New thrift store, Dinosaurs and Roses, a boon to local artists and charities

By Paul Takahashi

Monday, Nov. 15, 2010 | 12:25 p.m.

Dinosaurs and Roses carries thousands of household items one could ordinarily find in just about any thrift store: clothing, furniture, electronics, jewelry and toys. But what customers might be surprised to find at the new non-profit Las Vegas resale shop is fine artwork.

“You can’t walk into a Salvation Army and walk out with a $1,500 painting,” owner Michele Morgan-Devore said.

Dinosaurs and Roses, 6029 W. Charleston Blvd., is hosting its grand opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian are expected to cut the ribbon.

The new shop, which is located in a two-story office building formerly occupied by Toshiba and Skipco, will reinvent the non-profit thrift store’s very definition, Morgan-Devore said.

The first floor retail section will carry thousands of donated items that have been thoroughly inspected and cleaned.

“A lot of care goes into these products,” said Jiiah Roos, the shop’s managing operating director. “It’s not junk.”

The second story of Dinosaurs and Roses is dedicated to the valley’s burgeoning art community, Morgan-Devore said.

Old conference rooms and offices have been converted into art galleries, which Morgan-Devore hopes to fill with artists looking for space to display and sell their artwork. A portion of the art proceeds will go back into the nonprofit shop, she said.

“It was really important for me to display artwork because it will attract people who wouldn’t normally go into a thrift shop,” she said. “It’s also a great deal for any artist.”

Northwest valley resident Ricardo Diaz is a stained-glass artist with 20 years of experience creating pieces for residential and casino properties. Although he has a home studio, Diaz said he wanted to find a place to sell his glasswork, which sells for about $400 a piece.

“It’s perfect,” Diaz said of his gallery space. “It’s a place where I can bring all my friends and customers to see my work.”

Artists can also work in their gallery spaces, Morgan-Devore said. Patti de Grood is an acrylic and mixed media artist who likes creating still life paintings of fruits.

“The opportunity to paint here is priceless,” said de Grood, who is selling her work from $15 on up. “Michele’s a great supporter of the arts. We feel lucky.”

Morgan-Devore said she hopes her store can become a second home to the art community in Las Vegas. She plans to host “Second Sunday” events each month that will bring locals into the store for face painting and other hands-on activities.

“Families can come in for a few hours and feel enriched,” she said. “There’s something here that’s affordable for anyone, and something in here for everyone.”

Behind many thrift stores is a charitable organization that benefits from the sales. Dinosaurs and Roses is unique in that it will partner with any organization, Morgan-Devore said.

From allowing nonprofits to use the store parking lot for car wash fundraisers to donating funds to organizations such as the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Morgan-Devore said she hopes Dinosaurs and Roses will become “everyone’s charity.”

“When you go look at other thrift shops, all the proceeds go to a specific organization,” she said. “We partner with anyone. There are so many different organizations, everybody needs help in this economy.”

Dinosaurs and Roses will be open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Residents who wish to donate to the nonprofit thrift store can call or text “Dinosaurs and Roses” at 702-277-3752 to schedule a free pick-up.