I’ve long been loyal to Neighbors’ thrift store but I visited Valu Thrift Center in St. Paul’s Sun Ray shopping center today on my friend Kate’s recommendation.
I thought I died and went to thrift heaven. I was almost to overwhelmed to start shopping. Almost.
First of all, this place is huge. Second, they have an extensive selection of pretty much everything. Third, and most important, everything is really really really well organized and displayed with sizes and prices clearly marked.
I went in looking for a rain jacket for Grace and shoes for Connor. I only liked one of the girls’ rain jackets and it was $15. Not bad for a really nice looking Gap one but more than I was willing to pay. And I didn’t find any boys shoes in Connor’s size. I’m betting boys that age wear them out before they grow out of them. So I will look at my other favorite thrift store for those items.
They did have aisles upon aisles of toys. Lots of books. Lots of housewares. Lots of everything.
Instead of the items I’d hoped to get, I found $53 worth of other things. Yes, $53. I should have gone on Monday, which is always 25% off day. But I’m not in that neighborhood on Mondays. If I had been there before and gotten a VIP card, I could have gotten some things on sale today too. But alas, this was my first visit.
What I got:
- A round brush hair dryer, which I’d been planning to buy for my new ‘do. $3.99
- Pictionary Jr. 2.92
- Clue Jr. 1.91
- A nice Barbie 1.91
- A Land’s End backpack for Grace to use next year (or this year if hers falls apart anymore than it already is) 5.99
- 2 pairs of socks for Ellie .99
- 3 bras for me (sorry if that grosses you out but I have no problem with used bras). 14.47
- Sunglasses for Connor (the Easter bunny brought baby ones. oops) 1.61
- A candy dish with lid that matches my glass pattern. 3.93
- This jacket. The picture has me rethinking it though. I need to get one taken by someone taller than 4 feet. $14.99
I debated getting an espresso machine because I do not like mine. They had two for $7 each. I couldn’t decide though so if one is there next time, maybe I’ll get it then.
FYI: Valu Thrift is a for-profit business, not a charity, if that is important to you in your thrift choices.
Other recommendations:
- Neighbors Clothes Closet, South St. Paul. It is small but they are moving to a new location this summer. It is mostly clothes but once a month they have a “garage sale” in a different area of the building for housewares. Their prices are VERY low but things aren’t super easy to find and it’s cramped. It supports Neighbors, which is a fabulous nonprofit best known for its food shelf, though it does other things as well. Most of my purses and shoes came from here.
- The Eagan Goodwill is my favorite Goodwill location. There’s nothing particularly special about it but we’ve found nice things there.
- The Cheap Chick likes the CHAP Store in Burnsville.
- Jamie at Mommy’s Camera likes the Unique store in Burnsville.
What thrift stores do you like and why?
We do Chaps in Bvlle, right by my house, and Unique. I like the smaller ones in Savage too, there are a couple. A new one just opened and their layout is fabulous!
We used to go the Salvation Army by us, the downtown one has an entire floor devoted to new items with tags still on them.
My Mom loves the Value Village in Richfield, has been going there forever!
I found this store last winter and really like how well organized it is too. This one place where Becky and I shopped for her birthday.
I also liked Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store at 1650 White Bear Ave N. They have fitting rooms. It’s very well organized and tons of stuff. I found many more clothes here than at Valu Thrift because I was able to try things on. Not an issue for kids clothes I suppose, but for adult clothes trying on things is usually a must for me.
The cashier told me they have fitting rooms at Valu Thrift but I don’t know where. I’ll check it out next time.
Nice post! Worth waiting for.
And your new haircut is SUPER CUTE.
Jen, really cute hair. And the jacket is a fabulous color, keep it!
I seem to have the worst luck, especially when I go in ‘looking’ for something. If I go in Goodwill just for fun, that’s the best. I tend to stay close to home at the SLP location.
Thanks for the tips though, I might venture out.
Check out our new digs at 222 Grand Ave.West, South St. Paul
I have and they are FANTASTIC. Just mentioned them on my facebook page yesterday.
Oops! 222 Grand Ave.West,South St Paul is Neighbors,Inc new home as of Oct.2011. Yeehah!
Just saw your blog about best thrift stores in the Twin Cities. We at Neighbors are grateful for your kind comments.
We did, in fact, move at the beginning of October and invite you, and everyone else interested in finding the best gently used items at the best prices to check us out. We have way more space in the new Clothes Closet, and have dedicated a portion of the space to household goods and items. Located now at 222 Grand Ave. W in South St. Paul.
Can a thrift store still call itself a thrift store if it’s in business to make a profit rather than raising money for a charity? You betcha. Savers, Unique Thrift stores and Valu Thrift do. All are for-profit stores in the biz to make money like any retailer, not to support a charitable mission.
When you make donations or buy clothing at Goodwill, Salvation Army, Silver Angel or Bibles for Missions, you’re supporting a charitable mission that helps the homeless, the poor, or job training programs. When you shop Savers, Unique Thrift or Valu Thrift, you’re supporting a for-profit business similar to consignment or antique shops.
Many shoppers assume that all thrift stores are in business only to help a charity.
In fact, an informal, unscientific poll in the parking lots of Savers and Unique Thrift stores showed that about eight in 10 shoppers assumed that such stores were nonprofit.