strength to push them apart. There are so many chiffon shirts, that as soon as you remove the first from the downward slanting rack the others simply follow - onto the floor. The shoe shelves are a mish mash of what used to be some type of colour coded arrangement, oh and having a torch handy would also be an asset as light in this department is quite limited (just in case you had one hanging around in your tote).

If you fancy getting really involved, you best be prepared to ask for some major shop assistance. Hundreds of dresses from the yesteryear hang from ceiling rails and require a ladder, a hook, a grey haired man and a good 14 minutes for you to get even close. Accessories sit in a long glass display cabinet but cannot be seen for all the random bags, gloves, scarves and bric-a-brac that’s sprawled on the counter. The hats - well it’s nearly impossible to get your paws on those little gems, they sit on a shelf behind the accessories counter and only some serious go go gadget arms will get you a piece of that action.

Over all, it may sound like a less than attractive shopping experience but I’m not sure ‘user friendly’ was a term Jerry ever intended to have associated with his store. Simply put, Cornucopia is what it is, take it or leave it. An eclectic mix of second hand accessories to boot, true vintage beaded delights and quite a few diamonds in a whole lot of rough.

Sadly, it’s closure means an end to a tradition that has been handed from many a stylish mother down to her fashion savvy, vintage loving daughter. It will, however, remain in history as one of the best of it’s kind in our fashion capital.

Try to get in before it’s all over to grab yourself a bargain in the sale and experience a true vintage shop like no other. Do, however, remember to pack a sandwich, a torch and arm extensions. You're in for a long afternoon of delightful discovery.