Some of the best thrift stores are in Boston, MA. Home to students, posh parents, and renters – the people of Boston are always donating their lightly used wares to the thrift store. In this guide, I will be covering exactly where to go to find that special treasure.
If you are local to the Boston area, you are in luck. We have amazing thrift stores here. However, each store and location has its own advantages. So, before you waste your time, I’m here to tell you the ins and outs. This comprehensive guide will show you everything you need to know about scoring an item secondhand in the Boston area.
Note: this is a list of thrift, not vintage, stores
A vintage store is a pre-curated collection for you to shop, like a boutique. Therefore, the quality of the items is usually more consistent. However, since they have already done the thrifting for you – you will pay the price. I did not include vintage stores on my list, as I consider them something else entirely.
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The Best Thrift Stores in Boston, MA
The Goodwill – Commonwealth Ave
I am such an addict that I can tell you the pros & cons of each Goodwill location. This plays to your advantage, but i’m not sure what it says about me. In any account, the Commonwealth location is my favorite for just about anything. It has great clothing and housewares, but small amounts of furniture. They have boutique items that are marked up, which is kinda a bummer. Also, do not bother going near Halloween. This thrift store, positioned next to Boston University, is transformed into a fraternity party mecca every October. Get a second hand costume, for a marked up price. I also find that the men’s selection is so-so year round.
The Goodwill – Davis Square
The Davis square location is great for men’s clothing. The whole downstairs is dedicated to men’s ware and I found Marshall an amazing pair of Bonobos pants there last week. It has almost no furniture, but a fair amount of decor, if that pleases you. I find the clothing selection is pretty good for women as well. This is because there are many very selective consignment shops in the area. When clothes are not selected for these stores, people plop them off at the goodwill.
The Goodwill – Central Square
This is kinda a hit or miss. However, when I’ve found anything from Gucci heels to a Lilly dress. It has a small peppering of just about everything, no furniture.
Try this idea for an old pair of jeans
The Goodwill- Melena Cass
If you are not easily overwhelmed, you’ve found your thrifting mecca. This is the heart of the Goodwill. It is the central sorting location, so there is a huge amount of women, men’s, children’s and homewares. Considering this, I find the men’s selection slim picking. However, if you are down for a dig you can find a nice women’s item. There is also an outlet around the corner – Aka pre-sorted goodwill wares in a warehouse – proceed at your own risk.
Habitat for Humanity Restore
While it is a little off the beaten path, those with a car will find treasures here. Basically, the charity Habitat for Humanity receives donations that consist of the contents of an estate – think grandma is moving to the nursing home – let’s give her stuff to charity. So, they have everything from windows, to light fixtures, to cabinetry and patio sets. If you are a big upcycler, this is an amazing place for furniture. The prices are usually pretty fair, but if they have a nice piece they know it’s worth. Just remember it’s going to charity!
looking for secondhand furniture? I wrote this guide on how to make it look its best.
Garment District – Cambridge, MA
This is a vintage shop with a thrifty secret. All the consignment items that do not sell are thrown into a pit. That’s right – in this place there is a giant mountain of clothing. You sift through the pit, throw what you like in a bag and pay $1/pound. It’s wild.
Savers – West Roxbury, MA
This Savers, like many locations, usually boasts epic sales. It has a wide selection of homewares and furniture. However, I usually find it to be hit or miss. I sometimes find a score in women’s jackets and the men’s selection is almost always sparse.
Salvation Army – Somerville, MA
This is a very small store in the Winter Hill neighborhood. It offers a little bit of everything among its small square footage. While I also find it to be hit or miss, I once found a cordless drill for $15 that still works.
Thrift stores in Boston, MA I don’t totally adore, but might be worth a visit
Boomerangs
Boomerangs with locations in the South End and Central square this curated thrift shop gives all its donations to the AIDS community. So, you can sit well knowing that your money is going towards an amazing cause. I have never found anything here that was worth taking home. unfortunately, I the prices and quality kept me from investing in an item here.
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