Sometimes instead of doing my homework I’ll kick back and watch a couple episodes of Mad Men because, you know, Mad Men is like a history lesson. I take the same attitude towards any stop-in at Never Say Goodbye, a ramshackle vintage store off of Washington Street that is simply dripping and oozing (gross?) with nostalgia (cool!) for 20th Century America.

Never Say Goodbye is arranged more like a glamorous old socialite’s attic than a store; Life magazines circa 1960 are stashed away in drawers or desks, and cupboards draped in costume jewelry open to reveal wardrobes of vintage clothing. Bruce, the owner, describes it as “a pokey place- you’ve got to poke around, open drawers, and move things.” Scavenging and exploring is half the fun. the other half is getting awesome stuff for cheap because its second hand.

Never Say Goodbye has an entire room dedicated to retro tin toys and board games. You will figuratively devolve into an 8 year old boy scout upon walking in. The Toy Room will make you say things like “gee-whiz!” or “hot dog!” Fact: it is impossible not to think “gee-whiz!” or “hot dog!” when confronted with the Huckleberry Hound Western Game. For those of you more interested in hosting tea parties than playing cowboys and indians, there’s yet another room of wall-to-wall flatware- porcelain tea cups, saucers, plates, martini shakers and *shot glasses* (do they fall in the category of ‘flatware’? um, yes.)

Climb a set of stairs and you’ll find three or four rooms of vintage prom gowns, lacy getups and absolutely everything fur imaginable. Boys, don’t worry, there’s plenty up there for you too, like letterman jackets and formal blazers- two articles that, come to think of it, girls should totally wear as well… but then again who’s to say a boy can’t rock a prom dress and fur? (insert politically correct statement: “people of any and all genders can wear whatever they want, gendered clothing is SO oppressive.”)

Never Say Goodbye’s prices are as varied as its items (think $10 watches hanging off of a $150 sterling silver candlestick holder) But there’s definitely more than enough stuff in the under-$20 range to make a trip over worth your while, and Bruce is always willing to cut a Wesleyan kid a deal.