Most adults are familiar with Dick, Jane and Spot, the main characters of several elementary school reading primers, but whoever heard of Dick, Jane and Spike?

Perhaps fans of vintage clothing will know that Dick, Jane and Spike is the name of a 5-year-old vintage/retro/punk store with more clothing than the average attic.

As customers listen to big-band music and other oldies, they can find outfits or accessories from the 1940s to the 1980s, be they crinoline slips, pillbox hats or leg warmers.

"It's just a fun place; you can go through it for hours and always find something new," said customer Jeni Anderson, 45.

Owner Valerie Litvak also carries newer items, including punk T-shirts, button-up rockabilly shirts and the popular "creepers" -- shoes from the United Kingdom that are popular among the punk and rockabilly crowd. Creepers are one of Litvak's more expensive items, ranging from $120 to $250 a pair.

"Here you are going to find clothing that other people are not going to wear," customer Nicholas Bradsher said. Bradsher often comes to the store to purchase vintage shirts and Converse sneakers, he said.

Inside the store is a separate room filled with strap-on shoes, evening gowns, suits and jewelry entirely from the 1940s and 1950s.

"It's kind of like a little boutique inside of the store," Litvak said. This area of the shop is more popular with her older customers; however, students from local high schools purchase the vintage evening gowns for their proms.

These dresses generally cost between $30 and $60, Litvak said.

Litvak buys many of the vintage garments in the store from swap meets and people selling their old clothing. She said she pays them about 45 percent of what she plans to sell the item for.

Lately, Litvak has been selling clothing from the 1980s, like Adidas shoes and trucker-style baseball caps. The trend which has surfaced during the past five to six months has caused the market for vintage clothing to become pretty soft, she said.

"Vintage isn't selling like it used to," she said.

Annual sales for 2002 reached $90,000, Litvak said. She said she expects only $80,000 for this year.

Despite the setback, Litvak said she believes vintage sales will pick up again, because fashion trends are very cyclical.

Before opening Dick, Jane and Spike, Litvak worked at Macy's for almost 10 years. She then managed a lingerie store in Carlsbad, where she learned the ins and outs of running a small shop.

The idea to open a vintage store, however, came while Litvak was taking her teenage children to San Diego to buy retro clothing.

"I felt North County needed a shop like that," Litvak said.

Since Litvak opened her store in 1998, it has become a regular stop for customers such as Anderson.

"I just think that people who like unique items with a vintage flair enjoy coming here," Litvak said.

Standout Facts

Name: Dick, Jane & Spike

Address: 117 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside

Phone: (760) 439-0609

Year established: 1998

Products and services: Vintage clothing and accessories from the 1940s to the 1960s, punk T-shirts and other fashions

Number of employees: One

Size: 1,600-square-foot retail shop

Sales: $90,000 in 2002

Jessica Musicar is a frequent contributor to the North County Times. Contact her at gwyllion@aol.com.