Stan's Vac & Sew

Stan's Vac & Sew, originally uploaded by Living in Monrovia.

Boy, there are times when the local shop is just what you need. A friend of mine decided she wanted to buy a nice vacuum. Her old one just wasn't cutting it anymore. It smelled funny when she used it, and it would spit stuff back at her. Clearly the relationship wasn't working from the vacuum's point-of-view either. Anyone who spits at me would be outta here pronto.

So...she decided to do what another friend did and get the vacuum du jour, a Dyson. Sure, it was pricy, but that va va voom cyclone thingie would do the job, fer shur. Before I had time to comment, she had run out to Target and gotten her coveted appliance. On top of this, she loves purple, and this thing came in her color! I was there when she brought it home and offered to take it out of the box and put the pieces together. The problem was the plastic on the front was all scratched and broken. It had a cheap look to it and this didn't help matters. She would just have to return it.

RICCAR, originally uploaded by Living in Monrovia.

I decided to research this brand a bit, and discovered that for her needs—hardwood floors—an upright vacuum was the wrong way to go. She needed a canister model. She didn't mind spending a bit more if it was an amazingly good machine, and so I steered her to a Miele. People raved about them on just about every review site I could find. And where did they have them? Yep, the neighborhood shop, Stan's Vac & Sew.

So we headed over there today and were given every sort of demo you can imagine. I felt as if I was a spectator in a trade show. This guy really knew his vacuums, and he wasn't afraid to tell us which one was more machine than we needed, and which one wouldn't help us at all. And so, the one we got didn't end up being purple, but it was called Aquarius, which happens to be her sign. Must have been fate.

To top things off, we only have a few blocks to go if we ever have a problem, and know where we can always buy bags. So I was hoping that this shop wouldn't go out of business like some of the other small shops along Myrtle. Our salesman said, "As long as they don't raise our rent!" Let's hope not. I'd like these guys to stick around for awhile. They have been there since 1963, so chances are they'll stay a bit longer.

Thread Rainbow, originally uploaded by Living in Monrovia.

They also have a selection of high-end sewing machines. When my cheapo model breaks, I know where I'm going to pick out a new one!

Stan's Old Town Vacuum & Sewing
312 S. Myrtle Avenue
Monrovia, CA 91016
626-357-2667