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Best Secondhand Stores Near You In The USA

Eco-friendly choice

Thrift shopping, which has become increasingly popular in recent times, is not merely a fad – it represents a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. In this blog, we explore brands in the US that make secondhand store shopping easy!

Whether you’re a seasoned thrifter or just dipping your toes into the world of pre-loved treasures, you already know there’s nothing quite like the thrill of uncovering a hidden gem—be it a vintage leather jacket, a gently worn designer dress, or that perfect accent lamp for your living room. But with scores of local shops, national chains, and one-of-a-kind pop-ups scattered from coast to coast, where do you even begin?

In this guide, we’ve done the legwork for you: top-rated second-hand stores—five from each of the 50 states

  • How To Find Thrift Stores Near You In The US
  • 10 Best Cities in America for Thrift Shopping
  • Best Thrift Store Chains Support Local Communities in the USA?
  • How Much Money You Potentially Save From Thrift Shopping
  • Thrift Shopping & Climate Change

Ready to save big, shop sustainably, and score some serious style points? Let’s dive in!

How To Find Secondhand Stores Around You In The USA

Secondhand stores are popular in the USA, offering a wide variety of affordable clothing, furniture, and household items. These shops attract budget-conscious shoppers, eco-friendly consumers, and treasure hunters looking for unique finds.

Many individuals kindly value the chance to contribute to local communities and charitable causes, as proceeds from sales frequently support nonprofit organizations. Furthermore, shopping secondhand thoughtfully fosters sustainability by minimizing waste and giving products a longer lifecycle. With their increasing popularity, thrift stores graciously remain a vital part of American retail culture.

Across all 50 states, these five thrift brands consistently top “best of” lists thanks to their huge footprints, well-organized stores, and charitable missions:

OrganizationNumber of LocationsKey Mission / Impact
GoodwillOver 3,200 stores in the U.S. and CanadaProceeds fund job-training programs and community services
The Salvation Army Family StoresMore than 1,600 U.S. outletsProfits support disaster relief, shelter programs, and rehabilitation services
Savers (Value Village)Roughly 300 stores across North AmericaPartners with 130 charities to resell donations
Habitat for Humanity ReStoreNearly 1,000 ReStores nationwideRevenue helps build affordable housing for low-income families
ARC Thrift StoresOver 200 locations in 14 statesSupports employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

💡 Shoppers Tip: Each state’s section provided above highlights five major cities where you can locate the most spacious and well-stocked outlets of these chains, ideal for searches like “thrift shop near me” or “Secondhand Stores near me” regardless of your location.

Tangie all-purpose cleaner concentrate with reusable orange spray bottle and bar pieces on a cutting board.
Tangie’s all-purpose cleaner concentrate can help with the Thrift store clothes smell.

Noteworthy Secondhand Chains You Can Visit Other Than These 5 Brands

  • The Brown Elephant
  • Housing Works
  • St. Vincent de Paul
  • Disabled American Veterans
  • SCRAP
  • ThriftWise Resale Stores
  • ThredUp
  • Thrifted [Online Store For Vintage Clothes]

Thrift shopping puts you in control of style and budget: the average shopper pays less than retail for quality apparel. Whether you are shopping at Goodwill or any other local thrift store near you, as a consumer, you are making the most environmentally conscious choice.

Beyond personal style and budget, choosing to thrift is a conscious decision for the environment. By purchasing second-hand clothing, consumers contribute to sustainability efforts by reducing waste and curbing the demand for new clothing production. This practice lessens the environmental impact, as the fashion industry is known for its significant contributions to pollution and landfill overflow.

Moreover, thrift shopping supports local communities, often with profits going to charitable organizations that fund various programs and services. This means that every purchase not only elevates your wardrobe but also positively impacts your community, reinforcing the cycle of giving.

It’s not just clothes, a lot of these chains also offer electronics, home goods & furniture in their stores, which makes shopping a community service.

You can enter “Goodwill near me,” “Salvation Army thrift shop [city, state],” “Savers [city],” “Habitat ReStore [city],” or “ARC Thrift [city]” into Google Maps to find precise addresses.

StateGoodwill (City)Salvation Army (City)Savers (City)Habitat ReStore (City)ARC Thrift (City)
AlabamaBirminghamMontgomeryMobileHuntsvilleTuscaloosa
AlaskaAnchorageFairbanksJuneauWasillaKenai
ArizonaPhoenixTucsonMesaScottsdaleFlagstaff
ArkansasLittle RockFayettevilleJonesboroHot SpringsConway
CaliforniaLos AngelesSan DiegoSan JoseSan FranciscoOakland
ColoradoDenverColorado SpringsAuroraFort CollinsWestminster
ConnecticutBridgeportHartfordNew HavenStamfordWaterbury
DelawareWilmingtonDoverNewarkMiddletownMilford
FloridaJacksonvilleMiamiTampaOrlandoTallahassee
GeorgiaAtlantaColumbusSavannahAugustaAthens
HawaiiHonoluluHiloKailuaKahuluiKapolei
IdahoBoiseNampaMeridianIdaho FallsPocatello
IllinoisChicagoAuroraNapervilleRockfordPeoria
IndianaIndianapolisFort WayneEvansvilleSouth BendBloomington
IowaDes MoinesCedar RapidsDavenportIowa CitySioux City
KansasWichitaOverland ParkKansas CityTopekaLawrence
KentuckyLouisvilleLexingtonBowling GreenOwensboroPaducah
LouisianaNew OrleansBaton RougeShreveportLafayetteLake Charles
MainePortlandLewistonBangorAuburnBiddeford
MarylandBaltimoreFrederickRockvilleAnnapolisSilver Spring
MassachusettsBostonWorcesterSpringfieldCambridgeLowell
MichiganDetroitGrand RapidsWarrenAnn ArborFlint
MinnesotaMinneapolisSaint PaulRochesterDuluthBloomington
MississippiJacksonGulfportBiloxiHattiesburgTupelo
MissouriKansas CitySt. LouisSpringfieldColumbiaBranson
MontanaBillingsMissoulaGreat FallsBozemanHelena
NebraskaOmahaLincolnBellevueGrand IslandKearney
NevadaLas VegasRenoHendersonSparksCarson City
New HampshireManchesterNashuaConcordDoverPortsmouth
New JerseyNewarkJersey CityPatersonElizabethTrenton
New MexicoAlbuquerqueSanta FeLas CrucesRoswellFarmington
New YorkNew York CityBuffaloRochesterSyracuseAlbany
North CarolinaCharlotteRaleighGreensboroDurhamWinston-Salem
North DakotaFargoBismarckGrand ForksMinotDickinson
OhioColumbusClevelandCincinnatiToledoAkron
OklahomaOklahoma CityTulsaNormanStillwaterLawton
OregonPortlandEugeneSalemBendMedford
PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPittsburghAllentownErieHarrisburg
Rhode IslandProvidenceWarwickCranstonPawtucketNewport
South CarolinaColumbiaCharlestonGreenvilleSpartanburgMyrtle Beach
South DakotaSioux FallsRapid CityBrookingsWatertownAberdeen
TennesseeNashvilleMemphisKnoxvilleChattanoogaMurfreesboro
TexasHoustonSan AntonioDallasAustinFort Worth
UtahSalt Lake CityProvoWest ValleyOgdenSt. George
VermontBurlingtonRutlandBarreMontpelierBrattleboro
VirginiaVirginia BeachNorfolkRichmondAlexandriaRoanoke
WashingtonSeattleSpokaneTacomaVancouverBellevue
West VirginiaCharlestonMorgantownHuntingtonWheelingParkersburg
WisconsinMilwaukeeMadisonGreen BayKenoshaEau Claire
WyomingCheyenneCasperLaramieGilletteRock Springs

Feel free to plug each brand and city into your preferred mapping service or search engine to acquire precise addresses as well as the operating hours for each location.

A hand wearing a rubber glove using a spray bottle to spray a cleaning product on a table
You can create your DIY spray at home to get rid of thrift smell | Tangie

Additionally, you can find helpful tips for in-store cleaning, which can aid in maintaining the freshness of secondhand shop clothes. By searching for these details, you can enhance your experience of buying second-hand garments, ensuring that they smell great and are well cared for.

If you are worried about “How to get the thrift store smell out of your clothes?“, you can find articles on the Tangie blog that will help you find solutions to these problems.

10 Best Cities in America for Thrift Shopping

CityNoteworthy Shops / AreasWhat You’ll Find & Why It’s Special
Portland, ORHouse of Vintage, Magpie, Hawthorne Blvd shopsPortland has a strong eco-conscious culture, making thrift stores packed with unique vintage pieces and sustainable finds.
Austin, TXTreasure City Thrift, Room Service Vintage, North Loop shopsKnown for quirky style, Austin mixes affordable thrifting with curated vintage boutiques that match the city’s creative vibe.
New York, NYBeacon’s Closet, L Train Vintage, East Village shopsFrom designer consignment to budget-friendly racks, NYC offers everything—especially in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan’s East Village.
Los Angeles, CABuffalo Exchange, Wasteland, Melrose Ave shopsA hub for fashion lovers, LA thrift stores carry high-end vintage, streetwear, and celebrity-inspired finds.
Seattle, WAFremont Vintage Mall, Capitol Hill shopsSeattle blends retro fashion with practical finds like outdoor gear and affordable home goods.
San Francisco, CAHaight-Ashbury vintage shops, Community ThriftWith a long history of counterculture, San Francisco’s thrift scene is full of eclectic and colorful clothing options.
Minneapolis, MNUptown area shops, large warehouse-style storesKnown for budget-friendly options, Minneapolis thrift stores carry everything from cozy winter wear to vintage furniture.
Chicago, ILVillage Discount, Wicker Park vintage shopsChicago offers big thrift warehouses for bargain hunters plus stylish vintage boutiques for curated pieces.
Denver, COAntique Row, Broadway shops, Buffalo ExchangePerfect for outdoor gear, retro clothing, and affordable furniture finds that reflect Denver’s adventurous lifestyle.
Philadelphia, PASouth Street shops, Philly AIDS ThriftChicago offers big thrift warehouses for bargain hunters, plus stylish vintage boutiques for curated pieces.

What Are Some Thrift Stores That Support Local Communities In The USA?

When you buy secondhand apparel, you support the local communities in your area. These stores often emphasize sustainability by offering second-hand goods, upcycled items, or locally sourced products, which not only support the environment but also foster a sense of community.

By shopping at these establishments, customers contribute to meaningful causes while reducing waste and promoting ethical consumerism.

For instance, ThriftWise Resale Stores exist entirely to support the mission of Fort Bend Women’s Center, which focuses on empowering survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, along with their families.

Out of the Closet [Primarily in California and Florida]

A chain of thrift stores that supports the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, providing healthcare services to marginalized communities. The foundation focuses on delivering high-quality medical care, HIV testing, and prevention education to those who need it most.

Each purchase supports programs that aim to improve health outcomes and promote awareness, making a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.

Housing Works [New York]

The organization also focuses on advocacy and education, working to reduce stigma and promote awareness around homelessness and HIV/AIDS. Through community outreach programs and partnerships, they aim to empower individuals and foster long-term solutions to these pressing issues.

Founded in 1990, Housing Works aims to address the interconnected issues of housing insecurity, health care access, and social justice.

The Arc [All over USA]

Enhances the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by offering comprehensive job training programs and fostering community integration.

Through personalized support and tailored resources, participants gain valuable skills, confidence, and independence, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to society.

  • Thrift shops and bookstores generate revenue to support the organization’s mission.
  • Job training and employment opportunities for clients.

Thriftique [Pittsburgh, PA]

Thriftique is a nonprofit thrift store located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, dedicated to supporting the homeless and individuals in need within the community. By offering a wide range of essential items at affordable prices, Thriftique plays a crucial role in addressing the basic needs of those facing financial hardships. The store provides clothing, household goods, and various other necessities, ensuring that everyone has access to the items they require for daily living.

Beyond its retail function, Thriftique also serves as a vital resource for local charities and organizations, distributing donations to help individuals and families in crisis. Through its mission, Thriftique not only promotes sustainability by encouraging the reuse of goods but also fosters a sense of community by uplifting those who are struggling, ultimately working towards a more equitable society.

The Red Cross Store [All over the USA]

The Red Cross Store operates across the United States, serving as a vital resource that supports disaster relief efforts and a variety of community services. As an extension of the American Red Cross, the store plays a significant role in helping marginalized populations who are affected by crises, including natural disasters, health emergencies, and other unforeseen events.

Through the sale of donated items, the Red Cross Store generates essential funding that directly contributes to disaster response initiatives, preparedness training, and recovery programs for individuals and families in need.

In addition to its fundraising efforts, the store also serves as a community hub, providing resources and information about local Red Cross services, including first aid training, blood donation drives, and emergency preparedness education. By fostering community engagement and offering affordable goods, the Red Cross Store not only aids in immediate relief efforts but also empowers individuals to prepare for future challenges.

Through its commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and enhancing community resilience, the Red Cross Store exemplifies the spirit of compassion and solidarity that the American Red Cross embodies.

Plato’s Closet

While primarily focused on gently used clothing for teens and young adults, Plato’s Closet often partners with local charities and organizations to support community initiatives. By providing affordable fashion options, the store helps young people access trendy clothing while contributing to local causes.

How Much Money You Potentially Save From Secondhand Shopping

On average, secondhand garments cost 60–90 percent less than retail price. ThredUp’s 2023 Resale Report finds the average thrift shopper spends just $12 per item versus $50 new. [source: Moneytalksnews]

CategoryRetail Price RangeThrift Price RangeTypical Savings
Clothing$30 – $100$3 – $1570% – 90%
Furniture$200 – $1,000+$20 – $20060% – 90%
Home Décor & Kitchenware$10 – $50$1 – $1070% – 95%
Books & Media$10 – $30$1 – $580% – 95%
Children’s Items$20 – $200+$2 – $3075% – 90%

Thrift shopping and zero-waste lifestyles are increasingly intertwined, offering consumers a sustainable path to mindful consumption. As a thrifty shopper, I appreciate the unique finds and the thrill of discovering pre-loved items. Each purchase not only saves money but also contributes to reducing waste.

By choosing second-hand goods, I help divert clothing and household items from landfills, aligning with the zero waste philosophy of minimizing environmental impact.

Zero-waste shopping also fosters creativity and individuality. By exploring thrift stores, I can discover unique, one-of-a-kind items that add character to my lifestyle while avoiding mass-produced goods. Additionally, this approach helps combat the environmental impact of fast fashion and excessive consumerism. Every purchase becomes a step toward a more sustainable future, aligning personal values with meaningful action.

Zero waste shopping
Buying zero-waste products reduces plastic waste | Tangie

Moreover, thrift shopping fosters creativity and individuality. I can curate a wardrobe or home decor that reflects my style while promoting sustainability. By making intentional choices, I feel empowered as a consumer, knowing that my actions contribute to a healthier planet. In essence, thrift shopping is a practical and enjoyable way to engage with the zero-waste movement, making it easier for consumers like me to live sustainably without sacrificing style or quality.

How Does Thrift Shopping Help With Climate Change?

Thrift shopping not only helps reduce waste by giving pre-loved items a second life but also promotes sustainable consumer habits. By choosing secondhand goods, shoppers can minimize the demand for new production, which often involves resource-intensive processes. Additionally, thrift shopping supports local businesses and charities, fostering a sense of community while making eco-friendly choices.

The fashion sector plays a substantial role in creating landfill waste through the disposal of leftover and undesired clothing.

Tangie all-purpose cleaner concentrate bar cut into six pieces on a wooden cutting board with a knife.
Let’s reduce our impact on the planet by shopping at zero waste stores. | Tangie

Thrift shopping addresses this problem by allowing garments to be reused. Every second-hand item bought is one less piece destined for a landfill, which greatly lowers waste generation.

As consumers, we must fight against fast fashion and the urge to contribute to the ever-increasing landfills. The fashion sector is a major contributor to global carbon emissions due to its energy-heavy production methods and extensive supply chains.

Shopping at thrift stores helps to address this issue by eliminating the necessity for new product manufacturing, as second-hand garments have already undergone the resource-heavy production phases. Consequently, their carbon footprint is significantly lower compared to new clothing. When consumers choose to thrift shop, they play a direct role in reducing carbon emissions connected to the fashion industry.

This movement towards sustainable living and thoughtful consumption is gaining momentum, and every small action contributes to a larger positive impact on the planet. By opting for thrift shopping, individuals can enjoy the thrill of unique finds while also playing their part in protecting the environment for future generations.

Let’s Go Thrifting!!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the thrift store's smell?

The aroma of a thrift store is often a distinctive mix of various scents. It typically includes a musty smell from older fabrics and items, mingled with the subtle scent of dust and storage. You might also notice traces of cleaning products or fabric fresheners used to revitalize the merchandise. Occasionally, the fragrance of vintage clothing, which may carry remnants of previous owners’ perfumes or colognes, adds to its unique character.

Is it worth shopping at thrift stores?

Shopping at thrift stores is worth it! Thrift stores offer unique, affordable items while promoting sustainability by reducing waste. Each purchase helps divert clothing and goods from landfills, supporting eco-friendly practices. Additionally, many thrift stores fund social programs that assist marginalized communities, making your shopping choices impactful.

You can discover one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect your style, all while saving money. Overall, thrift shopping combines budget-friendly options with a commitment to social and environmental responsibility, making it a rewarding experience for conscious consumers.

What does Goodwill spray on their clothes?

Goodwill uses a specialized solution to treat their clothing items, primarily to ensure cleanliness and freshness. This solution typically includes a fabric-safe disinfectant that helps eliminate odors and bacteria. The treatment process is part of Goodwill’s commitment to providing quality merchandise while maintaining hygiene standards.

Author:

Angie Ringler

Written by Angie Ringler. Hi! I am the founder of Tangieco. I am a dedicated advocate for sustainable living and eco-conscious choices. A self proclaimed tree hugger.

I write to inspire and empower you to embrace a greener lifestyle. Through articles, innovative products, and a commitment to showing you ways to eliminate harmful chemicals from the products around you.

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