The Best Thrift Shops in Tacoma, Washington

I've been shopping at thrift shops for decades. In a world of fast fashion and disposable trends, I love that there is a shift towards second hand. Not only is it great for the environment, it can also be a great way to save money too. Many of these shops are a fun treasure hunt for one-of-kind pieces while embracing sustainability and maybe getting a deal too! I love exploring the thrift shops in my area and thought this blog post from 2013 needed an update! We will also explore the differences between each of the different retail destinations from resale boutiques to consignment and vintage shops. I'll even share my local favorites. No gatekeeping here! Come along for the ride!

The Best Thrift and Resale Shops in Tacoma, WA

Thrift shops, resale shops, consignment shops, vintage shops...what's the difference? All of them offer unique shopping experiences, but it's worth breaking down the differences so you know what to expect!

What is the difference between all the different resale shops?

What is a Thrift Shop?

Thrift shops often are associated with a charitable organization or a non-profit, think Goodwill. These stores accept donated items from individuals and then sell them to support their respective causes. These stores often carry an array of items from clothing to household items. They provide an opportunity to find hidden gems and give back to the community. 

What is a Consignment Shop?

Consignment stores usually serve as an intermediary between sellers and buyers. Individuals bring their gently used items to consignment shops and the store sells them on their behalf usually keeping a percentage of the sale. Most consignment shops are singularly focused, usually on clothing or on furniture. They offer less variety than a thrift shop, but often have a higher saturation of high-end items at a more accessible price.

What is a Resale Boutique?

A resale boutique specializes in buying and selling secondhand clothing and accessories but are different from thrift shops and consignment stores by purchasing directly from sellers. A popular resale boutique chain is Plato's Closet. These stores generally have a more curated collection and offer more current fashion trends in their stores but at a fraction of the retail price.

What is a Vintage Shop?

Vintage shops are all the rage right now, offering clothing, accessories and home decor from past eras, but not so past that they are antiques! These shops generally curate unique, timeless pieces that are often very trendy and nostalgic. Most of the items you find in a vintage shop are listed at higher prices than a typical thrift store since they are unique items you won't find anywhere else!

My Favorite Thrift Stores in Tacoma

St. Vincent de Paul 4009 S. 56th St, Tacoma, WA 98409

I love St. Vincent in Tacoma for their outdoor yard. I peek inside their actual shop occasionally, but the yard is what I come for! There are multiple covered areas outdoors sorted with furniture, sporting goods, and just about everything in between. Most thrift shops in the area have stopped carrying furniture, but not this one! And the prices are reasonable. I've picked up an antique dining room table before for under $4!

I refinished the table and made it look like a million bucks!

Goodwill Outlet 3120 S. Pine St, Tacoma, WA 98409

When you mention thrift shopping, you almost always thinking of Goodwill, and Tacoma has a few locations, but for the most part, they are too rich for my blood. For this reason, I don't recommend the Blue Goodwill Boutique shop either. This is the higher-end retail store that has hand-selected items based on name brand recognition. The prices are always higher at Blue, and if you think the prices are high at Goodwill already, Blue is worse.

Read this post: Is Goodwill Too Expensive?

The Goodwill Outlet, {some people call them "the bins"}, is a pay by the pound location with a lot of fun treasure hunting. The Outlet has plenty of regulars, and there are lots of deals to be had, you just have to dig for them. 
And you should probably brush up on the rules.

Here are some tips on how to shop Goodwill Outlet

What about Value Village?

I do love a good Value Village, but I'm not really a fan of any of the ones in the south sound area. I prefer the Value Village in Southcenter or Sammamish. I just find that the Tacoma-area Value Villages are all overpriced and no matter how much hunting I've done, I have yet to find any treasures there.

My Favorite Resale and Consignment Stores in Tacoma

Megs & Mo 2602 N Proctor St, Tacoma, WA 98407

This shop is on the higher-end of resale for me, so sometimes I get priced out of what I want to pay. They also have more "mature" clothing, but on occasion I will find some gems and it's in a really fun area of Tacoma so you can hit up some more local shops while you are out. That way, if you don't find anything in the shop, you might just enjoy being inspired by the other local shops in the area.

Keep Counter 2005 Mildred St W, Tacoma, WA 98466

This is a new shop in the Tacoma area, but the owner isn't new to the second-hand market. There are several vendor spaces inside the shop, so you're sure to find something from plants, vintage, kids clothing and high-end current fashion all at Value Village-like prices. It's also got a HUGE changing room, and at a time when most thrift shops have gotten rid of them, so it's a real perk!

Ashley's Room 206 S Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371

Hear me out, I know this isn't in Tacoma, but it's not that far away, and it's worth the trip! I consign a lot of my clothes here and what money I make, I generally buy new-to-me clothing from the shop. They have a lot of current trends and name brands and the staff is super friendly. If you want to resell, you do need to make an appointment and they book out weeks in advance! 

Black Sheep Resale 4020 S Steele St #106, Tacoma, WA 98409

This used to be called Runway Fashion Exchange. I used to sell a lot of my clothes here before they started looking at them and saying they looked too "mature". But I still shop here on occasion. It's a great shop for teens and there is a very small guys section. 

Plato's Closet 2602 S 38th St Suite B, Tacoma, WA 98409

This shop is close to Black Sheep Resale, so you might as well go to both when you are out. That's what I do! This shop often has a Lululemon section and a Patagonia section, and other higher-end desirable clothing. It's another good thrift shop for teens, with a small guy's section, but it's always worth checking to see what they have. There is a 3-year limit on the items that will take, so know that most of the items in the shop will be on trend.

What about vintage?

Tacoma has a very BIG vintage resale market that is very saturated over on Antique Row in downtown Tacoma along Broadway. I haven't had a chance to really shop all of them yet, so I don't want to go spouting off my expertise if I just don't know what I'm talking about. I'll be hitting some up and I'll update this when I do!

My Favorite Used Shops in Tacoma

I like used items of all kind! Tacoma has several shops that carry used items I often shop first if I'm starting to look for something for my home. Here are my favorites.

Tacoma Consignment 1120 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402

This is a great furniture shop in downtown Tacoma. Parking is street parking only, so it can be difficult to access, but there is so much furniture inside. You'll pay Marketplace or Craigslist prices, but you get to see the items when they aren't awkwardly in someone's home. 

Hope Furnishing 117 Puyallup Ave, Tacoma, WA 98421

This is another favorite of mine for furniture. The proceeds from the sale help support the NW Furniture Bank that provides furniture to those who are trying to rebuild their lives after domestic violence, drug addiction or homelessness. There are often new furniture donations from large furniture retailers as well as used and vintage furniture. 

Earthwise Architectural Salvage 628 E 60th St., Tacoma, WA 98404

This store is just cool to walk around. You'll find lots of architectural elements from stained glass windows to old doors. You can also find lighting and plumbing fixtures. It's just got cool old junk!

Second Use Building Materials 2328 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402

This store is another cool one to walk around in. There are a lot of old building elements like vintage wood from a bowling alley or old lockers from a historic school. They also have other home and building materials. Again, it's fun to look, but if you are building or restoring, this is a good one to check out first. In the winter, bring a coat, there is no heating!

Luluz & Co 755 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402

This is probably more antique shop than anything, but there is a HUGE back corner with vintage clothing that is super fun to look through. They also have all kinds of antique and vintage housewares to look through and it's on a street that has just tons of other shops to peruse. This one is probably my favorite though!
I know this isn't a complete list of thrift shops in Tacoma, but it's my complete round up of my favorites! I've found treasures at every single one of these shops and know that you will too! So get out there and enjoy the hunt!
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