Been to Sodo lately? There's more to buy there than peanuts at a Mariners game. The area is exploding with retail shops and bargain outlets. I spent a couple of days there last week searching out deals, walking in no-frills buildings and warehouses, and I'm ready to go back for more.

Votivo Ltd.
You know those yummy smelling Votivo candles in dozens of scents at better gift shops in town? A few months ago this popular candle maker started holding a once-a-week clearance sale for discontinued scents, samples and seconds, as well as lots of molded candles manufactured for other retailers. Prices start at 10 cents for votives (or 12 for $1) and go up to $30 for large 12-, 17-, and 21-inch pillar candles. Most 2x4- and 2x2-inch pillars are just $3.

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Lighting fixtures are deeply discounted at Seattle Lighting Clearance Outlet & Distribution Center.

Seattle Lighting Clearance Outlet & Distribution Center
This outlet opened last September. Prior to that, the lighting emporium would have periodic tent sales in a store parking lot. Now you can shop at your leisure six days a week and save up to 80 percent on retail prices. Due to the high volume of business, they get new items in daily. Fixtures wind up in the outlet for a variety of reasons including returns from clients and contractors (in perfect and imperfect condition), closeouts and discontinued styles. You'll find lighting for every room including flush-mount ceiling fixtures for $11 or a gigantic dining room chandelier for $275. There are also table lamps, bathroom bars, stained-glass styles, sconces, ceiling fans, lanterns and outdoor lighting.

Seattle Goodwill Outlet
Think you'll find good prices at Goodwill? Try the 16,000 square foot outlet. Goodwill opened the doors its new facility in October and recycled more than 8,000 tons of merchandise in 2004. Everything is given one last chance to sell in this enormous space, and prices are dirt cheap. Linens, clothing, fabric and other soft goods sell for $1.29 a pound. However, if you buy over 100 pounds, the price drops to 59 cents a pound. Other areas are sectioned off for furniture where you might find a well-used (very well used) couch for under $20, a dining chair for $1.99, a desk or chest of drawers. There are small appliances (lots of outdated hulking microwaves), assorted electronics, bikes, golf clubs and outdoor grills. Deep bins lining the walls are full of glassware for 59 cents a pound, shoes, books (19 cents for children's books, 49 cents for hardbacks), records (Bob Denver and Heart), CDs, luggage and miscellaneous stuff like someone's old bowling trophy.

Die-hard bargain shoppers can spend hours here, since bins are rolled out and in every few hours on a random schedule. Shoppers must stand behind yellow lines taped on the floor until bins are in place, then they're allowed to dive in. And they do, up to their elbows and shoulders digging wildly through piles of castoffs.

Whatever isn't bought is recycled — glass, metal, clothing — or eventually makes its way to the dump.

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You'll find a wide variety of tasty cheeses and Mediterranean foods at Pacific Food Importers.

Pacific Food Importers
Not everything in this no-frills warehouse is a big bargain, but you'll find excellent prices on imported gourmet foods from Italy and all over the Mediterranean that you won't find elsewhere. Save at least 20 percent on cheeses, including several kinds of feta, British Stilton, Danish blue and French chèvre. Minimum purchase is one pound per type of cheese, but the owners are flexible with the rule, especially for soft cheeses. Olives are a good buy too. Pacific Food Importers has several varieties that range from a few dollars a pound to $7.10 (typically $9 a pound in grocery stores) a pound. A gallon of high-quality olive oil is $23.95. The five-gallon tubs of spices, dried beans and rice are also well priced. Plus there are piles of pasta in restaurant-size bags, Italian butter cookies, jams, grape leaves, vinegars, chocolates, caviar, salami and much more.

Pacific Coast Feather Co. Outlet
Sleep comes easy knowing you've saved a bundle on bedding at this manufacturing outlet. Bins are piled high with seconds, samples and overruns that are discounted 60 percent and more. The outlet is filled with down comforters, feather beds, lap blankets, down throws, pillows, cotton sheets and pet beds. Queen-size down comforters run $100-$125, a full set of 330-thread-count sheets is $60. Time it right and you'll get an additional 10 percent off during random reduction days. Head to the back of the warehouse for 80 percent off picture frames from Museum Quality Framing.

Make sure you get on the mailing list for the twice yearly blowout sales of outdoor gear from local manufacturers. Pacific Coast Feather Co. opens its warehouse to these manufacturers to unload past season, seconds and overruns. People wait in line for sporting equipment and gear discounted up to 80 percent, including outerwear, skiing, camping, biking, mountain-climbing and kayaking gear.

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Cases of wine are stacked high but go fast at discounted prices at the Wine Outlet.

Wine Outlet
Owner Richard Kinssies has made his living off the grape for the past 30 years and is now passing down his vast collection of connections and knowledge to the consumer in the form of excellent wines at discounted prices. The former sommelier and restaurant owner is also a wine columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and founder/director of the Seattle Wine School. He'll readily assist you with picking a "nice" wine (as I always call them) for 30 percent to 60 percent off retail. Kinssies opened his shop in March and fills it with fine wines acquired through negotiations with wholesalers, importers and wineries. "There's an ocean of good wine out there that needs a home, and I give consumers access." Thank you, Richard. You might find a Pinot Noir from Napa for $20 (retail $40) or a decent table red for three bucks. Want to try before you buy? Kinssies usually has half a dozen bottles uncorked and ready for tasting.

Outdoor Research
This local outdoor gear manufacturer has a retail store that includes a large sale section of closeouts, seconds and past-season clothing and gear. It specializes in mountaineering/backpacking/climbing equipment and outerwear, but you'll find a variety of merchandise discounted up to 50 percent. For example, $200 mountain gloves are $100, and $199 Gortex jackets are half that. Some of the other items include high-tech pants, shorts, and T-shirts; a variety of hats, mountain packs, poles and camping organizers. Some boxes hold $5 deals such as past-season fleece hats. Get on the mailing list for notice of quarterly sales and other specials.

Right now Outdoor Research is having a sale until June 30. Save 50 percent to 70 percent on discontinued colors and styles of outdoor and sports apparel and accessories, as well as samples and prototypes. Look for great buys such as Gortex Paclite jacets and pants for 50 percent to 60 percent off.

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You'll find plenty of discounted yarn for scarves and other projects at Pacific Fabrics & Crafts Outlet.

Pacific Fabrics & Crafts Outlet
I get inspired whenever I walk in here even though I can barely sew a stitch. I love walking across the creaky wooden floors of this 1920s era building and browsing among thousands of yards of fabric and tons of notions and craft supplies. This is the "collection spot" for all the excess fabric and notions from other stores. You'll find discounts of 10 percent to 75 percent on upholstery fabric, quilting fabric, fabric for any imaginable project, yarn, trim, ribbon, thread, buttons, embroidery floss, etc. Get on the mailing list for periodic sales (usually on holidays) when everything is an additional 15 percent to 25 percent off. Pacific Fabrics also offers an array of classes, from quilting to knitting.

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Piles of PC motherboards are 50 cents to $5 at RE-PC.

RE-PC
This amazing mass of disconnected and connected used and like-new PC parts and pieces will excite any techo geek, especially with the prices. Save up to 50 percent and more on all sorts of computer stuff and peripherals. Go here for complete systems or to devour the components. Complete systems (hard drive, monitor, mouse and keyboard with a loaded operating system) go for as little as $200 — a great price for a second computer (so the kids don't mess yours up). Most rebuilt systems average $300-$500. Other big bargains: cable for $1.99, all kinds of printers for as low as $15 and up to $500, keyboards for $2.50, mice for $1.99 each and much more.

A company with a conscience, RE-PC recycles tons of working computers and parts every year and also recycles used ones for a fee. Along with buying, selling and recycling computers, the store repairs them too. And last but not least, it has an authentic computer museum free to the public.

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Floor sample space-age bar stools at the Kasala Outlet; $99 each (originally $250).

Kasala Outlet
Modern furniture aficionados frequent this warehouse outlet often for big bargains on furniture. Stock changes frequently and sells fast at 10 percent to 75 percent off retail prices. You'll find leather and upholstered couches and chairs, dining room tables, lighting, bedroom furniture, barstools, mirrors and a smattering of home accents such as clocks and pottery. The products displayed in this brightly painted cavernous warehouse are here for a variety of reasons, which are clearly marked on each with a big turquoise-colored tag: imperfect/slightly damaged; floor sample from one of Kasala's stores; canceled special order; discontinued item; and special outlet purchase. This last description includes pieces you won't find in the regular stores, such as the bright red leather couches I spotted there. For the "slightly damaged" category I found the barely noticeable dings, dents and imperfections to be minimal. All sales are final; delivery is available for a fee.

Carpet Liquidators
This humongous warehouse has up to 70 percent off on all kinds of flooring including area rugs, carpet, vinyl, laminate and hardwood for residential and commercial purposes. Wool carpeting that retails for $50 a square yard might be $14-$18 a square yard here. Take your pick from berbers, wools, textured and outdoor carpets — some for as little as $2 a square foot. Prices are cheap because these liquidators buy by the container rather than special order. Installation is available.

Kathy Schultz is a free-lance writer who lives in Seattle and loves to shop. If you have a shop, sale, event or great product tip you'd like to share, e-mail her.