[shop] Wichita’s Best Thrift Stores
As the New York Times’ Styles section is wont to remind us, shopping at thrift stores has become quite popular In These Economic Times™ (ITET™). I don’t know how true that is, though it does explain the high volume of cars parked in the 37th and Oliver Goodwill parking lot every day. All I know is I was way hip to thrifting before you were. I was cruising the aisles of the Salvation Army before the dot-com bubble even popped, let alone the housing bubble. So now that we’ve established my ultimate authority on the topic, let’s discuss the best thrift stores in Wichita and how to score a good deal.
The two “thrift chains” in town are Goodwill, which has locations at the aforementioned 37th and Oliver, Central and I-235, 37th and Maize, Kellogg and Andover, and 47th South and Broadway; and the DAV (Disabled American Veterans), located at Central and Edgemoor, Central and West, Douglas and Seneca, 47th South and Seneca, and on George Washington just south of I-35. I like the DAV’s selection and overall cleanliness; I do not like the random pricing structure and the fact that the Delano shop had to close off its dressing rooms because of shoplifters. (Seriously, who steals from a thrift store?!) Goodwill has uniform, cheap pricing and an OK, if often picked-over, selection; it also has a discount card program. Both accept credit cards.
I claim to like the Value Center downtown, but the truth is I’ve never found anything worth buying there, plus once my boyfriend saw a cockroach in the electronics section and now I always get the creepy-crawlies whenever I stop in. The Treasure Chest, across the street from the Delano DAV, is small but well organized and not picked over. Trendy ladies should check out The Second Story at Douglas and Grove; it’s a consignment store, but not full of overpriced, trendy crap that you could buy new for the same price at Forever 21 (cough cough, Plato’s Closet).
This article is far from exhaustive; there are a bunch of other random thrift stores, not to mention some excellent antique shops (check out A Legacy downtown and Paramount on 119th West and Kellogg), in town.
Did I miss a hidden gem? Sound off in the comments.
Image courtesy of the author
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There is a new consignment shop at 13th and Rock kinda between the S-bucks and the Shadow. Remarkable Consignment maybe? Not really thrift, but had some upscale things that you may want to splurge on. Ciao!
Heading out to do a little D.A.V.ing tomorrow, as a matter of fact. The D.A.V. at Central and Edgmoor is a great source for sweaters, and you never know what treasures you’ll find in the homewares dept. I enjoy shopping at the Treasure Chest as their proceeds go to supporting battered women.
Agreed! The housewares section is ENORMOUS. They also have lots of great books.
I like the tiny little “New Beginnings” shop at Douglas and West.
Have found many a Christmas or Halloween decoration there, (very good selection) prices are a little steep for a thrift store, but 50% off sales happen there quite often.
There’s a tiny little unknown thrift store on Central, about a block east of Main street. I can’t remember the name or the street, but it’s hard to miss if you’re taking a straight shot down Central towards the courthouse. I finally stopped in there and will definitely be back, if only to explore some more so I can form a real opinion on it. It’s church-operated, though. Take that how you wish.
There’s also a fairly decent thrift store in Derby, on K-15 that it run by a few old ladies who are always willing to give you something for free or for a quarter. It’s not much good for clothing (certainly not mens clothing), but I’ve found a handful of treasures there in the past.
You would swear The Second Story is a consignment store because it is a consignment store.
Thrifting in Wichita is amazing (often at the Value Center, which is one of my favs not least because they regularly mark down their merch). Many of my thrift-obsessed friends who’ve moved away (like the inimitable Brian W.) miss the ta town thrift scene.
I should add that:
*The thrift across the street from the Lord’s Diner is one of the only ones in Wichita to sort their clothing by size.
*The Value Center is the only local thrift I know of to have a decent vintage clothing section
*The Delano DAV has 50% off specials every day of the week except Saturdays (and othe DAVs have regular half-off days, too)
*The Salvation Army regularly has $11 bag sales on Saturdays, at which you can fill a paper grocery sack with all the clothes you can cram into it (hint: roll ‘em up tightly first).
*Goodwill’s clothes tend to be the most expensive, especially for brand names.
*Some of my most manic thrifting friends say the Goodwill on South Broadway is their favorite. You also shouldn’t miss the Salvation Army and DAV on South Seneca.
*If you’re looking for new stuff, hit the thrifts in Andover, Maize, and west Wichita. If you like older junk, focus on the center of the city (this is a generalization, of course, but I find it holds mostly true).
*Betty at the Salvation Army at 21st and Amidon is my favorite thrift-store employee in town. She has fabulous glasses.
*The DAV at Central and Edgemoor–AKA the chichi DAV among certain friends of mine–is generally the priciest thrift store in town, but also tends to have some of the best goods. Unfortunately, they never mark stuff down, and nifty-but-not-thrifty merch will often sit for months and months. The up side: The manager is a gentleman with a gray beard in his 40’s, and if you corner him he might give you a deal on that lamp you’ve been eying for ages.
*The Treasure Chest on West Douglas in the Delano District is run by the YWCA and its profits go to the organization’s crisis line, safe house, and other programs. Ergo, it’s awesome. Also the only thrift I know of to sell baby formula, toiletries, and over-the-counter medicine at cut-rate prices.
Whoa! This is awesome information! Thanks, Emily!
My favorite antique mall is Hewitt’s Antiques and Shopkeeper’s Mall on Market, between 1st and 2nd streets, I think. At the moment, they have a giant shark in the northernmost window. It’s staring down on Nemo. Amazing antiques. Pricey, but if you go all the way to the back of the store to a room/booth on the left, then go through to another room, you’ll find the 50% off deals. They’ve had three Fiestaware plates in there for months. Occasionally different booths have 10% (or more) off sales.
For really nice, name brand clothing try Christiane’s Closet at Central and Hillside. It’s a consignment shop that sells nice stuff, usually around half of retail price. Great place for work/dressy clothes.
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