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Category: Thrift Stores
Neighborhood: MissionMon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
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my favorite thrift store in the city.
i don't even know where to begin! this place always has a huge selection, and (as with any thrift store) you can find something awesome- although i think that happens more than average here.
i've found great sweaters here ($5 sweaters! so cheap!) and last time we went, my friend found an Usher album on vinyl.
tell me thats not awesome.
You know how there are some thrift stores you go to because you have to or its the closest one to you (or because you've checked all the others and its the last resort)?
Then there are the ones you actually really love.
I love this thrift store.
Huge selection of stuff. Pretty friendly staff. Cool layout and interior look.
I found my friend a bike there last year for $13 (yeah, literally $13). It was this old 60s cruiser whose tires STILL HELD AIR! So he literally rode it out the door!
Man.
I like how they didn't try to jack up the price like any other thrift shop would. Overall an awesome store that you'll surely find something you want in.
Yeah, they get all 5 big ones!!!
I love this place. I love it so much that sometimes I avoid it because I know I will be experiencing shoulder pain due to the heft of my bag when i leave here from carrying the mega awesome stacks of books that I find here all the time.
Things I have found here:
Sailor pants from the 1960's - real sailor pants wool with laces in the back!!!
vintage projector w/a giant box of slides from the 1950's
The most perfect vintage dresses
and my favorite yet most feared part - the book section.
I found a copy of a Mozart biography written by Alfred Einstein - Albert Einstein's cousin. Did you know he lived in El Cerrito ?? I didn't until I fond his obituary clipping pressed into the book.
a selection of early Gibran books that are rather obscure, 1931 copy of Bartlett's familiar quotations ( purchased because it's 1931, odds are they are actually unfamiliar quotations, thus more fun ) and a 1929 copy of the World's Great Confessions, which includes the confessions of an Opium eater ( I can't wait to read it ) ...the list goes on and on.
Also the money goes to charity. The cashiers are very friendly and some of the guys that work there seem rather sweet .
Thanks Community Thrift, you are a Mission treasure.
Some friends and I actually stopped in Community Thrift on our way to Goodwill in the Mission... and after spending a good half hour in this place, Goodwill was no longer on our agenda!
Community Thrift is similar to Goodwill, but they have better prices and the store is more organized and does not make me queasy with claustrophobia. I found a really cute jumper here, a nice men's shirt (that I plan on turning into a hot pencil skirt) and a really great button up shirt dress... all in great condition. The bonus find was this kick ass pitcher (three words I thought I'd never utter)... but this pitcher IS kick ass. It looks like green stained glass vintage... except it's plastic, which is great because I'm really clumsy. Haha, score.
The best thing about community thrift is that they give back to local charities. I was unaware of this until I looked at my receipt and saw where the proceeds for each item I purchased would be donated. I will be back... I need to check out their rows and rows of books. So many books here! I was also really impressed with their vinyl selection. Good stuff.
This review is on donating to Community Thrift ONLY
I had to get rid of some furniture for my office. Community Thrift offers to pick up (one of the only places that still does that) for free. They scheduled my pick up within a few days of my calling. The delivery guys were on time, friendly, and efficient. So much so, that my boss was like 'Hey, we have some more furniture at our old office. Can you have them go there?' I called CT again and they said they couldn't come back same day but could do it on Sunday (only a few days later). I just checked with my boss (who was there to meet them) and it all went smoothly. He said they were great.
Donate your old furniture to Community Thrift because:
--The proceeds from your donation go to the charity you select
--You get a tax deduction
--It's so much easier and less hassle than trying to sell it on CL and feels better than leaving your stuff out on the curb
--They're so nice and helpful - both the people in the store who I spoke to on the phone (a couple times I called an no one picked up, I just called back) AND the guys who did the furniture pick up.
Now I'm looking around my apartment to see what I can get rid of there:) Yay Community Thrift.
three words: ONE DOLLAR RACK
except, everything else kind of sucks
I've always heard the rumours about the book selection here at Community Thrift, so yesterday while I was wandering around the Mission I decided to check if all the folklore was really true...
I walked up to the door to see the sign announcing that everything was 50% since it was the first day of the month. Score.
The books are INCREDIBLE. There are aisles and shelves! And there are organized sections!!! There are aisles of LGBT books as well which is really cool I think.
So I got 6 books all that were roughly priced $1.25-$2.00 originally....so for all of the books I got I paid $5.87
I spend a lot of money on books but I have never had a deal like this before! I'm coming here all the time now. For sure.
Real talk.
I always find good stuff. here. The dollar rack near the front far right of the store is golden. Nice stuff, vintage, tons of leather jackets, shoes. My friend and I stocked up on winter clothes today, hats and scarves and a jacket for me. I always stop by when I'm in the Mission.
great selection, good prices. Lots of hidden treasure.
I spent many a San Francisco hour in this well meaning thrift shop. I hardly ever left empty handed. First it was the kitchen wares, which always yielded some trinket or treasure. Then I discovered that some of the best hand-me-down tee shirts hung on the men's and boy's rack.
The best part about the shop is that with each purchase you make, a portion of the sale goes to a different Bay Area charity.
Community Thrift is a Mission icon that really believes in community.
This place has been sort of frozen in time since I got here in the early 90s and maybe that's a good thing. What has changed is that now everything is jacked-up expensive. All they have to do is decide some piece of 40s veneered furniture is "Arts and Crafts" (hello!) and they stick a $150 tag on it.
I wish I could have back all the time I spent at this place and the similarly overpriced, ATROCIOUS Thrift Town and transfer that to
time spent at the fascinating flea markets around the Bay Area.
Not a fan of this place, but I appreciate their charitable concerns.
Oh...you cant take your dog here, I learned that from an irritating
dirty hipster clerk who didnt give a shit about his customers or providing any sort of friendly customer service, but DID zero in on this little store rule rather loudly. I'll pass....no interest, mostly lots of the same yucky crap over and over from untold, irritating hipster households turned over as people come and go from this town.
I love just wandering around in here on a random weekend. It's a thrift store, so the quality of stuff obviously varies significantly, but what I can say for certain is that there is a lot of it, and much of it can be surprisingly entertaining. To be honest, I've probably gone in just to wander and browse ten times for every one that I actually bought something, and often the wandering / browsing is just as satisfying (especially if you're not looking for anything in particular).
And that's the key, really; going in to any thrift store looking for something specific is nearly always disappointing. Most of the time when I've found things to buy, it was because neat little things surprised me.
Things I've bought at CTS in the past:
- Books (Again, not the best bet if you're looking for something in particular, but I'll occasionally find something that I've been curious about that's worth picking up, given the price.)
- CDs (A surprising selection, actually, and not just old / random / obscure things that nobody wants. If you're willing to pop in every few weeks, you can pick up decent albums from the last couple of decades that are in reasonably good shape for next to nothing.)
- Mugs (There is a never-ending, eternally evolving selection of dishware, most of which is perfectly functional after a wash or two.)
- T-Shirts (same)
Also, I love that they just painted it hot pink. This makes it very hard to miss. :)
I'm writing this review from the perspective of a donor - they are a wonderful place to donate your furniture, housewares, etc. I first discovered them after an unsuccessful attempt to donate an Ikea dresser to St. Vincent de Paul. (Apparently, they're too good to take particle board...if only they had told me that from the beginning, then it could have saved me four hours of sitting around the house waiting for them to come by! grrrrr)
So, I feverishly searched for another charity to donate my Ikea dresser that had served me so well to, and these guys gladly accepted it. For pickups, they schedule you in a two-hour window, but for the few times I've scheduled a pickup, they've arrived in the first half hour! They're super friendly and efficient at collecting your donations. The donations support a ton of great local charities, and they let you select which charity the donation goes toward, which is great if you have a particular cause you want to support.
I keep wanting to check out different thrift stores but i've yet to find another that blows my mind. I keep an open mind to all kinds of things wherever I go but this place did not do it for me.
The shoes for me did not do it. They were cheap tho. But I would prefer Goodwill finds anyday. I found 2 shirts for $8 altogether. Both were different. But just because I found something I was not so excited as I thought I'd be.
I love this neighborhood but this place did not have it. I doubt I'll come back.
As an experienced Craigslist deal-finder, I will tell you this: if you're just moving into SF or already here and moving to a different neighborhood, this is the spot. Everything you need to furnish your entire house (or change your decor) is here. Paying retail for furniture, kitchenware and decor is for idiots! The kitchenware section is incredible, and a soapy wash will get them up to snuff. They come in entire sets, too, so leave your days of mismatched dishes behind! The furniture section is also a hidden gem: I've seen Ethan Allem chairs there for almost pennies on the dollar, compared to the actual retail price! And every first Monday is half-off in the store, so show up with a truck or your friend's borrowed car and catch those deals! Seriously, paying retail price for anything these days is for dummies. Community Thrift has the hookup!
Besides Great Overland Book Store - the Community Thrift Store is soon to be a regular spot for me - since giving up my cable.
They have some of the most affordable books ever. Most of them running about a dollar fifty a book. Not only that, but it's impressive how well organized their library is as well.
I literally walked out with 12 books here before the holidays - and spent about 15 dollars at most.
Yes - a whole new Jessica T is in town.
Bam!
Community Thrift is probably not the go-to place for clothing; Thrift Town, Mission Thrift, and the… Read more »
When stopping in the Mission for burritos, I always have to stop here and Thrift Town for different reasons. I like that Community Thrift is really organized, with an alphabetically arranged book section, boxes full of one thing (sunglasses, patches, etc.), and clothes that are put together in a way that makes sense. I go here for books, CDs, art, and knick-knacks, and Thrift Town for clothes and accessories.
over priced. c'mon, a dirty book shelf found in the garbage with free written all over it being sold for 20 bucks??? no thanks.
I discovered this thrift store when I had a little bit of time to kill in the Mission. Here's what I got:
- cheesy golf frame: $1
- (4) special Irish coffee glasses: $1 each
- kids' pirate kit (a miracle as just what I needed for Yelp's party tonight!): $1.25
- pack of (3) tennis balls for Ruggles to play with: $2.50
- Juicy Couture t-shirt: $3 (NOTE: 50% off ALL clothing because it was the third Monday of the month!)
- trying on a $20 pair of 7 jeans between pieces of furniture because there are no dressing rooms: AWKWARD
I paid my $13 with a credit card and it was, overall, a good thrift store shopping experience!
Ok, so I'm looking through the records and I just happen to place my finger on two Foreigner bad boys. After shoving them under my arm, I go to check out the bizarre selection of lamps and clocks that look like they may need a touch of prayer to operate at any capacity.
Then, I hit the book selection that is half overwhelming, half useless. About to head out, I notice a fun-looking basket (to bring the cookies to grandma's house, my dear) and think about snatching it up. The sign reads that all baskets are priced at the counter. Even though I was heading in that direction anyway, it felt like more effort than it was worth and to be honest, I just didn't get why they couldn't just price the damn baskets like they'd priced everything else. I think I may have been especially impatient that day, as I realize this makes me seem a little nutty.
What if I got to the counter and the lady (who certainly would have taken her sweet-ass time to hypothetically do this) said the basket was five bucks. What if I stood there at the counter and decided that $5 was too steep a price for the woven bucket? What if the basket were to be priced at a dollar, but my state of agitation suggested that this price was still too high? I like to do these evaluations before I'm in front of people trying to take my money and haggle me into buying more useless shit.
As a true test, the woman at the counter was slower than growing grass and I almost walked out. I like to browse, but rarely find myself taking that extra step and shoveling out my cash.
My favorite thrift store in most of the city. The entry way is always hard to get in and out of - I suspect that this was by design to thwart would-be shoplifters. They have cubbies to store your backpacks/purses at the front counter and this is also where they hide the porn.
Tons of worthless records and miscellaneous electronic crap that you'd likely find in a dumpster around the corner.
The best stuff is in the back, cheap books and magazines, decent priced furniture items, and the old lady dishes on the racks are pretty sweet (nothing says thrift store like milk glass and JFK salt & pepper shakers).
The clothing is a little bit Jeffersons and a little bit retro hipster turned homeless from meth.
Like every thrift store - you can find the best stuff if you know when they put out the goods or when the sales are. If you make the rounds frequently enough, make friends with the staff and maybe they'd be able to pull you some favors.
I like this place.
This is the only place I've ever saw used United airline seats for sale.
Of course I had to buy these and strap them on top of my car and drive them home.
I sure got a lot of stares from pedestrians and tourist taking photos of me driving by.
Their books are priced very cheap and occasionally some old, cool, funky electronics pop up.
Ok. It takes a while to make the rounds and figure which thrift stores are good for what. In a nutshell, come here if you are looking for books, storage baskets, furniture or fixtures (i.e. lamps..). My DJ friend likes to dig through their "Schallplatten" - sorry I can't think of the English word right now.
Note, if you are on a budget and trying to furnish your house go to Thrift Town first...Actually, here's another note to my note. Community Thrift is good for desks, chairs, random couches (although I'd be a bit hesitant to purchase a "used" couch)... Thrift Town is better in the bedroom furnishing like dressers, bed frames, etc.
Anway - this is not the place to shop for clothes or anything you would put on your body.
Things I bought: Books, a rocking chair, random basket storage shtuff. Things you can spray and wipe clean. Lol. No, I'm not a germaphobe.
This place can be pretty hit or miss. Not as trendy as Clothes Contact or other vintage places, it's more of a real thrift store with leftovers from urban hipsters. Pretty good selection of books and dinnerware/chinaware.
The selection isn't that big and the staff can be unprofessional (leaving you waiting so they can have a chat and gossip).
Scenario: I went on a Friday morning looking for a halloween costume; trench coat and a fidora for an Inspector Gadget getup.
Price: Prices were average compared to other thrift stores. $15-$20 for a raincoat. I didn't look at much else. I saw a nice pair of snowboard boots for only $6.
Service: Two little asian ladies at the checkout counter did not smile or say hi as I entered or left. I'm tall and I had to move one of the mirrors to try things on so I could see it - Some dude in a bright green shirt and latex gloves moved it back and then got pissy with me when I tried to explain why I had moved it and that I would move it back when I was done.
Atmosphere: Besides the dude in the latex gloves with a bad attitude, I felt like the other shoppers were eyeing me and one guy wreaked of BO. The items are categorized okay, but it just felt dirty inside...
Uniquity: Honestly, nothing made this place unique to me.
pretty cool thrift store..they had some nice things, but i was a bit lazy to search..and those of you who all know about thrift shopping, you really need to be in the mood to use your energy to rifle through those racks lol..that day wasnt my day to do that, but i just took a quick glimpse at what they had..
the customer service was great..i found a lovely pair of vintage earings! and the cashier guy was really nice!
I have been making donations, sometimes considerable, to CT for quite some time now. I really appreciate that they have such an outstanding roster of beneficiaries to choose from, including many that I have supported in other ways.
However, I would say that at least 75% of the time the staff at the drop off has been either rude or completely stand-offish. There have been times when I have not been asked "can I help you with that," or been given a "thank you." I certainly don't ask much, but a little bit of friendliness would make it more appealing to come back again in the future.
I've found some great deals on designer duds and other things. I've also spent too much on other things there. You just have to know what to spend on what. They have a huge selection on everything. Hunting for the deals is part of the fun.
Fair warning: They DON'T have a dressing room. Girls wear a flowy skirt or tight pants and a tight top and you can try on anything in the aisles. Good luck guys.
I like Community Thrift for their books, records and other household knick knacks... it's not the best for clothes. But, for some reason I keep going there with Rosie thinking that it is. I generally walk out with one or two cute things; but, it doesn't compare to when I shop Thrift Town.
That's okay, though... where else could I grab Robin Williams, Big Country and Village People records, all three for under $5.00?
I have also found every single one Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City books at Community Thrift over the years - which is a good thing b/c I tend to either give those away or lose them for some reason...
Plus, the proceeds go to various charities. That makes me feel good about being a consumer whore.
Books & records, yay!
Clothes, eh...
Sometimes I come out with something and sometimes I do not. They have a pretty neat book section with great prices. I donate a lot of my clothes here and donations are tax-deductible. You get to choose which charity(-ies) you would like them to go towards. I've chosen the AIDS Foundation, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Breast Cancer Action. There are many, many more on the charity roster to choose from. Every Monday (or so it seems), they have a 50% clothing sale as well.
At CTS, I can always be sure that the proceeds from my donations end up in the right hands. How? Because I tell them where to put it! They have a looong list of non-profits to choose from, so if you're passionate about a specific cause and want to do something to help it out, this is the perfect place to start.
Right on, CTS, keep up the good work!
bought some really cool old slide projectors and 8mm equipment here
its a big store and had tons of everything, well worth a browse on a rainy day
Community Thrift Store, with an emphasis on THRIFT!
There's a lot of junky stuff in here, but they really do have some cute vintage clothes. I especially like their rather extensive kitchenware section and their book section!
Some stuff I've bought over the years at The Thrift:
* Brooks Brothers tux in dead mint for less than $40.
* A&W Root Beer mug. I freaking LOVE these. If you see one, pick it up for me. And I will make you a float with the finest beer, made from the purest roots, and vanilla bean ice cream and toast almonds in an iron skillet that I'll then sprinkle on the damn float. And you will weep. For $3.50 I hold this sturdy glass mug and am instantly reminded of my Mom buying me a Teen Burger at the San Rafael A&W drive-in. Now I'm gonna cry. I LOVE YOU MOM!!!
* Script for episode #15 of Northern Exposure "Democracy In America". It's the one where Holling's previously unopposed Mayoral incumbancy is challenged by a woman angered because he wouldn't put a Stop sign by her land. The A Plot thrusts an elections committee position on Fleischman that forces him to work beside O'Connell, who also sits on that committee. This gives them something to argue, banter and angrily flirt about (the B Plot). There's also plenty of good Ed Chigliak. It's a great civics lesson, the formula is sweet and I LOVE this show. Damn thing cost like $3. Swish!
* King "Love & Pride" 12-inch. THAT'S...what my heart...yearns for now...Love AND Pride! You don't know the song and I don't care. It rules. Picture Spandau Ballet with more impressive mullets and you're on you way there. One Dollar. Hell with it, here:
http://www.youtube.com...
* Button-up Towncraft cardigan sweater. Maroon. Perfect shape. Five Ninety-Nine after the blue light special. So dope to wear around the house. Envy me.
* Pioneer Turntable. $25.99. I still haven't bought a needle for it after three years. Do I have buyers remorse? No way, Jose. When I'm ready I'll still have my dirt-cheap Wheel Of Steel. And yeah, the NEEDLE will cost more than I payed for it.
* Print of a stoney wizard summoning some homunculae or other drawn by a 70s Marvel Comics artist. Turn on the black light. One. Dollar. Please.
I was a punk rock kid. I grew up in thrift stores. Thrift stores these days rarely excite me. But because of its size, the INSANE (and pretty well-organized) book section and the fact that donors can CHOOSE the charities that monies raised by their items sale will go to make The Thrift untouchable.
I'm in shock so many people like this place. I have come here maybe 5-6 times and really haven't found anything to write home about. The biggest problem I have with this place though is the atmosphere. It's dirty, dingy and depressing. Its also so dark in some areas that I think they should hand out complementary flashlights when you enter. Today's visit was the worst though and definitely my last to this dump. There was all kinds of scaffolding on the outside...and inside a lot of stuff was covered with what looked like 14 layers of dirt. I take it they're doing some kind of construction on the barn like building and it wasn't too comforting to see workers wearing dust masks putting out more dirty merchandise. Even my friend's basement isn't this spooky...
The two titans of thrift in the neighborhood are Community Thrift and Thrift Town, a few blocks over. Community Thrift is the better store for books and furniture. Thrift Town is better for clothing. (They have furniture but it's overpriced by about 300%.) The kitchen items are pretty good at both places, though Thrift Town has more pots, pans, and decanters. You can never have enough decanters.
Community Thrift works like a Salvation Army, in that people donate their goods to the store, the store sells them and then gives the money to charity. When you drop off your stuff they'll even ask you if you want to specify one of their charities or put it in the general fund. (Note they do not take bed frames.) I find myself buying clothes there, getting too fat for them, then donating them back to the store. That means by gaining weight I'm helping the homeless.
The clothes at Community Thrift are not fantastic. But on occassion, you can find a whole slew of things all at once. Why? Because somebody died who was your size and all their stuff was donated to the store. Everybody my size appears to like musical theatre, but I don't need any more Cats and Rent t-shirts so I don't often luck out. Bummer.
A hit or miss, but always a good place to look.
I have been donating to them for years and find it easy and accessible. The guys at the drop off window are chipper and lively - the staff inside are not so friendly.
I have found great small items and prices are usually really fair. The great furniture pieces always have a SOLD sign on them, so someone is getting good stuff.
I have not been inside Community Thrift. That said, I'm a HUGE fan because they take my old magazines and then offer me a selection of non-profits to which they will donate the money that comes from them. I don't care what they do with them, all I know is that this feels even better than recycling.
Please be warned regarding the Williams-Sonoma/Pottery Barn merchandise-WS drops off the remainders from their sample sales, held on the weekend for their employees on the following Monday morning. You could be holding the second iteration of a lamp that will be sent back and fourth in production seven times, meaning it may not work, etc. My guess is that it's probably cheap enough, this being a thrift store, that people aren't losing sleep over it.
Hooray for Community Thrift!
I can never leave this place without something... A book, a cast iron pan, some kitchen items or postcards...
The staff is overall very friendly and helpful.
They have someone organizing the books now, and they do a pretty good job.
I've never bought clothes here but it looks like a pretty good selection.
Best of all, the money you spend goes to lots of different charities, so you can feel good about helping someone even as you help yourself.
Just a blurb here....
It was wet and cold yesterday, and I happened upon this store.
I cruised the clothing section (wow!) and the books (WOW!).
Prices were alright but I walked out with three tops.
Lots of junk but there are good things here if you have the time to look.
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Thrift Stores
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Thrift Stores
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Women's Clothing
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Community Service/Non-Profit
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