- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Ark Thrift Shop
Category: Shopping Thrift Stores Thrift Stores [Edit]
1302 N Milwaukee Ave(at Paulina St)
Chicago, IL 60622
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
(773) 862-5011
- Nearest Transit:
-
Division (Blue Line)
Damen-o'hare (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10 am - 6 pm
Fri 10 am - 4 pm
Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
30 reviews for Ark Thrift Shop
Review Highlights
-
"Furniture prices are very reasonable." In 10 reviews -
"...course, it can also be hit or miss, they get great stuff in..." In 4 reviews -
"I find the housewares items (i." In 2 reviews
Loading...
30 reviews in English
-
Review from Anastacia B.
Elmhurst, IL
5/12/2012
1) People, so there is no confusion-this is a bonafide blue ribbon THRIFT STORE. A hard core they way the used to be dig through the pile of lord knows what thrift store. This should be my only point but I will continue.
2) So you are not surprised- the product here has been USED. In many cases LOTS of times. It may even have been sitting in the shop for years.
3.) It's not glitz and glam. The gentleman shopping next to me was having the most amazing conversation with himself. He was thrilled to be finding banged up pots and pans.
4) Maybe it's me but I don't have a hard time spending $5 on a vintage glass covered jar. Just because it's thrift doesn't mean it should be free. The money you spend at thrift stores goes to help people in need instead of to a big company or Jessica Simpson. -
Review from Brandy C.
Chicago, IL
4/6/2012
I just visited The Ark for the first time last week and I have already returned twice. I recently found myself having to completely stock an entire apartment with all those things you never think about until you suddenly don't have them. Dishes, trashcans, a tiny ceramic Precious Moments figurine.. Anyhow, as a lover of vintage Pyrex, I put in my work digging through the stacks, but I was rewarded with 8 great pieces, one of which is very rare. Took my purchases to the counter and had no plans to haggle as I thought the price was fair anyway, but without my asking, the lady just dropped the price in half! Second visit, it was a man at the counter and he did the same thing. I think they are very reasonable. Even if the price you see marked does not seem to be, you have some room to ask for a deal, but don't be rude and ruin it for everyone, please. I really like this place and will be heading back today!
-
Review from Dustin W.
Chicago, IL
4/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Ark is a great place to find used but nice furniture. Originally stopped in after frustrating adventure shopping for a new couch. I have made several purchases here, all of which were during half off sales which occur frequently. The supply is enormous and changes daily to hourly for the best items. I once helped an elderly woman bring chairs she was donating inside and saw them purchased before I had paid for my couch. You will also notice the large already sold area as evidence to the quick turn around for new items. Richard is their cash for hire mover with very good rates and quick delivery. Also of now, you have some barter room at Ark, however, be respectful, no low ball offers. It will piss the head lady off, and believe me, not a desired effect if you want her help.
What I have bought recently from Ark:
3piece sectional couch 300
Oak dining table with six chairs 75
Cherry nightstand 15
Large living room end table 20
Antique hardwood mirror 15 -
Review from Char Y.
Chicago, IL
9/27/2011
We found a whole set of silver lined dishes here for 10 people for $25!! i searched for the same ones on ebay and it's valued at $400! DEAL!
-
Review from Helena B.
8/16/2010
Three picture frames.
Four salad plates.
Three glass bowls.
One green vase.
Twenty-two dollars - not bad! Prices listed on the items (well, the plates at least - there were no prices listed on the picture frames) were reduced at the counter. All seemed fair.
The Ark is crammed to the gills with dishes. In certain aisles in the back you find yourself holding your breath to keep from knocking over towers of stacked plates, bowls, cups, and saucers. You could easily construct kitschy-cute table settings with money left over for serving-ware, pots, and glasses. Other items - furniture, lamps, art, toys - are hit or miss. I can't imagine coming here with a specific need in mind (unless it is dishes, as mentioned above); better to wander and uncover treasures sporadically.
Note: It may be best to bring your own bag. Items purchased are all crammed into one large black plastic bag. Some items (say, three picture frames) have pointy corners. Pointy corners like to tear at black plastic bags - particularly as you are running to the bus, it turns out.Listed in: Walking Milwaukee, Not "Used" - "Vintage"!, My Home: Embellished
-
Review from Colleen C.
Chicago, IL
8/28/2007
An overpriced, overcrammed clusterfuck that reeks of urine.
This place makes Salvation Army look like a Target. -
Review from Jenna S.
Chicago, IL
8/19/2008
I think this place is great!
A couple of people recommended my boyfriend and I give The Ark a visit to find some used furniture for our apartment. We've been looking for a dining room table since early May and we just haven't been satisfied with anything. I'm not ready to pay $800+ retail for a new, nice table and set of chairs, so we've been scouring local furniture stores, thrift locations and Craigslist. But yesterday we found the perfect table at the Ark!
I will acknowledge, like the rest of the folks who posted reviews, that the store is pretty unorganized and not the cleanest place I've ever been. However, I think a lot of the merchandise in the store - especially the furniture and sets of dishes/flatware/glasses - are items from estate sales that never sold. A lot of the furniture that we looked at was very high quality, including the table that we bought and the china cabinet that I'm going to buy. The table and six chairs (including the two arm chairs for the ends of the table) was marked at $280 but the guy sold it to us for $200. An extra $40 covered our delivery cost so we didn't have to do anything (which is perfect since I drive a Kia, not a moving van).
I was very satisfied with the selection of furniture that they had at the store. There were also amazing sets of china dishes for $60 - those would sell retail for over $400 but they're just sitting here untouched. There was also actual, authentic silver service like serving platters and a soup server for about $18 each. That's a steal, especially considering one real silver item would be over $200, easy.
I probably wouldn't purchase any of the clothes, but I'm not a big thrifter when it comes to clothes. But there was a lot of decent or good furniture for the living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom. I will definitely go back to buy more furniture, especially if they continue to have such nice selections for the dining room. -
Review from Christy C.
Chicago, IL
8/17/2008
I was a hot minute away from paying retail before i was recommended by someone to check this place out. This place has such an amazing selection and they get new stuff in everyday. I got a BEAUTIFUL dark wood head and foot board with bed frame for $50! They delivered and assembled for $45!
I just moved into a new place and basically, this place was a one stop shop.
I'm pretty high maintenance and didn't notice that the place was particularly dirty or smelly! You're entering a THRIFT shop, not Nordstrom.
I'm not a hard core thrift store shoppers, so there may be better places on Milwaukee, but dang- The Ark is three huge floors and I sure found what i was looking for and more. -
Review from Corinna K.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY
6/21/2008
The Ark runs in the same league as The Salvation Army or The Brown Elephant. In comparison to the two, it is less-organized than The Salvation Army, a store that tries to be clean and more like a resale store than a thrift store, but is less quirky than The Brown Elephant. Nevertheless, you can still have fun searching the aisles of The Ark for a bargain, even if the bargain is tattered around the edges. Some of their items are overpriced, such as the furniture and "artwork."
On a recent day, I had a few minutes free to kick around in the store. I quickly glanced through the clothing and didn't see anything, but I did find some fabric and two pairs of shoes that were in decent condition. By decent, I mean that there were dingy enough where you wouldn't wear the shoes to work, but would be presentable enough for a casual situation, especially one involving a dark bar. -
Review from Elena J.
Chicago, IL
8/16/2011
After shopping at Salvation Army on Clyborn, I was disappointed at Arc. I mainly shop for dishes, glasses and housewares. They are all double the price than Salvation Army and not as great. There is quite a bit of furniture, but that's hit or miss. I'll give Arc maybe one more try.
-
Review from Lawrence V.
Chicago, IL
2/24/2008 1 photo
OK, The place is dirty. Well sometimes downright scummy. But it is a thrift store to add to your list of stops when making a day of it. Staff is very friendly.
Two separate store fronts and entrances. On the right side is all furniture that you have to get assistance with prices. On the left is the main store. Clothing is on main level with dining room sets and sofas. Dishes are in the back of the store. Basement is books and lower quality furniture and beds.
Books are impossible to look through because it's so poorly lit it can harm your vision. This place needs a new location or a major overhaul.
More pickers are in this nieghborhood so if you see something great, grab it and don't put it down. Ask for a price and if someone wants it and gives you shit, bid openly on the item. Get the item or run the price up for them and walk away.
The people in this nieghborhood are FUCKING CRAZY! It can be fun just watch and see what bumm or crackhead is going walk in the door (that's the urine you smell). The bumm's have a box city in the alley directly behind the store.
Condos are going up now so I sense the new nieghbors will shove them farther down the alley. -
Review from Kriss S.
Chicago, IL
7/14/2010
Hit or miss. The Ark is convenient because it's in the neighborhood, but Village Discount, Unique or even Salvation Army it certainly is not. I avoid the clothing part of the store due to the off putting scent. The book section is hit or miss with everything in random spots (despite designated sections for specific genres of books) and the kitchen ware is beyond use the majority of the time.
Three stars for convenience - not much more. -
Review from Vickie L.
Chicago, IL
3/21/2011
The Ark has really overhauled their store - for the better! Before the main store area was really junky, dirty & cluttered. Now all the furniture is laid out very nicely. The couches are spread out so you can actually sit on them, before chairs used to be piled on top of the couches. Furniture prices are very reasonable. They have little dining vignettes with housewares items as well. In the back there is various brick a brack. I find the housewares items (i.e. plates, cups, utensils, gadgets) are a bit higher than the Salvation Army or other thrift stores though. Their board games didn't have prices on them, when we brought one up to ask the price, she said "I need to look inside first" then she opened up the box and it looked like everything was there and in good shape, and she told us $2.50. We had her hold it wile we looked around, and when we came back with some books, she dropped it to $2, which was nice of her. However, I'm wondering why they don't price the games beforehand and need to look inside? Theft perhaps? If something's missing, then is it $1 or free?? Anyways...
Books and some other furniture are in the basement. It's VERY dark down there and the shelves go pretty high, be prepared for head & neckaches afterwards! But books are very cheap as well.
Clothes next door - the prices marked on each individual item is really high for a thrift store, but I know there's always a different sign out front for most everything to be anywhere from $1-3 for regular clothing items and $5 for jackets/coats. It's very cluttered inside and items aren't organized very well. But at least everything is on hangers. Purses and bags in the front and shoes are all the way in the back. -
Review from Valerie D.
Chicago, IL
2/28/2009
Frankly sketchy, but you can't beat the Ark in three categories:
[1] BOOKS: The basement -- tho not for the mildew-averse -- houses thousands of used paperbacks (a quarter) and hardcovers (fifty cents). Yeah, you're gonna dig, and you may walk out with a crick in your neck from vertical-title-reading, but some real treasures live down there. My last hunt turned up James Michener's Hawai'i, Anywhere but Here, The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd, and The World According to Garp by John Irving. ALL FOR ONE DOLLAR.
[2] DISHES: My kitchen had none. Thanks to the Ark, it's now filled with an endearing assortment of zany silverware and cooking utensils; a stack of six cheerfully mismatched plates; other people's memento mugs, and several quality used pots and pans, all for about $10. Of course, everything got a vigorous scrubbing down before use...
[3] COSTUME PIECES: Searching through the clothes is difficult, unpleasant, and well worth the effort. Ugly sweaters a-HOY. The Ark gets credit for my 2008 Halloween costume -- Frida Kahlo -- both in inspiration and supplies. I got a long, pink-coral-orangel, heavy-but-slinky (mostly polyester) H&M dress for $10 and a thick leather belt for $2. Just add brow! -
Review from Theresa C.
Chicago, IL
1/19/2009
I love this place. Yes, it is a thrift shop, so yes it's a little dirty/smelly. because there are racks of clothes no one has touched in about ever, but don't go there for the clothes. The furniture is a really great deal. I always find something I love and have no room for in my house, like a great set of 70's era wood waiting room chairs that were only $50 and were fucking awesome. Of course, it can also be hit or miss, they get great stuff in and then sell it and it's gone forever. I would recommend always at least trying this place before you go else where for any major furniture purchases. They also have a ridiculous amount of crazy lamps, paintings and mismatched dining ware, which make excellent white elephant gifts. The hours are a little weird sometimes and they are always closed on Jewish Holidays and Saturday's, but it's worth planning ahead to check this place out.
-
Review from Martha Z.
Chicago, IL
3/18/2008
Scary and scummy. And yes, I realize it's a thriftstore...but even I have my limits.
Listed in: Thrift List, Places I really didn't like
-
Review from Tom S.
Chicago, IL
8/14/2007
All the dirty charm and odor of a regular thrift store at twice the price! I don't like to haggle, but it's a necessity outside of the U.S., at car dealerships, garage sales, etc. Waiting in line to haggle at a thrift store makes me feel like I've stumbled into a timeshare seminar or a Scientology Church. Like I'm about to get doubly screwed if I don't leave immediately. The items I saw that actually had pricetags on them were more than I'd pay for them new.
-
Review from Julie H.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 3/3/2010
SCORE! Ladies, there appears to be a wedding dress in the window... hurry on down to the Ark so you can snag it!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/14/2010
The Ark... it's like someone took that TV show Hoarders and somehow made it into a retail format.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Noah B.
Culver City, CA
9/15/2008
I walked in and immediately walked out. This place REAKED of cat urine and mildew. It may just be my neurosis, but I was itchy for half an hour after walking in there.
-
Review from Matthew G.
Chicago, IL
8/23/2006
The ARK location is undoubtedly the more reasonably priced of the two locations. While the selection is not quite as posh as the Lincoln Avenue location, the variety and quality of merchandise on Milwaukee is quite good, the staff is helpful and friendly and the prices are fair. Goodness knows why the 2 locations have such different policies. Stick with this one -- you'll get much more for your money.
-
Review from Brian M.
Chicago, IL
8/30/2010
I think this store is priced accurately on most items, which I can't say for the Brown Elephant or Salvation Army. I did try to negotiate once for a formica table and the man said, "This is a fair price. Look how much they charging down the street." I agreed and relented. Then, at check-out, for reasons I am not certain of, he sold it to me for the price that I had requested in our brief negotiation.
-
Review from Sarah F.
Madison, WI
12/29/2005 3 photos
I'm pretty impressed by this place. They have clothing that is in decent shape, a nice shoe collection, plenty of household items and lots of furniture.
-
Review from Coco C.
Chicago, IL
11/9/2009
So very, very grimy (as others have mentioned), but they have some kick-ass kid's books for 50 cents a piece. You just have to remember to sterilize them before giving them to Junior.
-
Review from Monika A.
Chicago, IL
6/29/2009
Definitely not the nicest thrift store I've been to, but found a treasure here. Most of their stock looked like it has been there for at least a couple decades, and that no one was ever going to buy it. I didn't have any luck in the clothes. All but one thing did not even remotely appeal to me and I am a huge thrift fan. I don't think they are very picky about what they put on the shelves. I couldn't find a price on the only thing I bought, asked a man, he told me it was $25 but would take $15, turns out it was marked as $10. Ended up getting a discount because I was a student and bought a complete set. Good location for me though, and will probably be a donation destination for me.
-
Review from Anna M.
Chicago, IL
3/6/2011
I didn't even make it out of the clothing section of the store before I had bought way too much to carry. I don't know if I'm just lucky or if Ark is always having some kind of sale, but when I went last time, all shirts were $1, and then when I went today, shirts were $2, jeans $3, and ALL coats $5. I came away with a huge bag full of clothes, including a really nice long coat and a peacoat, $5 each. Not sure how they keep the prices so low, but hey, don't ask don't tell :P This place has better prices than Goodwill. If you're looking for a classy vintage store, this is not your place, but if you are up for some intense, inexpensive thrifting, you will LOVE Ark!
-
Review from Sarah B.
Chicago, IL
7/28/2008
I've managed to make it into the store a few times. They have some good deals, but the hours are very inconvenient if you have a 9-5 job. They close early so I eventually just stopped going. There are better places on Milwaukeee with later hours to find good deals. I suggest skipping The Ark unless you have free time in the middle of a weekday.
-
Review from Dawn G.
Chicago, IL
3/21/2010
I was puzzled when reading past comments- not to be a hater, but do you want a Target like thrift store- this place- besides some higher prices---was about everything I'd expect from a thrift store- not to mention if you look at some the brands or age of items and condition the prices aren't that far off- in fact some of them could easily be flipped. However, I do agree it's a cluster of weirdness- in terms of having zero organization beyond books- navigating through tables to find dishes- etc- that part due to the stroller convention going on was annoying- but the fact the lady sold me a frame that was huge for 2 dollars and the fact that if in the next week I can snag 1 or 2 kitchen tables I'd be a happy girl- they definitely have more furniture and dishes than other places I've seen, but the prices aren't Village Thrift, it's a good in between of that and some swanky consignment 'vintage shop'. Also, I am allergic to dust and didn't sneeze- I was fast- and it's dirty- don't wear a large bag and definitely be ready to deal with aloof customers (not staff, very attentive).
-
Review from Katie E.
Oak Park, IL
8/4/2008
I agree this location is filthy and, often, the basement smells so bad you have to leave. That said, if you're looking for furniture and other house stuff, this is the place to go. In general, their prices are very good (much better than other location) and they are willing to bargain with you. Not the place to buy books, as you have to browse them in a dark, stinky basement and there is no rhyme or reason to how they are filed. Highly recommended for furniture buyers.
-
Review from P. Andrew D.
Chicago, IL
6/19/2010
I'm sad that the one by me closed. The place was disorganized (meaning you can find bargains!). You have to know what you are looking for, and often the staff are so dumb that they put exorbitant prices on crap and low prices on really expensive things. If you know products and pricing you will find things here. If you are ignorant of the difference between a $200 shirt and something from the Gap, you will not like it here. I equate their high quality bargains to the donation base: old Jewish ladies who donate or pass away. Often they have very very expensive things in their house that their kids don't want....
-
Review from Stephanie S.
Chicago, IL
6/22/2010
I have no problem with the lack of cleanliness here - old stuff is bound to create bad smells. However, I do find the haggling really insulting. I go here often because it is convenient and why pay Bed Bath and Beyond prices for mixing bowls, etc? But I have never bought anything that had a price on it. When you ask how much something costs, the staff mentally calculates if they think anyone else would ever buy the item and how much they think they can take you for. Not cool. Not at a retail establishment. Maybe a flea market. Besides a broken air conditioner, I've been happy with all my purchases, but come on, take the time to label merchandise with prices.
