The Scene
Lauded for its cut-rate prices, 1730 Outlet Company is the home accessories clearance center of the Trade Associate Group, an importer-exporter of fancy home furnishings. For nearly a decade, news of this Chicago clearinghouse spread mainly via word-of-mouth, which is understandable, as the store's entrance (on the southeast corner of a warehouse) remains obscured from the main road. But it's getting more attention as people are looking for less expensive ways to furnish with style.

The Goods
Why shop at expensive home furnishing stores when there are leftovers, discontinued and returned merchandise all right here--for 50 to 70 percent off regular retail prices? Find colorful linen cloths for $5, dishtowels for $1.50 and pretty candleholders for 50 cents. The outlet also carries picture frames, plastic containers, rugs, wicker baskets, dinnerware, outdoor lighting and more. And while the picking may be slim, the price is always right