If one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, then the salvage yard in back of Tacoma’s St. Vincent de Paul charity thrift shop is a goddamn trove. “The yard” (as employees fondly refer to it) is enclosed in razor wire (got to keep out the thieves!) and spreads out before bargain hunters like a categorized garbage dump. Piles of bikes, chairs, tables, lamps, strollers, bed frames, bookshelves, desks, refrigerators and tires (?) stand together like proud orphans, daring bargain hunters to sift through their madness. It’s the potential score of a diamond in the rough that drives the search. On a tip from a friend (“You have to go! I furnished my whole apartment there with under $20!”), I headed south in search of a kitchen table and chairs. While most were warped and weathered—there’s not much in the way of accommodations for the discarded wares—what I did find was a beautiful wooden bookshelf, a vintage blue milk crate, and the best framed ‘70s snowy mountain scene I’ve ever seen (it also doubles as a clock!). A St. Vincent employee walked over to begin the bargain and I offered him $5 for the lot. He said “Darlin’, the best I can do is $5 with 30% off inside at the register.” I liked his style. We shook on it and I loaded up the trunk and headed home feeling like a modern-day pirate, treasure in tow. Don’t forget your map! Open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sun.