1.Out of the Closet
(1295 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94103)
This is my go-to thrift shop for cheap anything and everything. They re-stock every Sunday, pricing items that have been there for a week to 30% off, items that have been there two weeks to 50% off, and so on. They are constantly restocking and offer the best mix of vintage, on-trend, and quirky pieces. I love coming here to shop for womens’ sweaters, because this is the only place I’ve found that never puts out sweaters with obvious stains or holes. They also have awesome graphic tee’s, and on occasion, a cool pair of kicks.
2. Goodwill Capitola
(1550 41st Ave, Capitola, CA 95010)
Let me be clear, I am not a fan of Goodwill. When I started thrifting almost 10 years ago, they were charging $1 or $2 for just about everything, and then all at once started charging six or seven dollars for everything. However, regardless of the price, this Goodwill is unrivaled when it comes to vintage. I think it’s because this is a rich grandma sort of neighborhood—and with rich grandma’s comes vintage, and lots of it. I like to come here for vintage dresses, grandpa sweaters, and home decor. They never cease to amaze me with aisle after aisle of records, artwork, and shoes.
3. Thrift Town
(2101 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110)
This is the place for home decor. Their shelves are always filled with trippy artwork, cool lamps, china (teacups and such), porcelain figurines, and trinket boxes. They also have all of their vintage already sectioned off, making it easier to find – straight up. What’s best about their decor is that, unlike the clothes, it isn’t priced based on quality, so it doesn’t matter if it’s fine English china, or an antique figurine, it will be priced as though it was rubbish.
4. Community Thrift
(623 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110)
This is hands down the best place for shoes and records. I haven’t come here as often as the my top three thrift shops, but it is still deserving of a spot in my top five. I don’t usually spend more than $10 here, which is fine by me—I like hunting through the bins of records until I have to be asked nicely to leave. This is a hit-or-miss kind of place, so either you’re going to find something that you and your descendants will honor for generations, or you’ll find junk. I’ve been on both sides, but it’s always worth the time to look.
5. Vinted Online
(http://www.vinted.com/)
I never used to buy or sell things online, and then I found Vinted. The best part is, you don’t even have to buy anything; you can ask to swap with other people. Shipping always takes about a week, and it’s always under $6. The best part is that they almost always have what you’re looking for, because it’s a forum of over 11-million members. The downside? Sellers can tend to set unreasonable prices, and some of them are unwilling to negotiate. However, you can make offers, bundle orders, or offer to swap. It’s all worth it when you find a seller listing awesome sweaters, dresses, and tops for only a couple of bucks.
