Underrated Thrift Stores:
1) Lifelong Thrift Store
312 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102
This thrift store is in the heart of Seattle’s Capitol Hill. It is a non-profit organization that takes donations to help provide for people suffering HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases with food, housing, and health. They sell clothes, shoes, home decor, books, and other miscellaneous things. They also have a big volunteer program, where one can volunteer and get service hours. One can also donate anything they like, Lifelong only takes: (clean) clothing, accessories, shoes, books, textbooks, magazines, comics, assembled furniture in good condition, vintage clothing and antiques, electronics in good, working condition, clean gardening supplies, household goods, cups, silverware, DVDs, CDs, records, tapes, home décor, and art. The store is a nice and modern establishment in which anyone can relax and shop for anything they might be looking for. Pro tip: it’s also a great setting snap some photos for a flawless Instagram feed. Make sure to pick up one of their free condoms on your way out!
2) Goodwill Ballard
6400 8th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
This Goodwill is on 8th Ave NW, right above downtown Ballard. It holds such a wide variety of things one can buy. It has clothes, furniture, handbags, shoes, decor, and many more random items. The clothes are all organized by size and are all color coded, making it easier to shop there and looking for what one needs. There are even dressing rooms, so that you can make sure you look good before buying something and committing it. Prices are reasonable for anyone to buy, my friend recently went there and she bought three shirts and a pair of boots for only $30. If that’s not a deal then I don’t know what is. Also, the place is huge with an enormous parking lot filled with many spots to park in. Goodwill is also an organization in that helps people with jobs and job training, so the money you spent there goes to a good cause.
Overrated Thrift Stores:
1) Buffalo Exchange
This thrift store has multiple locations in Seattle and across the country. As a consignment store, (where they buy or trade for the clothes from patrons as opposed to donations) Buffalo Exchange is very selective about the items they choose to take. When I tried to trade in clothes there, they only took about half of the clothes I brought in. Their price range is on the pricier end of the spectrum as well. A shirt can range from $10-$20, which for a second hand store is relatively expensive. The selection also isn’t the best. They have some nice things, but usually it’s pretty hard to find something that is worth the asking price. They also only sell clothes, shoes, and accessories, less variation then a Goodwill would have, for example. All in all, Buffalo Exchange is a place that looks like it might offer a lot, but its appearances are misleading.
2) 2nd Base
1001 NE Boat St, Seattle, WA 98105
This thrift store is right below the University Bridge, right next to the water. But, don’t let the location fool you. This thrift store is a place to buy used sports equipment, again limiting the things you can buy. If you want to donate something you have to make an appointment, a time-consuming endeavor that I most people wouldn’t want to bother with. They only allow cash payments, which for most people is an inconvenient and adds extra hassle. Also, the location is elusive and hard to find, making it less than ideal. The location of this thrift store might make it seem like a cool hip place, but never judge a book by its cover.
Photo By: Mari Kramer
