The Neighborhoods With the Best Thrift Stores in Houston
Houston, the fourth largest city in the nation, routinely ranks as one of the most charitable cities in America. Area thrift stores are on the receiving end of that generosity. High-end donations ranging from gala gowns to artwork lure savvy shoppers whose purchases pay it forward with proceeds benefiting those in need.
Connoisseurs of yesteryear designs and haute couture frequent the city’s numerous consignment shops hoping to score a vintage pearl snap shirt or a genuine Chanel suit. Whether you’re a discerning fashionista or on the hunt for a first edition, you might find your next favorite Houston thrift store in these neighborhoods.
Montrose
Everything old is new again in the Montrose neighborhood, where the lower stretch of Westheimer Road has been at the forefront of the vintage clothing trend since the 1980s. The area is also known for its arts scene, happening bars, and chef-driven restaurants to fuel your thrifting.
Pavement, Petty Cash, and Leopard Lounge
The jointly owned trifecta of neighboring resale shops offers apparel for every personality type from classic rock concert T-shirts to cowboy boots. The Las Vegas-inspired mural welcoming shoppers to Leopard Lounge also serves as an Instaworthy backdrop while you shop.
Half Price Books
Bibliophiles know to visit on Tuesdays when new releases from best-selling authors like John Grisham hit the shelves. Rare book collectors also make return visits in the hopes of landing a signed first edition or out-of-print classic. Despite its name, there’s more than used books for shoppers to peruse with a selection of record albums, DVDs, collectible games and toys, and stationery.
Cottage Shop
Since 1971, sales made at this charity-based resale shop have gone towards programs supporting women and their families in the community. Designer brands and home furnishings are the draw with special discounts on selected merchandise every day of the week.
Out of the Closet
Whimsical window displays and the Montrose Paint Wall mural add curb appeal to the newest thrift store in the LGBTQ-proud neighborhood. Out of the Closest donates a portion of its sales to the AIDS Healthcare Mission, a global organization providing medicine and support to people living with HIV and AIDS. Free HIV testing with certified counselors on hand is also offered while you shop.
The Guild Shop
On nearby Dunlavy Street, early birds line up well before the doors open to this charity resale shop known as the best in the city. The Guild Shop constantly receives donations, frequently bearing luxury labels, so shoppers can feel good knowing they scored a deal with proceeds assisting seniors in need.
Galleria
The Galleria area is known for its namesake mall visited by over 30 million shoppers a year. However, there’s more to this retail hub than department stores and designer boutiques.
The Little Bird
Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Fendi all have outposts in the Galleria, but you can also find these coveted labels on authenticated consignment pieces in a setting that’s more akin to a stylish boutique but with budget-friendlier price tags.
Kid to Kid
Parents who don’t have access to hand-me-downs can find them at this resale shop where second-hand children’s clothing and toys keep up with rapidly growing girls and boys. Popular items unique to Houston include cowboy boots and western gear for young ones to wear on Go Texan Day during Rodeo season.
Upper Kirby and River Oaks
Both of these neighborhoods are known for fashionable residents on the charity ball circuit, so resale shops in the area often feature the well-dressed, gently worn wardrobes of Houston’s upper crust.
More Than You Can Imagine
More than just a high-end resale shop of luxe looks for women, this boutique also carries menswear plus brand new merchandise for gifting with a selection of candles, lotions, and embroidered cocktail napkins.
Cheeky Vintage
Indie rock style icon and Gucci jewelry ambassador Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine made a pre-concert pit stop at this quaint shop housed in a cottage whose owner regularly outfits celebrities with her vintage finds. Locals also love to shop the color-coded racks for one-of-a-kind classics in lieu of mass-produced ready-to-wear.
Couture Blowout
Personal-shopper-turned-shop-owner Fatou Fall curates a well-vetted selection of once-worn womenswear and accessories with a variety of options from formal to casual. The shop’s Instagram feed featuring recent arrivals and flash sales motivates shoppers to act fast or miss out on a brand name bargain.
Upper Kirby Consignment
Home furnishings, rather than fashion, is the reason why collectors of period pieces and modern interior design make a trip to see the latest inventory in a shop sharing space with The Gray Door, specializing in antiques. The old meets new aesthetic is apparent from the building’s contemporary exterior paired with a set of repurposed doors from a convent.
Spring Branch
Young families who want to stay close to the city’s urban core find Spring Branch an inviting enclave where real estate tends to be less cookie cutter than the more distant suburbs with home prices more affordable than inner loop addresses.
Residents also appreciate the neighborhood’s blend of German heritage and a multi-cultural dining scene offering pupuserias and Korean barbecue. Against that diverse backdrop, treasure hunting is a popular pastime at these area thrift shops.
MAM Resale
Thrifting is an all-day affair at this 14,000-square-foot resale shop where proceeds aid families in need. Daily specials are routine, plus a popular quarterly sale giving shoppers a 50 percent discount on the extensive selection of merchandise, including housewares, electronics, toys, and framed artwork. The thrift store also has an in-store boutique featuring reduced pricing on high-end clothing, handbags, shoes, and accessories.
Value Village
During the holidays, embellished sweaters sporting sequined Santas and reindeers are in demand as well as clothing with character, like vintage bowling team shirts. Music lovers also check the record bins for rarities and eclectic album cover art.
Goodwill Outlet
Shop by the pound at the outlet version of Goodwill, which takes in unsold inventory from its other Houston locations and sells the merchandise at a deep discount.