Thrift shopping is like a treasure hunt. You sift through racks of secondhand goodies until you strike gold. The real kicker? Scoring luxury items at half the original price!
If your retail therapy involves more treasure hunting than counting bills, thrift stores are your jam. These are havens for budget-friendly alternatives to traditional retail, offering a diverse range of merchandise from vintage treasures to contemporary fashion.
In this review, we’ll navigate the best thrift stores in Calgary, unlocking budget-friendly fashion and unique treasures.
Table of Contents
How much do items cost at thrift stores in Calgary?
Most thrift stores in Calgary price their secondhand clothing from $2 to $15 a piece. More high-value clothing may cost around $25 to $50 each. Secondhand furniture, on the other hand, may cost around $15 to $90 per piece.
Factors that affect price variations include brand, item condition, rarity, and size.
How We Chose
1. Value Village
Address: 9737 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2J 0P6, Canada (Google Maps)
Contact Details: +15873297858
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Sunday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
The name Value Village is widely recognised in Canada, extending beyond just thrift enthusiasts. Across its multiple branches in the country, this particular Value Village branch in Calgary is exceptionally large.
It’s a haven for eclectic secondhand finds in Calgary—whether you’re hunting for chic threads or quirky furniture. They gladly take donations, and shopping here has a side of goodwill, as a portion of sales supports nonprofit partners helping the local community.
Their items are donations from citizens and local nonprofits, with brands like Converse, American Eagle, Sole Innovation, and more.
Items that don’t get sold are sent to Value Village’s recycling centres and then sold to other thrift stores and international resellers all over the world (think of it as a massive reuse and recycle system). Around 95% of goods are recycled and resold, leaving less than 5% of actual textile waste behind!
Pros
- Large thrift store chain with hundreds of items in stock
- Offers a large array of thrift items, from clothing to furniture
Cons
- Complaints about damaged or worn-out items
- Complaints with price inconsistency
Customer Reviews
Best for furniture hunting
“Great place for those who just arrived in Canada and have an empty apartment!!
Lots of household appliances, electric kettles, toasters, coffee machines, blenders and a grill. Hair dryers, irons, lamps, furniture, tables, chairs, chests of drawers and children’s toys”
-Ms. Ewilina Grabska, Google Review
Massive collection of secondhand items
“We had issue with the coupons and their staff was very accommodating. I was helped by Ashley and Noor at self service registers who were very polite and quick to assist me and my wife. We found a lot of winter clothing at great prices. The store was very well laid out. You need at least 3 hours just to quickly skim over everything they have there. Biggest VV I have ever seen”
-Mr. Ander Guzman, Google Review
2. Change Is Good
Address: 11 Northshore Dr, Marina Country Club, Singapore 828670 (Google Maps)
Contact Details: +6590487060
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
Change Is Good is a thrift store in Calgary that should be on your radar if you’re looking to snag good deals on vintage items, make a change in the Calgary community, and support small local businesses.
Every penny spent at Change Is Good supports The Calgary Dream Centre, a charity aiding the homeless and those in recovery from addiction. 100% of proceeds fund shelters and recovery programs, and they have already assisted over 370 individuals.
Their items range from secondhand clothing, vintage furniture and items, and products made by local businesses. You’ll find housewares, jewellery, and apothecary items on top of a diverse range of preloved clothing like outerwear, dresses, and pants!
Pros
- Includes items from local businesses in their collection
- Items are usually in good or mint condition
Cons
- Prices run a little higher compared to most thrift stores
- Strict no return or exchange policy
Customer Reviews
Thrift shopping with a cause
“Wow! I am an avid thrifter, and while I love to sift through racks at any old thrift store, I did not realise how much I would LOVE shopping curated thrift. I’ve gotten so many Aritzia and brand name pieces from CIG and have loved shopping their local makers and vendors as well”
-Ms. Rachel From, Google Review
Exceptional customer service
“I love this place. I always feel good walking in and always leave with something cute. Exceptional customer service, and prices are more than fair! It’s one of the only second hand stores in the city I frequent regularly because I just know they always meet my expectations. ”
-Ms. Katie Evans, Google Review
3. Good Neighbour Community Market
Address: 149 5 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 5T1, Canada (Google Maps)
Operating Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, Sunday, 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Good Neighbour, situated in the heart of Calgary, is a thrift store operated by volunteers and allows you to set the amount you’ll pay for your purchased goods. All profits generated contribute to providing food for the community.
With the motto “Take what you need, leave what you can, pay what you want,” co-founder Alice Lam is breaking new ground in community support. It’s one of the most unique thrift stores in Calgary!
Items on “sale” include non-perishable food, plants, secondhand shoes, and preloved clothes for both men and women. You can take as much as you want, but be mindful that the amount of money you pay should be proportional to the number of items you’ll take.
It may put a little pressure on you to give more, but if you want to pay it forward, consider bringing items to donate to the store on your next visit.
They’re only open three days a week, so consider planning your shopping spree here on the days they’re open.
Pros
- Operates on a pay-what-you-can basis
- Items on sale include food and plants
Cons
- Puts pressure on customers to pay more
- Only open three days a week
Customer Reviews
A community gem that pays it forward
“While I was there, a lady in line to go in thanked me for my donations ❤ Also they were providing items like sandwiches, toiletries and socks to those who needed it. Wonderful place to support! Truly a community gem.”
-Ms. Elle Purnell, Google Review
Extensive array of items
“Great concept of pay-what-you-want thrift store! They have clothes, shoes, plants, toys, books, groceries and food! This is a good place and refuge for homeless and underprivileged people to get what they need, without any judgement and unlawful activity. Please DONATE or VOLUNTEER!! We need more of this in Calgary!”
-Mr. nomad_paul, Google Review
4. HG Vintage
Address: 720 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0B7, Canada (Google Maps)
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday, 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Friday to Saturday, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
HG Vintage is considered one of Calgary’s premier vintage stores and is known for their extensive array of vintage items, ranging from shirts, pants, bags, and even accessories. The thrift store is a vintage enthusiast’s haven and is great for avid collectors!
Their dedicated vintage specialists search worldwide for exceptional finds, ensuring that items pass their quality standards and are authentic. They curate an outstanding selection of authentic, high-quality items, including rare finds from renowned brands like Ralph Lauren, Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger, and Harley-Davidson.
Their niche is in limited edition collections and university athleticwear (with some items dating as far back as the 70s and 80s).
If a rare item exceeds your budget, HGvintage offers a “shop now, pay later” option for deferred or instalment payments.
Pros
- Best for those who love thrifting for vintage items
- Shop now, pay later scheme accepted
Cons
- Strict no returns, refunds, and exchanges policy
- Very niche collections
Customer Reviews
Top-notch vintage collections
“This place is AMAZING! Having lived in Calgary since I was little I had never heard of them until the giveaway they ran with Cowboys Stampede 2023, and then I was able to check them out. This store, the staff, the custom and vintage pieces, everything is TOP NOTCH. I loved my experience shopping there and Mo the owner definitely knows how to grab a clients attention. I will DEFINITELY be back and I would recommend for anyone to check the store out!!!”
-Ms. Caleigh van Leenen, Google Review
Trustworthy and friendly vintage specialists
“I want to say thank you. Its been years but Mo, Adam and Sarah. Dang you three have killed it, always . Thank you so much for all the welcoming hugs and feeling so welcome to the shop. For always showing me where the Detroit merchandise is…. Mo you have the kindest heart, your hugs are such an amazing feeling that make me feel so welcome. I love you all and will continue to support local!!!!!”
-Ms. Danielle Kozak, Google Review
5. Thriftopia
Address: 214 62 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2H 2E6, Canada (Google Maps)
Contact Details: +14034522025
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Dedicated to budget-friendly fashion, Thriftopia is a thrift store presenting a thoughtfully curated assortment of top-notch clothing and accessories catering to both men and women.
They regularly update their inventory with a diverse range of styles to suit various preferences and budgets. In-store items, priced by size, feature adult fashions at $4 each and kids’ fashions at a mere $2 each.
The real kicker? A treasure trove of secondhand shoes for all sizes and occasions, all priced at a flat $8.
Their collection ranges from jackets, outerwear, denim, blouses, and activewear from brands like Guess, Adidas, American Eagle, and Banana Republic.
Pros
- Items have fixed prices
- Best for shoe thrifting
Cons
- Items are sprayed with strong fragrances to cover stench
- Men’s clothing selection could be better
Customer Reviews
Great finds at fixed prices
“I think this is the only thrift store in Calgary that provides a fixed pricing system, which is amazing. You don’t have to pick something up, look at the price and put it down. I have shopped here twice for casual items like jeans, t-shirts and blouses.”
-Ms. Hong Van Nguyen, Google Review
Well-organised thrift store
“Awesome shopping here! I loved the layout. Very neat, organised and well ventilated. There were change rooms with couches and a nice display area in the front of the store. Did not have the stuffy thrift store feeling. The set pricing is amazing as well.”
-Mr. Genesis Joaquin, Google Review
