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Ready, set, shop. Start Thursday at the Soroptimist Vintage Store on Morris Street, open for the first time since mid-March. Their high-quality goods have been dusted off, the volunteer staff has a safety plan, which includes customers: wear your mask, keep your distance and be patient with rationed entry and a set path to exit. Doors open at 11 a.m. daily through the 4th.

A Vintage visit is practice for the La Conner event of the weekend: the blowout Independence Day weekend closing sale of the Friends of the Library Thrift Shop Friday and Saturday. Hours are also 11 a.m-5 p.m. each day.

The popular Morris Street shop is also overflowing with inventory, but come and get it, for this is your last chance and their final weekend. The Friends of the Library also closed their store in March under state orders to Stay Home Stay Safe during the early spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, the Friends are squeezed by the coming clearing of the site for the new La Conner Swinomish Regional Library. The quickest path to emptying the building goes through customer purchases. Books will start at one dollar for hardcover and fifty cents for paperbacks, but expect bag sales, for books and probably much more as the hours tick down Saturday.

The garage door will be open but only to look inside. A path through the store will be prescribed with a set entrance and exit. Precautions will be in place both days. Masks and social distancing will be required. Hand sanitizer will be available.

The Vintage Store volunteers will also provide masks as needed. Their safety setup includes a plexiglass guard around the cashier for the safety of volunteers and shoppers.

They are not taking donations in July. They will be open Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through July, starting the 10th.

These two volunteer-run stores are a key to the economic engine that is La Conner.