The 10 Best Thrift Stores in Austin

The city of Austin, Texas, is known for many things. It’s a city of great music and awesome people. Plus, there are a lot of wonderful museums, parks, and thrift stores to enjoy during your stay. We’re talking about Goodwill stores and beyond. These are the places where you find a great deal on new and retro items. There’s also always a chance to spot a hidden gem that you forgot existed! These are the best thrift stores in Austin and what to expect when you pay them a visit.

Goodwill Stores – Various Locations

There are a couple of Goodwill stores in Austin, and they provide the experience you’d expect. They are well organized, and when you walk in, you know exactly where to go to find the items that interest you. There’s a massive area of clothing for men, women, and children of all ages. There’s also the media section with books, DVDs, video games, and even VHS tapes. Kiddos will have several rows of toys to choose from. Adults have many rows of electronics to pursue and they also sell furniture in case you’re looking to furnish a new Austin home for cheap. 

When you buy items from Goodwill, you know you’re getting a good deal on quality-checked items, and the money you give goes to a good cause.

Treasure City Thrift – 2142 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

This is one of the first major hidden gems that you’ll find in the city. It’s the self-proclaimed “most affordable thrift store in Austin.” They’re open Monday through Saturday. Their idea is that they are organized for solidarity and not charity. The money that you pay goes towards making goods affordable to all groups of people, providing community space to marginalized communities, and educating the public about zero waste, among other programs. The store also supports many groups in the area, including the Inside Books Program and the Yellow Bike Project.

You can buy and donate just about anything to Treasure City Thrift. You can pick up clothes, dishes, toys, art, and more. They just don't accept the items that are typically frowned upon, like mattresses, bedding, or broken items. Whether you live in Austin or you’re just stopping by, give Treasure City Thrift a chance.

Room Service Vintage – 117 N Loop Blvd E, Austin, TX 78751

This is a very special thrift store in Austin. This is a great place that sells a little bit of everything, but the twist is that this location specializes in vintage items from the 1950s-1980s. It’s a huge 3,500-square-foot space that has clothes, dishes, housewares, electronics, and more. There’s also furniture, home decor, and more. There’s even special vintage signs from back in the day. Check this one out if you’re in the area. 

Texas Thrift Store – 5319 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78723

The next of the best thrift stores in Austin is Texas Thrift. This is a company with stores in other cities, but this location is something special. There is a huge assortment of clothes, dishes, housewares, toys, media, including books and DVDs, and more. The great thing here is that the items that aren’t sold are sent to developing countries where they’re shared with the people. The thrift store also employs thousands of people around the country, and they make it so the clothes that would end up in a landfill are instead sold to people who can use them for years to come. This is a huge Austin store, and there’s something for everyone. 

Uptown Cheapskate – 3005 S Lamar Blvd #110-A, Austin, TX 78704

There are several Uptown Cheapskate locations, and the one in Austin is worth the visit. They have a great selection. You can imagine all of the great things you can buy by looking at their donation rules. They usually look for clothing that is modern, has a current style, and is in good repair. They sell clothes for men, women, and children. The owners like to sell items from name-brand companies, and they have a huge selection. The whole idea is that this is a more upscale thrift store where you could buy items that you’d find in the best stores, just for a lower price. That’s why, if you sell your items to them, you can get a good price.

This is also a store that supports great causes. Any clothes they can’t buy are often donated to the Purple Heart Foundation and Build On, a group that helps to build schools in underdeveloped countries. 

Hope Family Thrift Store – 13801 Burnet Rd #200, Austin, TX 78727

This is one of the best thrift stores in Austin. It’s another company that has numerous locations, but this one is very clean and there’s a lot of items to choose from in a variety of categories. If you just walked into this place without seeing it's a thrift shop, you’d never recognize it. This is a huge store that’s very well-organized, and the staff is super friendly. 

In addition to the usual selection of electronics, toys, clothes, and housewares, there’s also a massive selection of furniture. Everything from couches to chairs and massive bookcases, and more. It all looks like it’s brand new, and you could furnish an entire house just by shopping at this store. This store is also unique because of its very large selection of dishes, crystalware, and other fragile but gorgeous china. The store also has a selection of gift cards in case you want to give the perfect gift to someone who loves to thrift.

Buffalo Exchange – 2904 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705

This is another chain thrift store with a great location in Austin. It’s a smaller store, but it’s packed with clothing, housewares, and more. They focus on the clothing and there are great options for men, women, and children. There is just about every category of clothing you can imagine, including:

• Plus sizes
• Menswear
• Shoes
• Vintage
• Jewelry
• Handbags
• Activewear
• Outerwear

It’s just as fun to sell them items as it is to pick them out. When you’re selling, be open-minded because they love unique styles. This store also sells gift cards for friends who love to thrift.

Austin Pets Alive! Thrift – 5801 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78756

This is an incredible thrift store in Austin with a very unique twist. When you go into the store, you can choose between many different clothing and jewelry options. There’s also a fair share of accessories, toys, various electronics, and media, including books and DVDs. This Austin location is their flagship store, and so it’s very important to them. It’s here where you’ll find the best products at great prices. 

The great thing about Austin Pets Alive! Thrift is that the money that you spend on their awesome merchandise goes to helping animals find a home. There are adorable cats and dogs that need a nice place to live, and you can be a part of that. There are two other locations in Austin. One is on West Oltorf Street, and the other is at 1409 West Oltorf.

The Next to New Shop – 5435 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756

This is another great thrift store that has a little bit of everything. They’ve got dishes, homewares, and tons of different clothing options for men, women, and children. There are also vintage art, appliances, and musical instruments. This is a great store for buying items for yourself or gifts for others. 

Bonus Entry – Top Drawer Thrift – 5312-A Airport Blvd

This store isn’t open at the time of this writing, but it looks like it’s shaping up to be one of the best thrift stores in Austin. The store is switching its location, and it will soon be open at the Airport Blvd location. This is a great store that sells clothes, housewares, toys, and more. They are a 100% donation-driven thrift store. Much of the sales and money that comes in goes to hospice and recuperative care programs for people living with HIV.

Conclusion

These are the best thrift stores in Austin, Texas today. These are great establishments that have a lot of great products, and the money you spend often goes to a good cause. Consider visiting these stores, regardless of if you live in Austin or you’re just passing through.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Justin Zipprich.