about us 2

My Grandmother came up with the shop's name,  "RC Magnum's" about 50 years ago.

Money was tight, so she shopped the Second-hand Stores in the Ventura & Santa Barbara counties of California. She would often receive compliments on her outfits, & wanted to conceal that her wardrobe was "thrifted." As you may know, up until recent years, secondhand items weren’t as widely accepted. 

To throw people off, she created her very own fictional store name. That way, if asked where she bought her outfit, she'd be ready.  It needed to sound fancy! So fancy- the Asker had never even heard of such a fantastic store!! There, “RC Magnum’s” was born. 

“RC Magnum’s,” was her “mash-up” name combination that merged two popular, yet very different, clothing stores. Both are no longer in existence. 

The “RC,” an abbreviation for the name a thrift store she frequented near the San Buenaventura Mission, (which changed its name in the late 90s, for obvious reasons.) We won’t go into it here, you can look it up if you really want to know… 

The “Magnum’s,” is for “Magnin,” which was a high-end luxury line who touted shops in Los Angeles & Santa Barbara, then dissolving in 1994.
It is possible the name slowly evolved from “Magnin,” to “Magnum’s,” over the course of time. This is likely due to the fact that none of us “Hayseeds” ever set foot inside. 

Over the years, our family adopted “RC Magnum’s” as an endearing code name for "thrift store," so how could we call this shop anything else? 

Some of my fondest memories involve thrifting with my Grandma Joy, who is alive and well in her 90’s. To this day, when you ask her “Where’d ya get that?!” She will smile, tug on her secondhand item & say, “My favorite store, you know, RC MAGNUM’S!” 

Many of the items we carry are of her personal collection from 50 years of thrifting. She is thrilled about the idea of Vintage becoming as popular as it has— and is grateful to know her items are being responsibly salvaged, not wasted or destroyed. 

To honor her wishes, all proceeds from sales are to be saved for her Great Granddaughters, toward funding their future education.

Thank you all for stopping in, and remember, “If you’re not having fun… That’s your own fault!” 

Now, Let’s spread some Joy!