"As thrift stores rise in popularity, many people are looking for good places to shop. But why do people enjoy thrift stores so much?"--Mila Boyden, 7th Grade
As thrift stores rise in popularity, many people are looking for good places to shop. But why do people enjoy thrift stores so much?
Alex De Chari, a thrifting vet and owner of vintage home goods pop-up, Upperline Vintage, attributes it to her mom. “My mom has always been big into thrifting/ secondhand/ yard sales and as I got older I grew into it,” de Chari said. “There are so many cool and weird things to find at a thrift store. I love a good hunt and there’s no better feeling than finding really cool vintage pieces for cheap. Then you get to google it and find out the history on it and learn about the markers. It’s just a fun way to geek out.”
Bean Chandra, a Bay Area local and thrifter agrees. “You can find really original pieces and if you want a new style just, walk into any thrift store and it’s really easy to find pieces for that,” said Chandra.
There are many different types of thrift stores in the Bay Area, some are big chains, while others are small and trickier to find. We’ve asked around and gathered the top three to share.
1. Crossroads
Alex De Chari, a thrifting vet and owner of vintage home goods pop-up, Upperline Vintage, attributes it to her mom. “My mom has always been big into thrifting/ secondhand/ yard sales and as I got older I grew into it,” de Chari said. “There are so many cool and weird things to find at a thrift store. I love a good hunt and there’s no better feeling than finding really cool vintage pieces for cheap. Then you get to google it and find out the history on it and learn about the markers. It’s just a fun way to geek out.”
Bean Chandra, a Bay Area local and thrifter agrees. “You can find really original pieces and if you want a new style just, walk into any thrift store and it’s really easy to find pieces for that,” said Chandra.
There are many different types of thrift stores in the Bay Area, some are big chains, while others are small and trickier to find. We’ve asked around and gathered the top three to share.
1. Crossroads
Crossroads is a great place to thrift for good quality clothing, but it’s not always good when you're on a budget. Chandra reported that “It’s a really nice atmosphere, the employees are really nice and have a great fashion sense. There is a whole rack of sunglasses and awesome funky accessories. I love that part of the store.”
The store can get a bit pricey though. “The downside is that it can be a bit expensive (for a thrift store that is). The prices are close to a regular stores, and sometimes even higher. The sun glasses are 16 dollars! Sometimes it’s just not worth it based on the price alone. Some things have great deals though, like 50% off.”
There are a few crossroads locations in the Bay Area. One of their largest stores is in Berkeley on Shattuck Ave. “Crossroads on Shattuck Avenue is located near the UC Berkeley campus and is one of our largest stores,” according to their website. “A long-time favorite place to shop for students and the community alike, the Berkeley store offers a huge array of the latest styles and most popular brands.”
Chandra said that the College Ave location is their all time favorite thrift store to go to.
According to their website, “Our College Avenue store in Rockridge has been a mainstay of the Oakland community for more than a decade. It’s located just 2 blocks from the Rockridge BART station and is surrounded by amazing shops, great food, and vibrant street life. A convenient parking lot is available directly behind the store.”
There are three Crossroad locations in San Francisco, one on Market Street, Fillmore Street, and Irving Street. There are also two in San Jose, one on Blossom Hill Rode and the other on West San Carlos. And finally there is one in Santa Cruz on Pacific Ave. The store hours for Crossroads differs from store to store but the average is around 11:00 am to 8:00 pm every day.
2. Out of the Closet
The store can get a bit pricey though. “The downside is that it can be a bit expensive (for a thrift store that is). The prices are close to a regular stores, and sometimes even higher. The sun glasses are 16 dollars! Sometimes it’s just not worth it based on the price alone. Some things have great deals though, like 50% off.”
There are a few crossroads locations in the Bay Area. One of their largest stores is in Berkeley on Shattuck Ave. “Crossroads on Shattuck Avenue is located near the UC Berkeley campus and is one of our largest stores,” according to their website. “A long-time favorite place to shop for students and the community alike, the Berkeley store offers a huge array of the latest styles and most popular brands.”
Chandra said that the College Ave location is their all time favorite thrift store to go to.
According to their website, “Our College Avenue store in Rockridge has been a mainstay of the Oakland community for more than a decade. It’s located just 2 blocks from the Rockridge BART station and is surrounded by amazing shops, great food, and vibrant street life. A convenient parking lot is available directly behind the store.”
There are three Crossroad locations in San Francisco, one on Market Street, Fillmore Street, and Irving Street. There are also two in San Jose, one on Blossom Hill Rode and the other on West San Carlos. And finally there is one in Santa Cruz on Pacific Ave. The store hours for Crossroads differs from store to store but the average is around 11:00 am to 8:00 pm every day.
2. Out of the Closet
Out of the Closet is OSA Lit Arts 8th grader Drax Richardson's favorite thrift store to shop at. “It’s a very queer focused thrift store,” said Richardson. “They have some pretty cool stuff and I found my favorite jacket there. They have good quality clothes in all sorts of styles.” Their average price range is about 10-30 dollars for clothing items, and is a good store for good quality clothes on a budget. “All the employees are very nice, and it’s generally just a good place to shop.”
Out of the closet isn’t just a thrift store though, it’s also a pharmacy. OTC gives free HIV tests every day. “Out of the Closet Thrift Stores provides free HIV testing and AHF Pharmacy services (at select locations). You can get tested for HIV or fill your prescription and shop while you wait. Our finger-prick HIV tests are fast, easy, and offer same-day results. Stop wondering and get tested at OTC today.Out of the Closet Thrift Stores provides free HIV testing and AHF Pharmacy services (at select locations). You can get tested for HIV or fill your prescription and shop while you wait. Our finger-prick HIV tests are fast, easy, and offer same-day results. Stop wondering and get tested at OTC today.”
There are four Out of the Closet thrift stores in the Bay Area, including one in Oakland. The OTCC location in Oakland is on 238 East 18th Street. “Stop by and shop for unique vintage finds, donate large or small items, and help your community all in one place! When you shop or donate at Out the Closet Thrift Stores (OTC), 96 cents of each dollar goes directly into HIV care and services provided by AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Out of the Closet not only benefits HIV and AIDS treatment services but also acts as a free HIV testing location.” The store hours are 10:00 am to 7:00 pm every day except Sunday where the hours are 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
There is also an OTC location in Berkeley on 1600 University Avenue. Their store hours are the same as the Oakland locations. There are two stores in San Francisco, one on 1498 Polk Street and one on 1295 Folsom Street.
3. Eco Thrift (Hayward)
Out of the closet isn’t just a thrift store though, it’s also a pharmacy. OTC gives free HIV tests every day. “Out of the Closet Thrift Stores provides free HIV testing and AHF Pharmacy services (at select locations). You can get tested for HIV or fill your prescription and shop while you wait. Our finger-prick HIV tests are fast, easy, and offer same-day results. Stop wondering and get tested at OTC today.Out of the Closet Thrift Stores provides free HIV testing and AHF Pharmacy services (at select locations). You can get tested for HIV or fill your prescription and shop while you wait. Our finger-prick HIV tests are fast, easy, and offer same-day results. Stop wondering and get tested at OTC today.”
There are four Out of the Closet thrift stores in the Bay Area, including one in Oakland. The OTCC location in Oakland is on 238 East 18th Street. “Stop by and shop for unique vintage finds, donate large or small items, and help your community all in one place! When you shop or donate at Out the Closet Thrift Stores (OTC), 96 cents of each dollar goes directly into HIV care and services provided by AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Out of the Closet not only benefits HIV and AIDS treatment services but also acts as a free HIV testing location.” The store hours are 10:00 am to 7:00 pm every day except Sunday where the hours are 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
There is also an OTC location in Berkeley on 1600 University Avenue. Their store hours are the same as the Oakland locations. There are two stores in San Francisco, one on 1498 Polk Street and one on 1295 Folsom Street.
3. Eco Thrift (Hayward)
De Chari recommends going to the Eco Thrift in Hayward. “They’re huge with a good variety in both housewares and clothing and they’re always pretty organized. Their glassware section is all paired up!”
De Chari finds it a great place to collect furniture and other trinkets for their own thrifting/vintage business, Upperline Vintage. “I’ve always really enjoyed hitting up all the thrift shops and finding things, but not everyone enjoys that or has the time to do it. So, once I finished furnishing and decorating my place fully secondhand, I didn’t want to stop looking for cool pieces,” she said. “The only option I could think of was to start selling the home goods and glassware that I was finding while also helping others live a little more sustainably.”
Eco Thrift stores focus on helping the environment while providing people with great style. They work on keeping clothes, trinkets, and furnishings out of landfill. “I’ve found some really cool furniture, but the best thing would be a Luna Chair by Odd Knutsen. It was cool to see one in person."
You can find the Hayward location on 25891 Mission Blvd. “Eco Thrift has served Hayward since 1995, and in April, 2011, moved into this beautiful 33,000 square foot facility. (That’s a lot of Eco Thrift!) The store is located about halfway between the Hayward and South Hayward BART stations.”
There is also a location in Pomona on 1190 S. Garey Ave. “Eco Thrift is proud to have recently purchased its Pomona location from the DAV Disabled American Veterans. charity it had been managing operations for since 1960. Opened by Greg Ellison's father Robert, there is a lot of history at this location. (Maybe your grandparents shopped here!)! There have been some extra-exciting finds at this store. Come visit and find your own treasure!”
And finally, there is one location in Vallejo on 490 Redwood St. VALLEJO “Eco Thrift Vallejo offers approximately 17,000 square feet of showroom space, with new bargains every time you visit.”
Happy thrifting!
De Chari finds it a great place to collect furniture and other trinkets for their own thrifting/vintage business, Upperline Vintage. “I’ve always really enjoyed hitting up all the thrift shops and finding things, but not everyone enjoys that or has the time to do it. So, once I finished furnishing and decorating my place fully secondhand, I didn’t want to stop looking for cool pieces,” she said. “The only option I could think of was to start selling the home goods and glassware that I was finding while also helping others live a little more sustainably.”
Eco Thrift stores focus on helping the environment while providing people with great style. They work on keeping clothes, trinkets, and furnishings out of landfill. “I’ve found some really cool furniture, but the best thing would be a Luna Chair by Odd Knutsen. It was cool to see one in person."
You can find the Hayward location on 25891 Mission Blvd. “Eco Thrift has served Hayward since 1995, and in April, 2011, moved into this beautiful 33,000 square foot facility. (That’s a lot of Eco Thrift!) The store is located about halfway between the Hayward and South Hayward BART stations.”
There is also a location in Pomona on 1190 S. Garey Ave. “Eco Thrift is proud to have recently purchased its Pomona location from the DAV Disabled American Veterans. charity it had been managing operations for since 1960. Opened by Greg Ellison's father Robert, there is a lot of history at this location. (Maybe your grandparents shopped here!)! There have been some extra-exciting finds at this store. Come visit and find your own treasure!”
And finally, there is one location in Vallejo on 490 Redwood St. VALLEJO “Eco Thrift Vallejo offers approximately 17,000 square feet of showroom space, with new bargains every time you visit.”
Happy thrifting!