(March 1, 2006) — A weekend stroll along the western end of the Montrose Shopping Park on Honolulu Ave. brings to view a most out-of-the-ordinary sight: Pattye’s Closet, a vintage shop dedicated to providing seekers of old-world style and artistic expression with a tiny haven of colorful sentiments of yesteryear. “I had too many vintage things collected and it was everywhere. I was living with my mom and she told me to open a store,” said owner Renee Davala. Opened in 1996, Pattye’s functions within a relatively small space, yet manages to be filled with a variety of vintage clothes, trinkets and jewelry. Davala said that most of the items were originally hers, but every once in a while she buys new items from her fellow vintage-enthusiasts and customers; a few are even consigned-being sold in the store but by someone other than Davala. “I really enjoy it,” she said, “because I get things for myself…I get first dibs!” Though one might assume that a second-hand store may not be all that prosperous, Davala pointed out that enough profit is made to pay the bills with a “little extra.” “People with businesses don’t really have a lot of money,” she said. Her true motivation is the satisfaction of having a fun job while at the same time being original. She doesn’t consider nearby chain stores like Marshalls and the Glendale Galleria competition, because “there’s business for everyone.” The recent trend of donning clothing and jewelry that resembles that of past decades works to Davala’s advantage, expanding her customer base to include young girls in addition to mothers and, surprisingly, residents from the local convalescent home. “All those big-name stores are selling reproductions of vintage stuff, but I have the real thing for $2,” Davala said. So if you’re looking for a unique frock, a hot pink boa or vintage Jackie-O sunglasses, Pattye’s Closet is the place to go.