The Most Popular Thrift Store, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the thrift store you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 9, 2024 06:53
Thrifting has become a beloved way to shop, marrying the joy of discovery with environmental concern and budget-friendly prices. However, with so many options, it often becomes overwhelming to identify which stores offer the best variety, quality, and overall experience. A streamlined ranking helps simplify this decision, presenting a clear, community-driven guide to the top thrift stores as deemed by shoppers themselves.
This constantly updated list depends on active participation and voting from users like you. By participating, you not only ensure that the best thrift stores get the recognition they deserve but also help others make informed choices about where to shop. Your input directly influences the list, creating a responsive and accurate reflection of real-time preferences.
What Is the Most Popular Thrift Store?
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142votes
Goodwill Industries
Rev. Edgar J. HelmsGoodwill is one of the largest and most well-known thrift store chains in the world, with more than 3,300 stores in the United States and Canada. They offer a wide range of affordable clothing, accessories, and household items, and their mission is to create jobs and provide job training for people in need.Goodwill Industries is a well-known non-profit organization that operates thrift stores in various locations. It aims to provide job training, employment placement services, and community-based programs to individuals in need. The organization primarily sells donated items such as clothing, furniture, household goods, and electronics at affordable prices.- Year Established: 1902
- Headquarters: Rockville, Maryland, United States
- Number of Locations: over 3,300
- Revenue: Approximately $6 billion (2020)
- Number of Employees: over 100,000
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221votes
Rama · CC BY-SA 2.0 frSalvation Army
William BoothThe Salvation Army is another well-known thrift store chain that operates in more than 130 countries around the world. They offer a range of affordable clothing, furniture, and household items, and their mission is to provide social services and assistance to people in need.The Salvation Army is a Christian denomination and international charitable organization. It operates in more than 130 countries, including Australia. The organization's primary goal is to provide assistance and support to those in need, offering a range of social and community services such as homelessness services, addiction recovery programs, disaster relief, and youth development.- Founded: 1865
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Founder's Birthplace: Nottingham, England
- Motto: Blood and Fire
- Largest Annual Fundraising Campaign: Red Shield Appeal
Salvation Army in other rankings- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular church in England
- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular church in Australia
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320votes
Value Village
William EllisonValue Village is a thrift store chain that operates in the United States, Canada, and Australia. They offer a wide range of affordable clothing, accessories, and household items, and their mission is to promote sustainability by encouraging people to recycle and reuse items.Value Village is a popular thrift store chain that offers a wide variety of secondhand goods ranging from clothing, accessories, and household items. It aims to provide affordable options while promoting sustainable shopping practices. With its vast selection and competitive prices, Value Village has become a go-to destination for bargain hunters and individuals looking for unique treasures.- Year Founded: 1954
- Number of Stores: 330+
- Locations: United States, Canada
- Product Categories: Clothing, Accessories, Furniture, Housewares, Electronics, Books, Toys
- Donation Program: Accepts donated items from the community
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419votes
ΙΣΧΣΝΙΚΑ-888 · CC BY-SA 4.0St. Vincent de Paul
Frederic OzanamSt. Vincent de Paul is a nonprofit organization that operates thrift stores in the United States and around the world. They offer a range of affordable clothing, furniture, and household items, and their mission is to provide assistance to people in need, including food, shelter, and clothing.St. Vincent de Paul is a recognized non-profit organization that operates thrift stores across the world. The organization aims to provide assistance to the poor and underserved communities through the collection, sale, and distribution of donated goods. Their thrift stores offer a wide range of items, including clothing, furniture, household items, and electronics, at affordable prices.- Organization Type: Non-profit
- Year Founded: 1833
- Countries of Operation: Multiple
- Donations Accepted: Clothing, furniture, household items, electronics, etc.
- Assistance Provided: Support for the poor and underserved communities
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56votesHabitat for Humanity ReStore is a chain of thrift stores that operates in the United States and Canada. They offer affordable furniture, appliances, and building materials, and their mission is to support the work of Habitat for Humanity, which builds affordable housing for low-income families.Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a popular thrift store that operates worldwide and aims to generate funds to support the mission of Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building homes for families in need. The ReStore accepts donations of new and gently used furniture, appliances, building materials, and home goods from individuals and businesses, which are then sold to the public at discounted prices. The proceeds from these sales are used to finance Habitat for Humanity's homebuilding projects and other community development initiatives.
- Operating Locations: Worldwide
- Donations Accepted: Furniture, appliances, building materials, home goods
- Sales Model: Discounted prices to the public
- Funds Utilization: Supports homebuilding projects and community development initiatives
- Nonprofit Status: Yes
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611votes
Plato's Closet
Lynette and Dennis DotterPlato's Closet is a thrift store chain that specializes in buying and selling gently used clothing and accessories for teenagers and young adults. They offer a range of affordable styles, from casual to formal, and their mission is to provide a fun and trendy shopping experience for young people.Plato's Closet is a popular thrift store chain that specializes in buying and selling gently used clothing and accessories for young adults and teenagers. With its trendy and affordable selections, Plato's Closet provides a unique shopping experience for fashion-conscious individuals on a budget.- Target audience: Young adults and teenagers
- Type of store: Thrift store
- Merchandise: Gently used clothing and accessories
- Price range: Affordable
- Fashion focus: Trendy and stylish
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74votes
Buffalo Exchange
Kerstin BlockBuffalo Exchange is a thrift store chain that operates in the United States and specializes in buying and selling trendy, vintage, and unique clothing and accessories. They offer a range of affordable styles, from boho to punk, and their mission is to promote sustainable fashion by encouraging people to recycle and reuse clothing.Buffalo Exchange is a popular thrift store that buys, sells, and trades fashionable clothing and accessories. They aim to provide affordable and sustainable fashion options for their customers.- Year Founded: 1974
- Headquarters: Tucson, Arizona
- Number of Locations: 50+
- Buy/Sell/Trade Model: Buys, sells, and trades clothing and accessories
- Selection: Curated collection of unique and trendy items
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87votes
Crossroads Trading Co.
Gerald BlockCrossroads Trading Co. is a thrift store chain that operates in the United States and specializes in buying and selling high-quality, designer clothing and accessories. They offer a range of affordable styles, from casual to formal, and their mission is to provide a curated shopping experience for fashion-conscious shoppers.Crossroads Trading Co. is a popular thrift store chain known for its curated selection of high-quality second-hand clothing and accessories. With over 35 years of experience, Crossroads Trading Co. has become a go-to destination for fashion-savvy individuals looking for unique and affordable fashion finds. The store offers a mix of both vintage and contemporary styles, catering to various preferences and personal styles.- Year of Establishment: 1991
- Number of Locations: 50+
- Types of Products: Clothing, Accessories
- Price Range: Affordable
- Quality of Items: High-quality second-hand
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94votes
Thrift Town
Walt FortneyThrift Town is a thrift store chain that operates in the United States and specializes in selling affordable clothing, furniture, and household items. Their mission is to support local communities by donating a portion of their profits to local charities and nonprofits.Thrift Town is a renowned thrift store chain known for offering affordable secondhand goods and unique finds. With a wide variety of items, including clothing, furniture, household items, and more, Thrift Town attracts a diverse range of customers searching for bargains and hidden treasures. The store has a welcoming atmosphere and is well-organized, making it easy for shoppers to navigate and explore the vast selection of merchandise.- Year Established: 1972
- Store Locations: Multiple locations across the United States
- Product Assortment: Clothing, furniture, household goods, electronics, books, accessories, and more
- Affordability: Offers affordable prices and frequent sales
- Quality Control: Ensures products meet quality standards before being available for sale
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104votes
Out of the Closet
Michael WeinsteinOut of the Closet is a thrift store chain that operates in the United States and specializes in selling affordable clothing, furniture, and household items. Their mission is to support the work of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which provides healthcare services to people with HIV/AIDS.Out of the Closet is a popular thrift store chain known for its unique concept of combining thrift shopping with raising awareness about HIV/AIDS. The stores are typically large and well-organized, offering a wide selection of second-hand clothing, accessories, furniture, and household items. Customers can find both vintage treasures and modern styles at affordable prices while supporting a good cause. Each store has a distinctive vibrant appearance, creating a fun and welcoming environment for shoppers.- Multiple Locations: Out of the Closet has stores in various cities across the United States.
- Focus on HIV/AIDS: The thrift store chain was founded by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) in 1990 to support HIV/AIDS testing, prevention, and treatment.
- Donation Centers: Out of the Closet accepts donations of gently used clothing and household items at their dedicated donation centers.
- Free HIV Testing: Many Out of the Closet stores provide free, confidential HIV testing services.
- Proceeds Support HIV/AIDS Programs: The funds raised through the thrift stores are used to support AHF's HIV/AIDS programs globally.
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular thrift store
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Variety of goodsA good thrift store should offer a wide range of goods including clothing, accessories, books, electronics, and household items.
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Quality of itemsThe items available in the thrift store should be of good quality and in good condition. Customers expect to find unique and fashionable items at affordable prices.
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Community outreachThrift stores that provide employment opportunities, support local charities, or offer community programs may have a better reputation and be more popular than those that don’t.
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PricingThe prices of items offered in the thrift store should be reasonable and competitive with other thrift stores in the area.
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LocationThe thrift store's location and accessibility can play a significant role in its popularity. A store that is centrally located and easily accessible by public transport may be more convenient for shoppers.
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Customer serviceA pleasant and helpful staff can contribute to a positive shopping experience and increase the likelihood of customers returning to the thrift store.
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Cleanliness and organizationThrift stores that are well-organized and clean are typically more appealing to customers and encourages them to spend more time browsing the inventory.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular thrift store. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or thrift store is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1459 views
- 137 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each thrift store once every 24 hours. The rank of each thrift store is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular thrift store
When it comes to finding a good deal on clothing, furniture, and other household items, thrift stores are often the go-to destination for budget-conscious shoppers. These shops offer secondhand goods at a fraction of the cost of new items, making them a popular choice for those looking to save money and reduce their environmental impact.
But with so many thrift stores to choose from, how do you know which one is the most popular? At StrawPoll, we've conducted extensive surveys and analyzed user data to determine the most popular thrift stores in the United States.
From national chains like Goodwill and Salvation Army to local, independent stores, there are plenty of options for shoppers looking to score a bargain. Whether you're in search of vintage clothing, unique home decor, or just a good deal, the thrift store scene has something for everyone.
So which thrift store comes out on top? Keep reading to find out.
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