The great city of San Diego is known for many amazing things. It has some of the most incredible beaches, the best restaurants, top-notch schools, and gorgeous hotels. There are also a lot of fun things to do in the city, including visiting awesome thrift stores. San Diego is home to many interesting people with eclectic tastes, so they donate a lot of fun items that you could buy and bring into your home. If you’re looking to get something new, then check out the best thrift stores in San Diego.
Hunt and Gather
3817 Ray St, San Diego, CA 92104
If you’re looking for unique clothing from today and eras past, then check out Hunt and Gather. They sell outerwear, tops, bottoms, dresses, and awesome handmade jewelry. This is literally the place that you visit if you’ve been hunting for the perfect outfit for years and have never found what truly defines you. They also sell many of those great outfits on their website. One of their claims to fame is the cool sunglasses they carry. Their “third eye” glasses have a third lens, and you won’t find them anywhere else. There are very cool items that you simply have to see to believe.
Vintage Threads and Grails
1031 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
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Vintage Threads and Grails is one of the best thrift stores you’ll find in the country, especially if you love older, vintage items. While they have some newer stuff, they mostly sell clothing from the 1980s and '90s. There are awesome band shirts, clothing that features your favorite old-school rappers, dresses, skirts, jeans, and more. Many of the items are also rare, so you could find a hidden gem that you won’t find anywhere else. Best of all, the store has great prices so you can buy a whole new wardrobe without breaking the bank.
Consignment Classic
Various Locations
©Vika Aleksandrova/Shutterstock.com
There are four Consignment Classic locations in San Diego, and they’re all pretty great. This store has been around since 1997, and it’s the place to go if you’re looking for awesome home furnishings in your home for a good price. They have just about everything you could want here, including vintage clothing, artwork, housewares, dishes, and more. They have many vintage pieces that could change the look of your home, and you’re always bound to find something new during every visit. There’s no excuse not to check it out. The stores are even dog-friendly.
Humble Heart Thrift Shop
4873 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107 and 1129 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
Undoubtedly, one of the best thrift stores in San Diego, Humble Heart Thrift Shop has two locations. One in Ocean Beach and another in downtown San Diego. These stores have everything, including vintage clothing, toys, housewares, books, and many fashionable accessories, including scarves, belts, and more. They also have a spectacular selection of artwork. In addition to being a thrift store, this is also a music school, and people of all ages can go there to learn to play and read music. There are group lessons, private lessons, and more.
Home Start Thrift Boutique
3611 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
Visit this famous area thrift store, and you’ll find great products while also doing a great service for the community. There are many categories here, starting with their clothing, including vintage and contemporary pieces, and there are options for boys, girls, and adults. They also offer vintage jewelry, including earrings, pins, and watches, at great prices. There are also handbags and scarves to complete the look. They sell tons of great furniture, ranging from bed frames and bookshelves to sofas and recliners. There are rooms full of items for living rooms and kitchens, including clocks, table settings, mirrors, and more.
In addition to finding great items for your home or your wardrobe, when you buy items from Home Start Thrift Boutique, you’ll be helping them support the community. They do that through maternity housing programs and by helping those in need. You can also donate your older items, so other people can buy them and help the community as well.
Auntie Helen’s
4127 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
Auntie Helen’s is a unique charity that seeks to help individuals living with HIV and AIDS get the support they need while also helping them to live empowered lives. They partner with local medical clinics to provide confidential testing, free preventative care, and educational resources. In order to provide these services, they have a great thrift store where they sell clothing, books, furniture, household items, books, and other new and gently used items. If you have any older items that you believe that others may want to buy, consider donating them to the center. If you live in the area, you can also donate your time by working in the store, folding clothes, and helping with other needs.
- The must-have convenient reference guide for every home cook!
- Includes more than 8,000 substitutions for ingredients, cookware, and techniques.
- Save time and money on by avoiding trips to grab that "missing" ingredient you don't really need.
Rancho Coastal Humane Society Thrift Shop
120 Aberdeen Dr, Cardiff, CA 92007
Cardiff is a wonderful city in San Diego County that’s famous for its white, sandy beaches, fun tourist activities, great locals, and more. It is undoubtedly one of the finest communities in California, and it’s home to an awesome thrift store with a wonderful cause. The store has everything, ranging from clothes and artwork to housewares and unique dishes for your kitchen. You could even walk out with backyard toys for your kids. You could spend hours getting lost in the shop. Buy what you can because 100% of the proceeds go to the humane society. It’s there where they take care of cats, dogs, and other fun pets and go above and beyond to help them find new homes. If you’re also in the market for a new household pet, then give this place a try.
Luigi Vera
3823 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
When it comes to high-street fashion at incredible prices, then one of the best thrift stores in San Diego is Luigi Vera. They have all of the mainstays of great thrift shops, including housewares, artwork, some electronics, and other odds and ends. However, this is another place to get that special costume or outfit for a party or event that you won’t find anywhere else. The store also gets rave reviews for its great prices, so it’s worth a visit.
CSU Thrift
9460 Mira Mesa Blvd Unit N, San Diego, CA
This is hands down, one of the best thrift stores in San Diego because they simply have some of the best vintage clothing in the city. When you walk in, you’ll see clothing for every occasion and for everyone in your family. There’s a lot of classic vintage clothing here, including old sports apparel and outfits with corporate logos that you’ve all but forgotten. They have rack after rack of various outfits, and you could spend hours exploring. Add this one to your bucket list.
Day to Day Vintage
3063 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
It’s a small little shop that’s squeezed between many other stores, but Day to Day Vintage is not a store that you should skip. They have a huge collection of apparel and accessories from major brands, including Nike and Wranglers. When they say vintage, they mean it. Some of these outfits are straight out of the 1940s! The best thing about this store is that they value sustainability, so you’re getting great outfits and helping the planet when you shop here.
Assistance League of Greater San Diego Thrift Shop
108 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Finally, we have the thrift shop that’s brought to us by the Assistance League of Greater San Diego. This is an organization that helps the community through elementary school enrichment, educational advocacy, scholarships, and more. So, you’re buying products and helping a good cause. There’s plenty to choose from because this thrift store is loaded with clothes, housewares, tons of toys and games for the kids, books, DVDs, and more. There is a ton of stuff for kids, including artwork and stuffed animals. It’s a wonderful store for the whole family.
Conclusion
These are undoubtedly the best thrift stores in San Diego, and they all deserve a visit. Whether you’re looking for clothes, toys, signs, housewares, or anything in between, these shops have you covered. They’re just one part of the great charm of San Diego.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Pazut Wutigornsombatkul/Shutterstock.com.
- The must-have convenient reference guide for every home cook!
- Includes more than 8,000 substitutions for ingredients, cookware, and techniques.
- Save time and money on by avoiding trips to grab that "missing" ingredient you don't really need.