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Categories: Department Stores, Used, Vintage & Consignment [Edit]
Neighborhood: Queen Village
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Back from another great trip to Bainbridge!
Found a handful of great books, some $1 jeans for my sister, plus a cute purple shrug that looks like a belly dancing top.
All for under $10!! I love it, every trip here is an adventure!
I love this thrift store! I always go on a whim, and rarely walk out empty handed.
This adventure…
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So Chad ruined my mint condition 1950's slip that I used as a nightgown by putting in the washing machine. I cried like a baby because I knew I couldn't just run out and replace it. Unfortunately, many of the slips I've come across on sites like Ebay run $25 to $50, so I knew it was time to visit a thrift store.
When I had a better-paying job I bought all of my clothes new from middle-class stores. Even now I buy mostly from sample sales. I'm not much of a digger anymore, anyone who took regular family trips to Goodwill or Salvation Army (or, in my case, The Garment District in Cambridge) knows what I'm talking about. I can still identify most fabrics, including blends, by touch and I know a strong seam when I see one. But now I'm kind of spoiled and I've have developed a low tolerance for getting my hands dirty.
And yet, I wasn't miserable at AIDS Thrift. Granted, I only really looked at the sleepware, hardware and books. But I did manage to find a slip, not as nice as my old one, but it is in great shape and cost only $4. Also the tag said it used to belong to Grace Kelly, har har.
The book selection was surprisingly good. You do have to dig through crappy ones like Bridget Jones's Diary, microwave cookbooks and The Bible. But I managed to scored a John Irving book AND a vintage copy of Julia Child's Mastering The Art of French Cooking Vol. 1. This shop charges 10% of the original price for books, so each cost less than $3.
I was impressed with the amount of kitchenware they carry. Usually thrift stores don't have much beyond ugly mugs (aka muglies), so I was surprised to find a few bread machines and many full sets of dishes. I bought a small tortilla press for $6, which I'm sure will get a lot of use. Oh, and I saw a TI-83 calculator for 4 bucks. Remember when those cost $100? My mother sure does!
The staff is really nice and the clientele is best described as eclectic.
Also, I want that ocelot fur coat behind the counter SO MUCH!
Hands down the best thrift store in Philly. I always find something when I come here & I am not much of a 'vintage clothing wearer'. For whatever reason there are at least five really awesome items I find when I'm here. Last time it was a pair of heels, a mini IKEA hanging lamp, a few belts, & a blouse. I am never disappointed when I stop by & the staff is always happy & helpful. A great place to go to on the weekends.
The yellow & black striped shirt I am wearing in my profile picture was bought at Phily AIDS Thrift for my M.I.A. costume for only $3. Always a neat and cheap find when you need one.
My new favorite thrift store. Hands down. Jam-packed with goods, there are dozens of options of whatever you need. I came here with an open mind and a lot of needs/desires for my new house, and my roommate and I came away with a beautiful set of dishes, at a delightfully low price. Unlike other thrift stores that might have an assortment of furniture odds and ends, there are whole sections of this store with household items-- lamps, dishes, cooking ware...beyond the plethora of awesome clothing. Oh, and books galore!! It's great.
It makes me happy that this place exists.
first of all, what is the Philly AIDS Thrift? this place takes in donations, and turns them over to you cheap, and gives the profit to AIDS charities. Shopping here, ever, automatically helps people in your community. That's pretty fuckin cool.
and they have EVERYTHING. well, obviously not really, but it feels that way sometimes. lots of good houseware and kitchen gadgets, occasionally really cool luggage, shoes, lots of clothes (i got my favorite of my four suits here, fits absolutely perfectly, cost me $17, still boggles my mind) candles, mugs!, architecture books, board games, records, CDs, kids toys, BOOKS, once in awhile an instrument of some kind, old magazines... just a huge variety of stuff.
the turnover is pretty high, so it's honestly worth checking in every few days just to browse through and see what's new. cool things get snatched quickly.
oh yeah and on the weekends, the garage across the street opens and overflows with furniture, skis, an occasional bike, and so much more stuff inside of it. check that out too. you never know what you'll find. seriously.
May as well give away another one of my favorite book buying secrets (Only because I can afford to since I have at least 10 books on my to read list that I have to catch up on!). While you probably paid a good $15 +tax for books like "What is the What" and "Running With Scissors", I only paid a whopping $1.50 minus tax (be jealous!). How? Because Philly A.I.D.S. Thrift's book display is freaking awesome!
The A.I.D.S. Thrift drastically reduces the book prices to the point that if it's a book that's originally priced at $15.45, then it sales fr $1.55! True the selection is pretty vast and can be tricky to go through. But if the dedicated thrifter spirit is strong within you then it's pretty easy to walk away with some amazing finds.
Feeling the need to give to a good cause, but feel that you don't always have the cash flow to do… Read more »
Good place to go and rummage. Never know what you can find. The prices seem to be raising. But it's for a good cause.
I should be ashamed to admit that I am here at least 4 times a week. While that is excessive for most places of business, I don't think it really applies here. Almost everything here is unique. There is almost always just one of something, and if you don't go snatch it up when you see it, it'll be gone the next time you go. I've really lucked out in the past month with books, clothes, and shoes.
I'm also really pleased with the donation process. Go in, drop off a bag or box. Try to avoid buying your stuff the next time you go. I almost bought a pair of jeans I donated before realizing the reason they looked so familiar was because I owned them for 5 years.
Weekends are fun, thanks to the furniture displays outside and across the street. And don't forget, it's all for a great cause.
I love this place! You can buy pretty much anything, from a mug to a prom dress to a couch, and the prices are great. The DIY decorations, snarky comments on tags, and quirky volunteers (not to mention the shoppers) make for a fun atmosphere, and a good shopping trip whether or not you find something to buy. Like all thrift stores, keep your mind open when you visit: they may not have exactly what you need, but they probably have lots of stuff you want.
The book selection is especially great, and they're so cheap you can load up on a summers worth of reading for a few dollars. If you regularly forget to return library books on time like I do, Philly AIDS Thrift is actually cheaper than a trip to the Free Library. Plus, I feel great knowing that my purchase helps people living with AIDS in Philadelphia.
We're in a recession people. Even if we weren't, I'd still be a recent college grad without too much money. With that being said, I think it makes a lot of sense to shop for things to fill my new apartment here at PAT. I found a lot of good pots and pans, measuring spoons and cup etc etc. I also found a really cool old suitcase that I use to house my photography stuff. Everyone who works here is SUPER friendly and you can really find some interesting stuff. Everything is very reasonably priced as well! Enjoy!
With amazing three dollar shoes, dollar racks of clothes, vintage dresses, tons and tons of china and silverware, a huge book section, mad board games, and virtually something for everyone, Philly AIDS Thrift is your vintage thrift store for the less pretentious.
The place is very grassroots, very hand-done. Everything has a very "felt" quality to it - as volunteers tag items with witty comments, and price items economically. It's a fun place to dig through lots of stuff you think you don't need but when priced at $1 - hey, why not?
Might I add - barely worn French Connection sweater - $1. Yes.
So, most people have rated this place in terms of Shopping - but I'm rating it in terms of Donating.
I used to look for places where they would actually USE my old junk... until I realized that most people that like Old junk are willing to pay for it, and well, the people that actually need help, could benefit far more from cold hard cash than from my ill fitting pants or out dated ironic tee-shirt.
So I started to research things like goodwill and the salvation army; they looked like a good enough option, until a friend of mine pointed out the positions that these places held on a wide variety of topics. Salvation army is actively against things like homosexuality and abortion; two things I really have no idea why they have any opinion on at all - I mean, aren't they there to help people in need, who are they to judge anyone?
So maybe it is my naturally rebellious self, or maybe I am taking a stand and making a protest, but I decided to give all of my stuff to AIDS Thrift instead!
The people there are awesome, and funny, and take all my old stuff without any kind of judgment, even when I sheepishly gave them one of the most hideous lamps I've ever seen, and which I have no idea how it came into my possession.
More recently, I was involved in organizing a game night for a local mentoring program. They generously gave me a helluva deal on several board games, which I later re-donated for them to sell again - so maybe I rented them.
In any event, they are A-OK in my book, and the next time you have stuff to get rid of, consider where it is going and what you are supporting with your donation. Proceeds from AIDS Thrift go to support local organizations involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is also run by volunteers - so if you're looking to give back some of your time, this would be a great way to do it.
This is one of my favorite thrift stores in the city. They get some really sweet threads, housewares, art, books, records, old greeting cards, and fun jewelry. Good turn over and selection.
One of the things i love most is the the quirky little notes the staff writes on the price tags. I once picked up a skimpy black tube top and the tag read "go for it, hussie". I found a very prim and proper straw hat with a tag reading "Martha Stewart wore this". Things like that just tickle me.
The prices are so reasonable and have been ever since i started going back in high school. They could easily jack them up considering the influx of silly hipsters willing to spend stupid money on old things. That's what Retrospect is for.
Lastly but not leastly, its for a good cause.
Like most thrift stores, this place has character. Mannequins with electronic wires coming out of their faces, cramped quarters, things everywhere? Yes, yes, and yes. But if you are willing to dig, you will find some good things. As someone else mentioned, this is a great place for books. Home goods are overpriced, but I found a fantastic jacket with a snarky comment on the tag ("Oliver Twist!") that basically sold me. And I get compliments on the $6 jacket every time I wear it. Whenever I am nearby, the AIDS Thrift calls to me and I must go browse.
The fact that it benefits charity is just another plus.
Love this place! It has a great book selection and some good clothes if you look hard enough. Even if you don't find anything the whole experience is a great one with lots of fun perusing and very helpful volunteers working there.
You get random cheap stuff AND the proceeds go to AIDS research... you should feel guilty going anywhere else. Great for finding books or stuff for your apartment. Tip: Go with your impulses... it probably won't be there when you go back.
My most exciting discovery was finding my favorite brand of $70 jeans for $6 and practically brand new. SO awesome.
i'm so ecstatic, i just walked out of PAT with an arm full of beach reading for only $5! a $50 adobe illustrator book? just $2.50. other great things i saw today - an esprit clutch, $3; a new pair of pony hair nine west kitten heels, $8! (i didn't get them, so i would run there if you're interested.)
i've never had much luck with the clothing, but the books, cds, accessories and housewares are all wonderful. yes, i buy lots of stuff that i don't need, but for once, it's ok. the money goes towards a great cause and when i don't need it anymore, i can donate it back for someone else to enjoy. yay aids thrift!
I'd like to give 3.5 stars, because I don't love this store, but I like it enough to feel bad about a 3 star rating. So I'll round up!
Like any thrift store, it's hit or miss. Unfortunately for me, it's usually miss. But that doesn't stop me from looking around in there all the time. With a lot of thrift stores in the city, they've sifted through the stuff and picked out the goods to go on the floor. With AIDS Thrift, it seems more like piles of junk... and I'm sure that they HAVE sifted through it, but I feel like I have to do a lot of sifting myself. That's the charm, I guess. Anyway, the decor is fun and inviting. And the cause is a good one!
I absolutely adore this place. It is filled with eccentric clothing, furniture and records. I've gotten everything from Grandmaster Flash and Doobie Brothers records to a leopard mini skirt to a tea kettle shaped as a high heel. AIDS Thrift is nonprofit and operates on a donation basis, volunteers work behind the counter and are extremely friendly and helpful.
As mentioned in other reviews, thrift shops like AIDS Thrift require patience and a few extra minutes. You won't find the more unique items if you're rushing, particularly with the record collection. There are two levels and the store is jam packed with merchandise, so sift through everything. I know they close relatively early during the week, but I don't consider that to be a major drawback. I've found such fantasic things here, I recommend to everyone. I also recommend donating clothing and other goods if you're ever cleaning out your apartment and choose not to go to the Salvation Army. It's really for a great cause, and the record collection is off the hook.
Philly AIDS Thrift, or PAT for short, is one of the grooviesst thrift stores in all of the world. It's also one of my favourite places to hang out for mindless shopping in Philadelphia, and a great and cheap alternative to buying new household items and clothes.
I've been shopping there for the full 2 years I've lived in town and for my money they can always be counted on to have that "thing you need" that you don't want to pay full price for. A good example: my computer mouse broke at a particularly lean time for me financially, and I was able to go to PAT and get a perfectly working replacement for $1.00.
PAT has a campy, kitschy vibe - and that's intentional, thanks in part to the two owners who are young and funky themselves. The bondage doll by the cash register tells you that you're free to be yourself at PAT. It's also an extremely gay-friendly location.
For all my praise, there are some flaws at PAT. There are certain things that PAT is brimming with: if you're into shoes, books, records, t-shirts or you're looking for dishes and kitchenware, PAT is a treasure trove. This is especially true of their massive book selection, for which they charge only 10% of the cover price!
However if you're hoping for linens and towels or men's plus-sized clothing - or really any great selection of men's pants (particularly jeans) - you'll find slim pickins at PAT.
Today I went in and got a fleece blanket for $4.00 and an import CD single from the UK by Robbie Williams for a grand total of $5.06 with tax. This is a good example of the kind of random shopping experience you can expect at PAT. You can also luck out with a really great find; I went in once wanting any kind of random plates for my household, and walked out with plates from the Calvin Klein stoneware collection for $1/each. (Every day I have to resist putting them on eBay.)
Check out PAT when you get a chance!
Philly Aids Thrift is the best thrift store in Philly! I spent around an hour poking through the immense array of items a few days ago and came home with some treasures (a really cool antique globe, wooden picture of the Desiderata, 3 books, and a wooden school house) for 20 bucks. They have an amazing selection of books and they are all 90% the listed cover price. They are GOOD books that you'd find in Borders. I've also bought many kitchen items in the past. The place is small and jam packed with racks and bins, but it is nicely decorated and it is a great atmosphere. Not air conditioned, but you can overlook that for sure. I can't wait to go back and see what they have!
I need to update my review after I visited here again on Saturday. Their furniture/electronics warehouse was open, so we went in, hoping to find an amp. Well, we didn't find an amp, but we found a nice charcoal grill for $8 and I got four books for $1. It's pretty tough to beat that. Of course, we probably could have gotten a cheaper price for the grill, but it's pretty rude to haggle with a charity thrift store. Also, I found a really cute teapot for $3.99. I left much happier than last time.
I was walking around South Philly yesterday while waiting for my boyfriend to walk with me to… Read more »
Um, welcome to Awesometown, USA. Home of the randomest shit in town. I will have you know that all of my silverware comes from here (at 25 cents a pop!) and is adorably mismatched. Other awesome finds include an Albert Einstein action figure, a "Pony Play" erotic magazine, a $4 fleece blanket, and a $7 eagle lamp that I had the poor sense to not buy. They're constantly getting new and fun things in, and you can grab cheesy books out of the free bin. I think what I'm trying to say is...they rooooo! Go. Donate shit. Buy shit. Be enriched. Fin.
i was passing by the warehouse aside from Mostly Books, when I spotted a wonderful surprise.
Got a Micro-fiber couch today for next to nothing...only part that sucked a bit is the lack of delivery. However Herbie was nice enough to hang on to it for us until tomorrow so I can arrange to pick it up.
The guys who work here are very down to earth a little quirky at times.
Yet you get what you want and when you find something really cool you really feel accomplished. Two thumbs up!
This is an awesome place to shop if you have an hour or so to just dig then another half an hour to… Read more »
For a while I was reluctant to head to the new Aids Thrift since I was an employee in my early teenage years at the original on 7th and South Street. Well, the property now is home to yet another ghetto-fied South Street shop with clothes that look like they fell out of a back of a truck.
But anyway....
I was still donating to P.A.T. on a regular basis but did not actually start shopping until around this March when I started to wear out all of my denim due to constant bike riding. I refused to pay sixty-dollars anymore for jeans I was going to ruin so I figured I'd see what P.A.T. had to offer in my size. Well, I now favor P.A.T over any other store or outlet when it comes to pants and even other things like wicker baskets, fabric, and some cool VHS movies.
The staff is pretty cool and laid back on both ends, the store and the garage. They usually have an interesting blend of music playing the they generally keep the store nice and organized. One of the cashiers even let a woman trade for some knitting supplies she found upstairs.
All of the proceeds still go to the same great cause but I still miss seventh street back in the 90s. The location now is just too small for the amount of goods the place is capable of selling but brave the crampness and hot sticky upstairs summers and you'll get your buck worth.
This store is a great little shop to find random stuff. I've bought some great stuff for costume parties; I got incredible acid-wash jeans here just ready to be ripped and frayed to oblivion.
Then even better, last week, I was able to snag an espresso machine for just 9$. It was the find of the week or even month.
The staff here is really friendly and helpful and the finds are fun.
Pre-scouting for my Halloween costume, the Philadelphia AIDS Thrift (or PAT as they called it) was a possible return-spot. I loved the artwork on the walls...my favorite was the pin-up girl calendar stairwell.
Each section was labeled creatively and some of the vintage stuff had great backstory...my wife found "the dress" that Barbara Bush wore to Japan when King George the First threw-up all over the Prime Minister (must've served him broccoli).
Tons of clothes, but it was a little thin in the men's dept, beyond a large array of jeans and tees. I picked up some souvenirs...a decent pair of designer label ties for $5 and a decent brewer-issued pilsner glass for $3.
A little overwhelming and nothing too useful to me puts it at 3-star, but others will find treasure I'm sure.
What's small, packed with stuff, and all for a good cause?
Yeah, Philadelphia AIDS Thrift store. But you can call it PAT!
Headed here to pick up 80's costume elements for a party. Boy did I score at this place.
Vintage round sunglasses for Slash, neon orange jellies for Cyndi, and heaps of faux pearls for Madonna. Maybe not so many things that I'd wear for-real, for-real, but for costume shopping it was righteous.
This is probably my favorite thrift store in Philadelphia. They have some really unique pieces from time to time and their prices are fantastic! The volunteers/staff are always very friendly and willing to help.
This is definitely a thrift store. While I thought the place was a bit dusty, there are some great finds here. I go back frequently to see what I may have missed or what is new. I have found great books and a few pieces of clothing (some of the stuff has been there a while, so you get to know what to pass up after you've been a few times). The prices are reasonable and the staff are very good at negotiating a good price.
Today I was helping a friend drop some clothes off at AIDS Thrift. I had never been there and I was in a hurry. But, I quickly noticed that their typical wall of junk that most thrift stores have was neither typical nor junky. I managed to find a really wicked hand carved wall mount of an Eastern Orthodox Patriarch. It's perfect for my room, which has many wooden carvings on the wall and it was only FIVE DOLLARS.
I'm going to have to go back when there's more time. The allocation of five stars is pending this visit. :-)
In my experience, the AIDS thrift is better for housewares, knick-knacks and jewelry than for clothes. I have, however, picked up a few nice clothes items here as well. The staff are far friendlier than normal thrift store workers and the decor and feel of the store are more fun and quirky than your typical thrift store.
Oy! What a conglomoration of ... well, just about everything. What fun to sort through!
PROS: Lots of interesting stuff- more variety than you'd expect. Good selection of stuff your Italian grandmother probably had in her house, in case you're going for nostagia. Staff are friendly, and there are witty signs all around the place. Going upstairs, the hall is decorated and it's almost like an amusement ride. Proceeds go to a good cause. Big clear totes of toys upstairs with plenty of variety for the kiddies to choose from.
Cons: The area is tight- lots of good stuff, but not much space to maneuvre around.
The night we went was in August, and it was hotter than H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks. Everyone downstairs was sweating profusely, and few were brave enough to venture upstairs.
If you get tired of all the stupidity on South Street, and you've already paid for parking, this is a nice respite, too. Or just go and have a darn good time. Leave anyone who might whine at home.
I love thrift shops and was really looking forward to checking out the Philadelphia AIDS Thrift store, especially since I work for a local AIDS organization myself. Anyway, a friend had tipped me off that they had 8track tapes there. When I heard this I became excited, because most thrift stores seem to have stopped carrying 8tracks back in the late 90s.
The tension was building as I made my way upstairs to check out the 8tracks. I frantically started looking around and was sadly dissappointed to find that there was not an 8track tape to be found! I wondered what happened to them? As I was checking out, (picked up a bobblehead for a friend) I told the volunteer that I was dissappointed that there were no 8track tapes. He informed me that they had a whole 8track section at one time, but they weren't selling, and they ended up throwing them out...TRAGEDY!
Even with the sad news about the 8tracks, I would still highly recommend shopping here. There is a fun and funky atmosphere while shopping here, and there are a lot of hidden gems to be found.
I bought a nintendo teaching keyboard here for 10 dollars. I also bought a 5.1 channel surround sound receiver and a set of sony speakers for 15 dollars. The deals in that warehouse are unbeatable.
I like philly aids thrift a good deal. Its not going to be like Buffalo Exchange, where almost all… Read more »
Although I am a fan of consignment and thrift shops, AIDS Thrift wasn't my favorite. maybe its just because I did not find much stuff for myself. Maybe it's because of the very crowded atmosphere. Like Susan G. said, the racks are extremely close to each other. It was difficult to sort through the amount of things if I couldn't even have room to move around.
The great thing about this place though is the atmosphere. i love the little notes that they write on the price tags, the posters and signs. Very cool, fun and welcoming atmosphere.
Philly AIDS Thrift used to be my adjunct closet when I lived next door to it. If I failed to do my laundry and needed a T-Shirt, I'd snatch one from here. I would bring all of the clothes that I neither wanted nor needed. So it really WAS like my closet because I'd see so much familar clothing on the racks.
I've found some good buys here. It is truly a thrift store, although they know when they have something good and mark it up a bit. I don't fault them for it, but you're not going to find a Betsey Johnson for $3 next to a crappy Dress Barn dress. Ever since they opened the top floor, it's been better because they can fit more clothes. Downstairs there's more in the way of housewares, records, decorations, jewelry and general stuff.
A nice selection of stuff, but be forewarned--as it goes with all thrift stores, you have to dig through EVERYTHING to get to the good stuff. Items are well priced and the place is, for the most part, pretty well organized. It's also pretty cool that there's an upstairs level with even more stuff! An added bonus, the staff is friendly and accommodating as well.
One of the best of the Center City thrift stores, and a damn good cause. Very much prefer this to say, Salvation Army, whose religious bent I'm not down with. I love the selection of housewares stuff, picked up a bunch of things today that are the beginnings of my christmas present making adventures this year. If I went there to seriously shop for clothes I would probably be very disappointed, but I don't - I go to Village Thrift for that.
This is a great store and you feel good when you purchase from them knowing that the money goes to a good cause. I bought fabulous and I do mean fabulous vintage curtains. I had been looking for a long time.... and they only cost me $8 bucks. I also purchased an air conditioner in
excellent condition for $45 - I didn't see any clothes that I liked but they had a lot of other things. They have a large selection of books... next time I will check them out. A+ for Philly Aids Thrift
Neighborhood: Society Hill
Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment
Neighborhood: Bella Vista
Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment
Neighborhood: Queen Village
Category: Antiques
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment
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