If you want to get to know what the people in a city are like, go thrifting.
Whenever I go out of town, I make it a priority to explore that area’s thrift shops. Not only do I score amazing finds, but I also get to learn about the people in that community from their castoffs. I feel a bit like a part thrifter/part anthropologist.
Austin, TX is one of my favorite cities to visit and thrift in. The people there are colorful, vibrant, fun & funky. They have mastered an effortlessly quirky street style that I seriously vibe with and want to emulate.
That’s why I’ve compiled this list of my favorite thrift stores in Austin. Whether you’re just visiting or are lucky enough to live there, I hope you find your next favorite thrift store here.
Treasure City Thrift | 2142 E. 7th Street
This is my favorite thrift store in Austin!
While it's a smaller store, there are many "treasures" to be found here. This is my favorite source for unique one-of-kind pieces. I consistently find excellent vintage & western items AND I typically find really nice accessories and statement pieces as well.
Plus, they mark items down to $1 on the regular. Just follow them on social media to know when they're having one of their sales!
Texas Thrift & City Thrift | 5319 North IH 35
Apparently, everything really IS bigger in Texas, as this place is flippin’ HUGE!
If you have the time to explore, you're almost guaranteed to find something you like here. The quality of their wares is a little higher than other thrift stores in the area, and the staff is super-nice.
Sometimes thrift stores can be a little dim and dodgy, but Texas Thrift is bright, clean, and well-organized...making it a great introductory thrift store for secondhand newbies.
Top Drawer Thrift | 4902 Burnet Rd
The next few shops on my list are located on Burnet Road...a hotspot for thrift and vintage stores.
I just love Top Drawer's signage, don't you? You can tell you're in for something special when you walk inside. I have found some of the coolest vintage pieces in my wardrobe here, and I have no doubt you'll have the same level of success.
You'll also be sure to find lots of vinyl, rock band T-shirts, and fab shoes to boot (pun intended).
Austin Pets Alive! Thrift | 5801 Burnet Rd | 1409 W Oltorf St
APA! is a boutique-style thrift shop that sells high-quality new and gently used items for super low prices. All of their net proceeds go to help fund their no-kill animal shelter, which warms the cockles of my little heart.
If you're feeling a little fancy (but still thrifty), this is the place for you.
Savers | 5222 Burnet Rd #600
So sure...it's a chain (and a big one at that). But we don't have Savers in here in Columbia, SC and I really wish we did. Their marketing is spot-on (Digital Marketing Strategist here, folks) and so freaking cool.
This store is nicely laid out and has a wide array of different second-hand goodies, and what it lacks in quirkiness, it compensates for with a solid inventory. Plus, it's on Burnet Road with loads of other thrift stores, so why not stop in?
Thrift Town | 5726 Manchaca Rd
Thrift Town is a smaller chain of thrift stores that offers typical thrifted wares at cheaper prices than other thrift stores in the area.
While it's noticeably less expensive than some of the other shops on this list, it's still well-labeled & organized, making it a good spot for ultra-budget thrifters looking for items to refashion (like myself) and college students.
10th Street GW Boutique | 914 N. Lamar Blvd
This isn't your typical Goodwill. The GW Boutique features higher-end (and quality) goods and brands, meaning less digging for "the good stuff". It's still thrifting, but in easy mode.
The store is spacious and nicely laid out. It feels like shopping in a...well...boutique (hence the name).
This store is my favorite for finding really nice new-ish and vintage handbags.
St. Vincent de Paul Vintage Boutique & Thrift Store | 901 West Braker Ln
Affectionately known as Vinny's, this is another boutique-style thrift shop. It's a little pricier than your typical thrift store, but they have an excellent selection of furnishings & home goods that are well-priced.
Buffalo Exchange | 2904 Guadalupe St
University of Austin, TX students know and love Buffalo Exchange (it's right near campus) as the place to buy, trade, and sell clothing.
This shop is always stocked with in-season & on-trend pieces and the staff is friendly & helpful.
Goodwill Blue Hangar Outlet | 6505 Burleson Rd
I've listed a few higher-priced thrift stores on this list, so I'm going to balance it out with this mecca for serious scavengers.
Also known as the Goodwill Clearance Center, this is the last stop for items that didn't sell at regional Goodwill locations. Everything in this store starts at $1.49 per pound, making it one of the most affordable options out there.
But it's not for the faint of heart. Instead of racks, huge blue bins of clothing are wheeled out every half hour, so come prepared to dig!
Austin Creative Reuse | 2005 Wheless Ln
Welcome to Crafter's Paradise!
Austin Creative Reuse is a nonprofit whose goal is to foster conservation and reuse through creativity, education, and community building.
They collect, distribute, and sell reusable materials donated from industry and individuals...all at extremely low prices. They also teach classes and host events centered around their mission.
I love this place and wish we had something like it where I live. Whether you have a project in mind or are in search of inspiration, Austin Creative Reuse is a must-see experience.
What do you think? Doesn’t Austin look like a thrifting wonderland (I assure you it is)?
Also, if you can think of any places you think I’ve left out, please let me know, as I plan to keep this post updated with the best of the best thrift stores Austin has to offer!
Remember this dress I refashioned in my latest Austin visit?
Or this zebra-print Austin refashion?
Cheers!
I definitely have to add Austin to the list of places to visit if I’m lucky enough to go to the states after the end times! (Hubby would love to do a civil war tour when we retire).
I agree with the suggestion above. We started wearing plastic gloves when we thrift a little while ago and they get black. We thrift at ‘tip shops’ (as in rubbish tip) were clothes are rescued rather than being thrown, and often these are not washed first. We always used to wash our hands after but since covid we started using gloves and I will not go back.
Aww you’re so sweet. Thank you for that. x
Oooo! Awesome! I didn’t know about to half off on Sundays at Blue Hanger. Thanks for the tip!
I also love “Uptown Cheapskate” in Austin and San Marcos!!!
Ooooh! I’ll have to check that one out the next time I’m there!
Roseanne, I live in St Louis and there are a number of thift stores here. There are multiple locations of St Vincent DePaul (Vinny’s), Savers, Hidden Gems Resale, NCJW resale shop, Club House Shop for Independence Center and several more. Happy Thifting!
WOW, Jillian. They all look amazing! Why were you in Austin to begin with. That is a long way to go for it. I live 30 minutes from St. Louis, MO and have yet to find any thrift/resale/etc. type shops here except Goodwill. I am going to google thrift stores in St. Louis. Thanks for the idea. HOpe you are well..
Thanks! It was actually a LOT of work putting this list together, so I’m glad you like it! My primary goal of this trip was to research thrift stores for this very article. Getting to visit one of my best friends while there was certainly a bonus though! 😉
Loving this!!!
Thanks! I hope to make more thrift guides for different cities (and even countries!) in the future.
I’m hoping to head out on the road later this year and Austin is one city I want to see…. again. I loved it last time and this gives me even more incentive to hang around next time. Thanks!
I hope you get to make the trip! They’re being pretty careful about COVID, and music venues are starting to open up too!
So glad that you made it Austin Creative Reuse. I’m on the board and love that place. Wish we had had the chance to meet up and give you a personalized tour. Perhaps next time we could convince you to offer a workshop or two?
As am I! This is an amazing idea/organization and I’d love to see something like this crop up where I live. I’d love a tour/to do a workshop or two! This visit was a quick one, but hopefully I’ll have more time in my next one to make it happen. I’ll definitely keep in touch.
Fab reason for me to visit Austin I reckon!
It’s SUCH a fun city!
Go girl! I’m in Austin, and I love the Blue Hanger. A few things about it:
1. Take allergy meds before if you are allergic to animal hair (I’m allergic to cats). I’ve gotten hives from not doing this before going.
2. Wear gloves. Sometimes there is broken glass or sharp pieces in the bins.
3. Don’t expect to be in and out in a short time. Digging through the bins for treasures takes time.
4. The staff will tell folks to get out of an aisle so they can take bins and put in new ones. Folks get kind of pushy when they are putting in new bins. Realize that it is a free-for-all once employees say the bins are good to look through. People can push/shove. I usually wait until the rush is through, but some like jumping right in.
The Salvation Army on 8801 Research Blvd usually has 50% off clothing and housewares on Wednesdays. The Anderson Mill store closed due to Covid and used to have the best sales on Wednesdays. You might want to call the Research store to make sure they have the sale. Every other day two color tags are 50% off. The colors change depending on the day. You can also haggle with furniture prices. Just ask to speak to the manager.
Thanks for sharing these, lovely lady. There are a few on here that I’ve heard of, but never been to in our 24yrs in Austin. I look forward to getting out and finding bargains again. I always feel like Indiana Jones of Thrifting 😀
Wise words, my friend!
Here’s an article I wrote about “The Bins” a while back: https://refashionista.net/half-off-day-at-the-goodwill-clearance-center/
I’m sooo jealous that you get to go thrifting there whenever you like! Lucky ducky!!!!!
Hi I love your posts etc. but I just wanted to say that unless I click on your link from an email I can not find your most recent projects. I used to use the drop down bar which had your posts month by month. Am I doing something wrong or do I just need to remember what your email was about and search under clothing category? Thank you
Hey Georgiana! If you go to my home page, all my posts are in reverse chronological order (or the shoooould be!). At the bottom of those recent posts, you should have an option to go to page 2, page 3, page 4 etc. But let me know if something is broken on my site!
If you want to browse the archives, that section is still there, but it’s moved down a little. On desktop it should be on the right sidebar if you keep scrolling, and if you’re on a mobile device it’ll be near the very bottom.
I hope this helps!
Very nice, I took some notes of where to go if I decided to visit Texas. Thank you for the info.
Happy to help!
Hi Jills, love-love your blog! I’m from SC as well and curious your fav thrift spots in SC, especially the upstate. Thank you for sharing your talents, you always inspire me & spark my creativity for new ideas to try!
What nice things to say! Thank you so much! I’m glad you like my lil blog, and I definitely plan on making a road trip upstate to explore more thrift stores soon!