Uwishunu.com

Dollar Stores around the holidays are a must. Where else can your eyes feast upon such overflowing uniformity and repetition of beautiful, sparkly items like tinsel and bows? You still get all the great perks that you’d expect from a typical Dollar Store visit (brand-name look-alikes in a range of packaging and displays that range from funny to minimalist-aesthetic genius), but Christmas time ensures some extra bonuses–walls of green and red gift bags, deep bins of Santa hats, cylinders of wrapping paper, end-of-aisle displays of “invisible tape” stacked nearly 5 feet tall, etc.

Yeah, the aisles are packed with people, as the dollar store becomes the definitive location for all your holiday needs. But even when you’re rendered immobile–swarms of shoppers forming a sudden gridlock–it’s hard to get stressed or frustrated with funny little plastic toothpaste holders arranged by color at your left, and a wall of birthday candles and party favors at your right. There is bound to be an insane conglomerate of people at the register as well, but they have like eight people behind the counter whose hands never stop flailing about–and you’re items are paid for, bagged, and you’re out of there in no time.

So if you missed your opportunity this year, duck into one as soon as you can for some sad remnants of holiday glitz demoted to the messy clearance section. And feast your eyes on these photos to tide you over ’til next year.

1. Valu-Plus: 9th and Market

2. Dollar Market and Merchandise: 12th and Chestnut

3. A $ Dollar: 9th between Market and Filbert (technically in the Gallery Mall)