Sweet Salvage is a four-day vintage market that happens the third weekend of every month on 7th Avenue in Phoenix. The doors open at 10 a.m., but the line starts forming at 7:30 a.m., and we’re talking about waiting OUTSIDE, people. In  Phoenix. In June.

Once the doors open, it’s all elbows and running and squealing and getting your yellow name tag on things as fast as you can. The fire marshal has rules about the crowds. Some shoppers even pay $25 to preview the sale the night before it starts, and then line up and sweat for two hours to come home with a vintage farmhouse table for $249. Yesterday, my partner in crime and I spent $5000 in 30 minutes. We’d been sweating in line since 8 a.m.

Have you ever been to Last Chance to see what happens when the workers roll out a new cart of Marc Jacobs handbags and the shoppers swarm like feral cats? Yeah, it’s like that.

These shoppers are definitely on something. (I had such a laugh when I spotted these vintage flash cards whilst being jostled and tugged by hungry furniture fiends yesterday.)

It’s also SO much fun and not to be missed. Go in the afternoon to skip the lines. There are still piles of treasures to claim.

Sweet Salvage is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today through Sunday.  Here’s a peek inside the frenzied shopping morning I shared with Angela Karp. Go with someone who you know will help you fight for black chippy-paint postal cabinets and wrought iron paneling. I did.

The line stretches around the building. Bottled water and complimentary umbrellas are on hand.

There’s a styled-out refreshment cart, complete with Diet Coke, hot dogs, and chips.

Angela and I ate all three, for breakfast.

Once inside, it’s treasure time. We loved this vintage game board.

I should have bought ALL of these green flower frogs. Dorie, tell me you got them, at least.

It’s fun to scour through all the styled vignettes to find the good stuff. I liked this light, below.

Inside Sweet Salvage, among the fighting hordes, I’ve spotted designers like me, event planners like Angela, bloggers, restaurant designers and even boutique owners who buy this stuff, mark it up, and resell it across town.

THAT good, my friends. Go.

And a special thanks to Sweet Salvage’s Stephanie, whom we loved shopping with, as well.