Best Thrift Stores in New York City [Clothing & Furniture]

There are multiple reasons for visiting thrift stores in New York City. Not only are thrift stores a great place to find vintage items at a fraction of the cost, but it’s also a remarkable way for sustainable shopping. You can find anything from designer handbags, shoes, and jewelry to furniture and accessories. We have already published some great thrifting tips a few days ago. There are plenty of thrift stores in New York City and, although many of them, to great lament, closed down during the pandemic, the shops below stand out for their vast selection of high-quality items at bargain prices. Scroll down to find out where to find cheap and sustainable clothing and furniture in NYC!

Biggest Thrift Stores in NYC

Goodwill

Perhaps the most known thrift store chain, Goodwill has many locations throughout New York City and the surrounding areas. Each year they collect and distribute millions of pounds of women’s and men’s clothing, furniture, and household goods through their retail stores.

When it comes to clothes, you can find practically anything you need. However, before you go, please take into consideration that their acceptance standards for clothes are not the highest, which means that you can expect some signs of wear on each item. Before you go, please check every item carefully for pulled threads, stains etc. By the way, it also makes sense to take advantage of our thrifting tips.

Goodwill also offers many designer clothes from top brands like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and more. You can also find vintage pieces at Goodwill that complement your existing wardrobe.

And if you’re looking for something specific like a purse or shoes, you’re sure to find them at Goodwill too.

If you’re looking for sustainable shopping in NYC, visiting at least a few Goodwill stores is a must.

Buffalo Exchange

Buffalo Exchange is one of the oldest and most reputable chain of stores that sell secondhand clothing. They have been on the market since 1974 and have a wide selection of apparel and accessories, including vintage items. Buffalo Exchange has stores in many cities worldwide, including New York City, Portland, Los Angeles, Austin, and San Francisco.

All the products are guaranteed to be in good condition so that you could enjoy your utmost sustainable shopping.

Buffalo Exchange has an online store with an easy-to-navigate website that offers quick shipping, returns, and free shipping on orders over $50, and they ship internationally. You can also find them on Instagram at @buffaloexchange_official or Twitter at @BXofficial. 

The company also has a mobile app for Android or iPhone; it contains information about current sales events so you can get deals when you need them most!

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army thrift shop is one of our favorite places to shop because they have so many locations around the city. They also have a mobile app that makes shopping from home even more accessible. 

The Salvation Army has tons of merchandise, priced at $6-$10 per garment. You can also find some fabulous shoes for under $20! The only downside is that it can be hard to find what you’re looking for since there’s such a large selection of clothing and accessories.

Clothing: Top Brooklyn Thrift Stores

When it comes to thrifting, you can’t beat Brooklyn! The variety and number of stores that sell secondhand clothes for cheap are beyond the wildest imagination. Scroll down to discover the best Brooklyn destinations for sustainable shopping.

L Train Vintage

L Train Vintage is a local favorite and a great place to find vintage clothing. This store has everything from 1950s dresses to good-quality pairs of jeans. Look no further than L Train Vintage if you’re looking for a piece of vintage t-shirts or a few retro items that will spice up your closet.

While its outside view may be truly glamorous, inside it’s a genuine treasure. In each location, you’ll discover countless racks of vintage clothing items that are still relevant today, such as t-shirts, women’s and men’s apparel, and shoes, as well as a few racks for kids. You’ll be delighted to enjoy this never-ending thrift experience.

If you’re visiting New York City soon, we recommend stopping by this thrift store at any of their 7 locations. Check out L Train Vintage thrift stores in Brooklyn: Decalb Ave. (Bushwick), Thames St. (East Williamsburg), Classon Ave. (Crown Heights), Saint Nicholas Ave. (St. Nick), Knickerbocker Ave. (Urban Jungle).

What they sell: primarily clothing, not too vintage-styled, just normal secondhand clothing.

Recommended for: vintage clothing aficionados, deal seekers

Beacon’s Closet

Beacon’s Closet is a vintage clothing store chain, which includes 3 locations in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan. It has a wide selection of clothing and accessories, including men’s, women’s, and children’s items. 

Each of the four locations is an enormous source of vintage clothes. For instance, their Bushwick shop is over 2000 square feet. Considering most prices are under $50, you can definitely expect to fall in love with a few items.

If you’re looking for something specific, like a particular era or piece of clothing, it’ll probably be convenient to check out their online store.

What they sell: secondhand everyday clothing under $50

Recommended for: deal seekers

Monk Vintage Thrift Shop

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500 Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11211, United States

Monk Vintage thrift shop has a lot going on in their store: they have both vintage and new merchandise, so you could find anything from a dress that’s out of date or a unique contemporary piece of furniture at an affordable price and maybe even some antiques. 

They also have many one-of-a-kind items that you won’t see anywhere else. One day you can discover a 1950s vintage dress for $50, the next day you can come across a $2,000 Chanel purse. But, again, the staff will help you find what you need—just ask them. 

If you love treasure hunting, this is a thrift shop you’ll enjoy. Plus, if you don’t like what’s in the store on any given day, just wait another few days because there’s always something new coming through. 

If it sounds like this place has everything, why not give this thrift shop a try today?

What they sell: high-end designer items

Recommended for: treasure hunters, eclectic thrifters, brand names fans

Clothing: NYC Thrift Stores in Manhattan

While Manhattan hosts the most high-end designer luxury stores in New York, there are some spectacular thrifting places in East Village and SoHo. We’ll reveal the most precious jewels but keep it under wraps!

AuH20 Thriftique (East Village)

84 East 7th Street, New York City, New York 10003, United States

AuH20 Thriftique is a family-run business serving the East Village community for over 30 years. They are a non-profit thrift shop that supports local community groups and schools by giving them much-needed funding. 

AuH20 Thriftique sells clothing and accessories for men and women. This thrift boutique, or thriftique, will amaze you with its $5 and $10 racks.

Aside from clothing, which is their primary business, they also sell many vintage items like records, compact discs, books including art history books, kitchenware/housewares like plates and cups, and home decor items, such as 1980s lamps.

They also offer job training to individuals with disabilities or other challenges in finding employment.

What they sell: you’ll always find vintage clothes under $50

Recommended for: deal seekers

East Village Vintage Collective

Thrift stores in New York City can be pretty special. East Village Vintage Collective is a curated thrift store that offers various items from the past:

• clothes for adults and children
• vinyl
• tchotchkes
• home goods
• toys
• and more

The shop is not large but in case you’re tired of thrifting at behemoths, such as Goodwill or Buffalo Exchange, visiting a nice curated store may be just what you need.

It began as a brick-and-mortar store in Manhattan, NYC, which was opened in August 2015 with an aspiration to bring back some of the old-school East Village vibes that we loved so much.

Furniture & Home Decor Thrift Stores in New York City

Mother of Junk

567 Driggs Avenue | 463 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11211, United States

Mother of Junk is a Brooklyn thrift shop with 2 locations offering a unique shopping experience. The shop sells pretty much everything a decent thrift store must have – used clothing, vintage furniture, books, and collectibles for men, women, and children.

If you’ve never been there, go for at least several hours. Seeing diverse beautiful things from the past is an exhilarating experience with calming afterglow. In other words, a must-see.

What they sell: EVERYTHING at bargain prices

Recommended for: deal seekers, casual shoppers

Green Village

In short, Green Village is a 10,000 sq.ft. thrift store with various items, including vintage clothing, furniture and an unlimited choice of home decor objects. Green Village is in the East Village, so if you’re in New York City, you can’t miss it.

• office desks
• rolling chairs
• flat files
• filing cabinets
• conference tables
• tables & chairs
• outdoor furniture
• toys
• bookcases
• used clothing by the pound
• vintage dresses
• mounds of books
• antique lamps
• dressers & mirrors
• costumes & props for set designers
• electronics

To better understand what they have in stock, here are some of their references:

• customers say, “It’s the place where mundane kitchen items, collectibles & rare valuable antiques sit side by side”.
• the shop was recognized by the New York Magazine Best of NY as one of NY’s ten best junkshops.

On a serious note, Green Village has a large selection of home accessories and antique furniture. It’s one of the vintage furniture stores in NYC that are truly remarkable due to its size and variety of merchandise. Some items in their store claim to be signed by artists or authors who made them. There’s something for everyone here—even if you’re looking for something specific like vintage jewelry, they probably have it.

If you’re interested in buying something but aren’t sure what would look best on your wall or dresser top yet, don’t fret: Green Village welcomes customers to test-drive any item before making their final decision about whether or not to buy it. What a great way to see if vintage furniture matches your apartment and lifestyle.

What they sell: used furniture, vintage furniture at bargain prices

Recommended for: bairgain hunters, antique lovers

Conclusion: Where to Thrift in NYC

When it comes to thrift shopping in New York City, the choice is exuberant. Thrift stores are the best way to find great sustainable clothing at prices you’ll never even find in fast fashion. We would recommend many places, but these stand out as the best thrift shops in NYC for finding various styles and brands at affordable prices.

Are you an NYC local? Do you know a vintage store that we must add to this article? Let us know in the comments!