Thrift shopping is a great way to find amazing deals, restock your closet on a smaller budget, and support local. Whether you live in Milwaukee or you are visiting it, there is a lot to do. Milwaukee is known for its breweries as well as its baseball team. But there is much more to do. In Milwaukee, there's lots of history, cultural attractions, eating, and shopping. If you're shopping and searching for great deals, then the thrift stores listed here are must-sees. Here are 15 of the best thrift stores in Milwaukee.
Bandit MKE
Located at 1224 E. Brady St, you'll find Bandit MKE, which offers high-end and trendy second-hand accessories and clothing. Here, you'll find vintage items as well as more modern items. Whether you're hoping to find something from the 1950s or something newer from the 2000s, this thrift store has what you're looking for. Bandit MKE began as a vintage pop-up in the Milwaukee area, and after some time of being successful, the owners decided to open a storefront in 2021.
Retique by Goodwill
Retique is a boutique owned by Goodwill located at 190 N. Broadway. At this boutique, you'll be able to find high-end women's and men's clothing as well as home decor and goods. Although this store is more curated than a normal Goodwill, you'll still find amazing prices like you would at a regular Goodwill store. Retique curates its inventory from Goodwill centers in Illinois and Wisconsin. This shop also carries some great name-brand items like Banana Republic and Lululemon.
Plume
At Plume, located at 3002 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue, you'll find some awesome vintage pieces as well as items from local vendors and artists. Plume is a mixture of vintage and modern. Their vintage inventory is curated from all over the country. The shop also supports locals by purchasing items from local artists. Plume was created to show people the beauty in vintage while also supporting local talent, so you'll find many amazing items in this store! They have clothing, shoes, accessories, furniture, prints, and more.
Plato's Closet
Plato's Closet has been a staple thrift store that has been around for a few decades. In Milwaukee, they have two locations, one at 16750 W. Bluemond Rd and the other at 5020 S. 74th St. It is loved by thrifters and sellers alike. Plato's Closet will buy and sell gently used clothes, accessories, handbags, shoes, and more from brands like Urban Outfitters, Lululemon, Nike, and Free People. As a shopper, you'll often be able to get these items at about a 70% markdown from original retail pricing. As a seller, Plato's Closet is a great place to take your extra clothes and get a little bit of money for them.
Value Village
Value Village has two locations to shop from, one at 729 S. Layton Blvd. and the other at 3100 E. Layton Ave. Value Village is a thrift store native to the Milwaukee area and has been in business since 1969. These stores are known for having amazing deals. They run sales daily and also do half-off weekends! At Value Village, shop for clothing, jewelry, accessories, furniture, home goods, and more. These stores give their proceeds to the Military Order of Purple Heart Service Foundation, which supports veterans and their families. So when you shop at Value Village, you are supporting the local community.
All Goods
All Goods also has two locations: 1411 S. 72nd Street and 5709 North Centerpark Way. All Goods is a thrift store focusing on the resale of vintage streetwear, t-shirts, sneakers, and sports merchandise. Owner of All Goods, Ali Acevado, is a Milwaukee native who started her journey at a young age by selling goods online through eBay. After years of this and developing a passion for vintage resale, she opened her first storefront in 2019.
Sole Salvation
Sole Salvation is located at 1693 N Humboldt Ave. Although this is a small store, they have a wide variety of inventory and have something for everyone. You can find some cool vintage items and sometimes run into a sale of up to 50% off. At Sole Salvation, shop for clothes, shoes, accessories, knickknacks, and more.
St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul has a handful of locations around the Milwaukee and Greenfield area. These stores are run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Milwaukee, which helps the local community in many different ways. They have meal programs, do workforce development, offer home visits, and more to assist those in need in the community. At the St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores, you can find some great deals on clothing, toys, electronics, furniture, home goods, and more. They also run regular deals like 10% off for veterans, seniors, and students Monday through Thursday.
Alive and Fine
Alive and Fine can be found at 2652 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. This thrift store sells vintage clothing and furniture that dates between the 1940s and 1990s. At Alive and Fine, you'll find cool and unique pieces that would otherwise be hard to find. On occasion, this store also becomes a gallery space displaying local artwork.
Habitat For Humanity ReStore
Habitat For Humanity Restore also offers a handful of different locations. At these locations, you'll be able to shop for furniture, appliances, and building materials for great prices. Most often, you'll find these items discounted between 50% and 75% of regular retail prices. These stores are raising money and using profits to give towards Habitat for Humanity's mission, which is to build affordable homes that are safe for local families in need. If you're a local looking to clean out your garage, this is a great place to donate items like lawnmowers, appliances, cars, etc.
SuperThrift
SuperThrift is located at 5333 N. 91st Street. They are a store run and created by the Adult & Teen Challenge Great Lakes organization. This organization helps people fight addiction and has a very successful rehabilitation rate. When you shop at SuperThrift, you are helping to raise funds to support someone who is working their way through their recovery program. At SuperThrift, you can find all kinds of items for a great deal, including clothing, furniture, home goods, and more.
REmodel Resale Fashion Boutique
You can find REmodel Resale Fashion Boutique at 9401 W Beloit Rd, Suite 112. Their mission is to give items a second chance at life and circulate them through homes instead of in landfills. Here, you can find items for men, women, and children, and most often, you can get items for just $1. So, if you're looking for a deal, this is the place to be!
Tip Top Atomic Shop
Shop at Tip Top Atomic Shop at 2342 Kinnickinnic Ave. Here, you'll find some awesome vintage clothing and accessories from the 1940s to 1960s, as well as some mid-century modern furniture and retro knickknacks. This store was opened in 2001 by a husband and wife who have always loved shopping for vintage items. After this became a hobby, they quickly realized that all their amazing finds could no longer fit in their home, and so they opened a store. They aim to keep their inventory priced low as they want these amazing vintage items to find a home, so expect to find some great deals here!
St. Mary's Thrift Shop
You can shop at St. Mary's Thrift Shop at 13150 Juneau Blvd. Here, you'll find well-organized merchandise, and often, items are almost brand new and barely worn. St. Mary's is great if you're looking for clothing, accessories, shoes, and books. This store is run by St. Mary's Visitation Parish, and profits go towards the church school.
Ultimate Thrift
You can find Ultimate Thrift at 4450 S. 108th Street. At Ultimate Thrift, you can find all kinds of second-hand goods, as a lot of their inventory comes from estate sales. Here, you'll be able to shop for clothing, accessories, and shoes as well as other larger items like furniture, TVs, bikes, and more. They also have a cool and large section of CDs. Ultimate Thrift is a very unique find you'll enjoy shopping and searching through.
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