Get Out of the Exploding-Closet Rut . . .

And admit that you just need some space

Comments (0) By Robrt L. Pela Thursday, Jan 19 2006

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Got a tchotchke jones?

Do Wah Diddy: www.dowahdiddy.com. Browsing this amazing kitschy-collectibles Web shop isn't as much fun as visiting its old brick-and-mortar store used to be, but the store has closed. Good news: They don't sell anything dented or dinged. Everything's old but clean as a whistle. Best bets: amazing bark cloth, and more Bakelite jewelry than you ever thought you'd see in one place.

Mike Maas

Collecting is a relatively victimless crime.

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Bo's Funky Stuff: 5605 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale; 623-842-0220. Perhaps the best spot in town for finding anything and everything you remember from your childhood. Good news: It's all here. Best bet: jukebox ephemera; neat old board games.

Go-Kat-Go: 5102 North Seventh Street, Phoenix; 602-277-8528; www.go-kat-go.com. It's the best local source for new retro and new old stock, especially if your collections include anything lounge-music-specific or anything tiki. Good news: Great knockoffs of vintage interior fabrics are always in stock. Best bets: vintage loungewear; cool swinging bachelor-pad accouterments.

Brass Armadillo: 12419 North 28th Drive, Phoenix; 602-942-0030; www.brassarmadillo.com. This colossal mall is an antiques store, true, but the glass cases that take up a big chunk of it are home to some of the best collectible junk in town. Good news: It's open seven days a week 'til 9 p.m. Best bet: Dish queens, rejoice! This place packs more old china, ceramic, and Melmac than any other place in town.

Where to Stuff It: Ran out of room for all those lava lamps? Explore self-storage options Valleywide at www.selfstoragephoenix.com.