The current recession is causing all of us to tighten our belts a bit. One way to save money is to shop at thrift stores, where you can find everything from designer evening dresses to reading lamps at discounted prices. Buying used clothing and goods also helps the green movement, as recycling items is much better than letting them end up in landfills.
Houston has tons of pricey vintage stores, but I will be focusing on true thrift stores where you get more bang for your buck.
Sand Dollar Thrift Store
(713) 923-1461 1903 Yale ST
Houston, TX 77008
The Sand Dollar is a place where you can walk in with $15 and walk out with an armful of clothes. The gigantic store in the Houston Heights can be a bit dusty and a little trashy, but they have tons of clothing ranging from vintage to modern. You won’t find the inflated prices of the Montrose area stores here but you may find some funky plastic earrings from under a dollar. It gets crowded on the weekends, so go early if you want to find the best treasures.
The Houston Junior Forum Resale Shop
(713) 868-6970
1815 Rutland (at 19th ST)
Houston, TX 77008
This small resale shop tucked away on a Heights side street is one of my favorite places in Houston. The prices are reasonable, the shop is clean, and the Junior Forum members that run it are friendly and helpful. They take consignments, and you can find both designer and department store brands of clothing here at very low prices. Its also a good place to find gently-used furniture at discount prices. The Junior Forum Shop is open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 AM-2:30 PM.
Blue Bird Circle
(713) 528-5607
615 West Alabama ST
Houston, TX 77006
A Montrose-area institution, the Blue Bird Circle has been selling used clothing and furniture in Houston since 1959. The store is clean, large, and well-organized. It isn’t the thriftiest store in town, but they mark down items that have been in the store for a bit. You can find some designer attire and prom dresses at the Circle, and they give 40% of consignment sales to the Blue Bird Circle Clinic for Pediatric Neurology at Texas Children’s Hospital and other worthy causes.
Value Village
(713) 685-5440
311 19th ST (at Rutland)
Houston, TX 77008
This place gets kind of hot and crowded, but I love digging through all the racks of cheap clothing. Value Village is one of those places where you can find a decent blouse for a dollar, although it probably won’t have a designer label. You can also find all sorts of funky jewelry, Texas high school coffee mugs, velvet paintings, and used Girl Scout uniforms. Value Village has several locations in Houston. Call for addresses, operating hours or other information.
Salvation Army Store
(713) 425-8727
2208 Washington Ave
Houston, TX 77007 They aren’t much for dresses, but they have racks and racks of business suits for your corporate job needs. The Salvation Army Store always seems to have tons of books, too. Wednesday is half-price day. Imagine the thrill you’ll get from buying half-priced thrift stuff. Its priceless.
