The 8 Best Thrift Stores in Austin for Unique and Quirky Finds (2024)

Austinites know how to appreciate a quirky outfit. The city is known for being one-of-a-kind—so much so that it goes by the slogan "Keep Austin Weird." As you can imagine, this makes thrifting quite the experience—there's an endless amount of amazing finds at your fingertips.

When it comes to the best thrift stores in Austin, Texas, it's hard to choose just one. Here are some of our favorites for putting together a sustainable wardrobe. Once you walk through those doors, you're bound to find your new favorite pair of cowboy boots—and then some.

The Best Thrift Stores in Austin, Texas

Location:

6318 Burnet Road (@White Horse Trail)

DoubleTake ATX is a thrift store that's doing a lot of good. Its profits go to the Center for Child Protection, which is an organization that provides forensic, medical, and therapy services to childrenin Austin who have faced physical or sexual abuse. It offers a 15% discount to employees of child protection agencies and teachers of early childhood and K-12 Schools in Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties.

Locations:

914 N Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
2814 Bee Cave Rd. Austin, TX 78746
2300 Scarbrough Dr. Building 5 Austin, TX 78728

There are thirteen Goodwill locations in Austin—and an option for every kind of thrifter. If you prefer perusing a carefully curated store, then you should check out Goodwill Boutique locations. These stores have designer brands and less clothes to sort through.

If you're on the opposite side of the spectrum and love digging for more hidden (and affordable!) treasures, then you may be a fan of Goodwill Outlets, where clothing is sold by the pound rather then by the item.

Independent of which type of Goodwill works for you, all of them are great for the community. They help people who are struggling find employment and offer education programs.

Location:

901 W Braker Ln. Austin, TX 78758

This thrift store chain has many locations in Europe and only a couple in the U.S., including this Austin hotspot. It sells curated vintage clothes by the pound, with this particular store having around $7-$10 per pound. This location is close to the University of Texas, and due to that, it also has a ton of discounted UT apparel.

Location:

2904 Guadalupe St. Austin, Texas 78705

Buffalo Exchangeis a franchise of thrift stores that can be found in 17 states. If you love to thrift while traveling, you're in luck: When you sell clothes for store credit, you can use it at any of their locations nationwide.

Buffalo Exchange also runsCoats for Cubs. The donation drive collects real fur coats and trimmings, which are then used to comfort orphaned and injured wildlife.

Location:

3005 S Lamar Blvd Suite 110-A Austin, TX 78704

Uptown Cheapskate has more than 100 U.S. locations and gives customers the chance to come in and sell clothes that are on-trend and in good condition.

Any clothing brought in that doesn't fit its requirements is donated to other organizations. For example, it has a partnership with a charity called buildOn, which helps build schools in struggling communities.

Location:

5319 North Interstate Hwy 35 Austin, TX 78723

Texas Thrift is a chain of thrift stores that provide jobs for thousands of people in the Southern United States. It also keeps millions of pounds of clothing out of landfills every year.

Because it's a large organization, it has a well-developed system for how it cycles clothes. It collects the clothes that are put in donation bins for local nonprofits and looks through those donations for pieces that shoppers are likely to enjoy. Pieces that don't make it through this selection are donated to those in need in other countries.

Location:

2142 E 7th St. Austin, TX 78702

Treasure City Thrift is more than just a thrift store. It's collectively owned, hosts community events, and is tied to many social organizations that help marginalized communities. It also strives to be zero-waste, with all items either being sold, reused, or recycled. Every month it has a sale where everything costs 25 cents.

Locations:

5801 Burnet Rd. Austin, TX 78756
1409 West Oltorf St. Austin, TX 78704
5102 Clarkson Ave. Austin, TX 78751

Last but not least on our list of the best thrift stores in Austin is a very unique opportunity. All the profits from the clothes you buy help animals in shelters.

These thrift stores offer a curated boutique experience and are organized through Austin Pets Alive!, so every item purchased goes toward helping abandoned pets find loving homes. You can purchase clothes, donate clothes, or volunteer your time.

The 8 Best Thrift Stores in Austin for Unique and Quirky Finds (9)Secondhand, Secondhand Fashion, Thrifting

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The 8 Best Thrift Stores in Austin for Unique and Quirky Finds (2024)

FAQs

How do you find rare and valuable items at thrift stores? ›

Check for Designer Labels or Tags

Valuable vintage items, like clothing, kitchenware or records, often come with a label indicating that it's valuable. With dishes, for instance, check the bottom for a brand name.

What's the best day to go thrifting? ›

While there's no “perfect” day to shop second hand stores, many regulars swear by shopping early on Monday and Tuesday. Homeowners tend to drop off garage sale leftovers on Sunday nights, making for new finds. Plus, the weekends are more crowded shopping days, so employees look to restock early in the week.

What is the best city for thrifting? ›

Here is the definitive list of the best cities for thrifting in the country. According to our data, the top five cities for thrifting in the U.S. are Riverside, CA, Atlanta, GA, Columbus, OH, Orlando, FL, and Tampa, FL.

What is the most valuable thing to look for in a thrift store? ›

Antony Charman, antique expert and founder of Vintage Cash Cow says, “There are specific types of items that will always be valuable, including rare coins, antique furniture, vintage toys and jewelry.

What is the most valuable item to collect? ›

What Are the Most Valuable Types of Collectibles?
  1. Vintage Comic Books. Comic books are one of the most popular collectibles because of how much they can appreciate in value over time. ...
  2. Baseball Cards. ...
  3. Vintage Bakeware. ...
  4. Rare Coins. ...
  5. Vintage Toys. ...
  6. Stamps. ...
  7. Vintage Magazines. ...
  8. Antique Furniture.
Aug 21, 2023

What is the cheapest day to go to Goodwill? ›

According to Goodwill, the perfect time slot to shop at thrift stores is in the morning on both Monday and Tuesday. This is because, at least as far as Goodwill is concerned, people tend to donate garage sale remnants on Sunday, so the pickings are new and fresh come early weekdays.

Why is thrifting so expensive now? ›

“Firstly, the cost of operations — including rent, utilities and wages — has increased over time. Secondly, the quality and brand of donated items can also influence pricing. High-end brands or items in excellent condition may be priced higher.

Can you wear clothes after thrifting them? ›

Thrift stores will sort through the clothing before putting it on display and throw out anything that has stains, damage, or a bad odor. Regardless, as a general rule, we still strongly encourage you to wash your clothing purchases, new or used, before you wear.

What state has the best thrift? ›

2023's Best Cities for Thrifting
Best Cities for Thrifting
RankCity
1New York, NY
2Los Angeles, CA
3Houston, TX
7 more rows
Aug 17, 2023

What sells the most in thrift stores? ›

Clothing. Clothing is an item that sells best in thrift stores. Accounting for 31.8 percent of industry revenue, clothing is the largest revenue generator in the Thrift Stores industry, according to IBISWorld. Instead of paying higher retail prices, many people are switching to thrift stores for their clothing needs.

Do rich people buy from thrift stores? ›

Wealthier people have begun to frequent thrift stores, shopping for the same items as low-income people who were the original customers of the secondhand shops. In addition to wearing the clothes themselves, many thrifters in recent years have also started reselling the clothing on websites like Depop at a higher rate.

What is the thrift capital of the world? ›

Los Angeles. Los Angeles Magazine brags that the City of Angels is “the thrifting capital of the world.” Big words, but Southern California has more than 80 Goodwill stores, the magazine notes.

How do I get the best out of thrifting? ›

Here are 12 helpful tips and tricks on how to thrift job to guarantee you'll find the best deals:
  1. Shop Off-Season. ...
  2. Shop During Spring and After Holidays. ...
  3. Look for the “Color of the Week” ...
  4. Shop Mid-Week. ...
  5. Befriend Employees for Insider Tips. ...
  6. Wear Tight Clothing. ...
  7. Remember: Vintage Clothing May Be Smaller. ...
  8. Explore the Whole Store.
Oct 28, 2022

How to find valuable art at thrift stores? ›

Look for signatures on pieces, which can mean a work of art is either original or part of a limited series. A signature can also give you a sense of a piece's potential worth or provide you a breadcrumb for finding out more information about the artist.

How do I know if my old items are valuable? ›

Get a Professional Opinion

One of the most reliable ways to find out if you have valuable collectibles is by consulting a professional. You can take any of the following approaches: Visit a certified appraiser: You can find a professional appraiser for virtually any item.

How do I find collectable items? ›

How To Find Rare Collectibles
  1. Search eBay regularly. ...
  2. Check out estate sales and garage sales. ...
  3. Make an offer to past buyers. ...
  4. Proactively search.

What items sell best in a thrift store? ›

Vintage clothing, designer pieces, collectibles such as toys or mugs often have high resale potential.

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