The Best Thrift Stores in San Antonio

With National Thrift Store Day upon us, I thought I’d give the scoop on some of my favorite places for secondhand shopping here in San Antonio. I’ve been thrifting for more than 20 years now, and although I haven’t visited every shop in town, I definitely have some insights to share!

When you first hear the word thrift store, you probably immediately think of the Goodwill-style shop, but there are a number of different places to buy secondhand. They include traditional thrift stores, consignment shops, flea markets, and garage and estate sales.

I almost always shop at thrift stores first when I’m looking for secondhand items. I seriously get a second wind when I step into one. If I’m looking for a quick jolt of retail therapy, I hop over to the nearest Goodwill to see what treasures I can find. My favorite local thrift stores include:

  • GoodwillI shop primarily at the locations on SE Military and Blanco & 410 for everything from clothes for myself and my kids to home goods to the occasional book. If you’re looking for items in bulk (like a bajillion pairs of jeans to make a denim quilt), then hit up then check out the outlet store on West Commerce. It’s not your normal thrift store, but when you can buy a bag of clothing on the cheap for crafting, it’s a steal.

  • Texas Thrift—There are four locations in town, and they’re all ginormous! I tend to only shop for home goods and decor at Texas Thrift, but I’ve also amassed a fun collection of board games, and I find kids shoes in great condition. (I frequent the one on SE Military most often.)
  • Worth checking out: Some other thrift stores in town that I don’t frequent as often but are worth scoping out are Boysville, Community Thrift, Thrift Town, Salvation Army, and the Children’s Shelter Thrift Boutique.

If I know there’s something particular I want to look for in the clothing department—or if I didn’t have luck at my usual thrift store spots—then I head to the consignment shops. Most consignment shops sell either kids’ clothing or adults’ clothing, which usually makes it easier to find what you’re looking for. My favorite consignment shops in San Antonio include:

  • Clothes Mentor—This is my go-to store when I want to go on a used clothes shopping spree for myself. I highly recommend giving yourself a solid two hours (kid-free) when you’re thrifting for your own wardrobe.  
  • Once Upon A Child—I used to shop here all the time when my kids were really little. They really curate the clothes to make sure they’re in excellent condition and sans stains.
  • Worth checking out: Buffalo Exchange, Plato’s Closet, and Too Good To Be Threw. The first two are perfect for trendy clothes—or teenagers. And Too Good To Be Threw resells high-fashion clothing at a great price.

For flea markets, I love Bussey’s up on I-35. I’ve found some great vintage finds, and it makes for a fun outing, too. And Craigslist is the best place to find garage and estate sales or people selling used goods directly.

If thrifting is a completely new ball game to you, you might want to check out my posts on the Five Things You Should Always Buy from the Thrift Store and the Five Things You Should Never Buy at the Thrift Store. I’d love to hear about your favorite finds below!

Amy
Amy Lynn is a divorced mama of four kids and dog mom to two. She’s lived in San Antonio for over 20 years and has a degree in English from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Previously a program director at a local literary arts nonprofit, she began blogging as a creative outlet when she became a stay-at-home mom. Now a digital media consultant and writer, Amy is the founder of The Dog Guide and The Dog Guide San Antonio. Favorite Restaurant: Clementine Favorite Landmark: Hays Street Bridge Favorite San Antonio Tradition: Cascarones

2 COMMENTS

  1. Hi Amy,
    Thank you for mentioning Goodwill SA on National Thrift Store Day. Purchases made in our store fund our mission of providing education, training and career services for individuals in our community to find or build better careers. You mentioned our store on West Commerce for buying in bulk. That is now one of our typical store layouts. To buy in bulk, visit our Clearance Center at 4810 Eisenhauer #240. Bigger and better than ever.

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