The Ultimate Guide To The Best Thrifting In Austin, TX
You’ve probably have already heard about Austin Texas - known for amazing food, coffee, and cowboy boots! Well, it’s also got some amazing thrift spots. I wrote a thrifting guide to San Francisco, and I thought it was time to introduce you to another realm of second-hand shopping in Central Texas. I will be handing this guide over to my friend and fellow vintage lover from Texas, Elisabeth Joy!
You might know her from our styling videos together on Instagram. She was my assistant and still helps out around here! Happy Thrifting in Austin, Texas!
Xo, Erica
Let’s Get into it.
Hiyo! Elisabeth here. Whether you are a local to Austin, or taking a trip, this guide will tell you the shops worth visiting for vintage finds, fair pricing, and good vibes. I’ll be using Erica’s rating system to rank each store on a scale of 1 to 5 based on:
Vintage selection (how much there is, the quality of it).
Prices (how good they are, do they make sense for the product).
Ambiance (Is the store clean? How organized is it? What are the dressing rooms like, are the employees nice?).
Let me be the first to say, there are SO many places to thrift in this city. I picked a selection of places that are easily accessible, have a good mix of vintage and modern, and are “go-to’s” when on the hunt for some quality second hand.
Where to Go Thrifting in Austin, TX
Austin Pets Alive
This thrift store not only has a great selection to look through, but it also benefits pet shelter’s! This place is a great first stop on a thrift hopping adventure. The store is the perfect size to have plenty to look through, yet time to look through it all. The majority of what they carry is modern, high quality second hand. BUT, they have an excellent section for Vintage only: and it’s a hit every time. I found so many things I adored here- and can’t wait to see what they’ll have next. It’s the perfect spot for finding unique new favorites for your personal wardrobe!
Store Ratings
Vintage Selection: I give it a 3/5. It mostly has newer items, but the vintage rack is full of goodies, even though it’s a very small portion of the store. I found items from the 30’s to the 80’s on this rack, and they were in great condition. **Want to know how to spot vintage pieces when you’re thrifting? Erica has a blog post all about how to identify vintage clothing!
Pricing: This gets a 4. This store ranges from $3-$20 BUT the items are very fairly priced, most modern pieces even have original tags on them. I went home with Vintage 70’s pants, and a Vintage table cloth for $14. Score! If you are looking for modern pieces, this store is a great way to find affordable items in perfect condition.
Ambiance: I’m giving this place a 4/5. I hesitated to give it a 4 even because IT IS smaller, crowded, and a little dark. But the overall organization, cleanliness, and experience is excellent. It looks semi- styled even in it’s own messy way. The dressing rooms are a tight fit, but they do the job! I want to say this is a perfect “thrifty” experience.
Overall Score - 11
This store is a must see when visiting Austin, TX!
Goodwill on South Congress
If your looking for a place to start…This Goodwill has a great balance of all the things. Home Decor, Textiles, Shoes, Clothes, and even an Outdoor section for things like bikes, toys, and patio accessories. The store is big and decently well kept. It’s going to be a classic Goodwill as far as pricing goes: they have definitely gone up in the recent years, but it is still lower than a vintage shop, and you just might find the same gems here. Parking is easy, and the tourists stay away from this location, so you’ll be shopping with the locals.
I went home with this green dress as a project piece to repair!
Store Ratings
Vintage selection: 3/5. I found a few vintage items amongst the large collection of clothing, but I would say that it isn’t this shops primary item. Of course, there were still amazing pieces hidden amongst the racks. This store is definitely a random assortment and always rotating in new items, so it’s worth checking back often!
I saw so many items with potential here: a lot of items that could be re-worked, which I personally love doing.
Prices: 3. The pricing is a little all over the place. Some items that are fast fashion will be marked up because they are “in,” while you might also come across a high quality item for a standard $4.99. I was able to walk away with 3 items for $24 - not bad! I definitely let a few items go because they were cheap brands marked at prices like $14.99 - not a deal in my opinion.
Ambiance: 4. Nice employees. Clean store. Well lit dressing rooms. Not much to complain about here! It’s a well maintained shop. I didn’t give it a 5 because it just looks like every other Goodwill! But I think it’s well worth stopping into for a stroll through a thrift store with lots to look at.
Overall Score - 10
**Final Thoughts: Go here when you have something you’re on the hunt for, there is a lot to look through and you don’t have to dig! It’s a great place for housewares as well.
Full Circle Vintage
This is my Favorite stop for vintage shopping in Austin. It is absolutely worth going out of your way for! This is the kind of place I dream of having one day: the selection of vintage is unmatched, and though the pricing is higher than a Goodwill or Salvation Army, you are striking gold every time at this shop! Maybe you’re looking for a special vintage piece, or maybe you are just looking to be inspired - this place is perfection for vintage lovers.
You have to see this place for yourself. The selection is *chef’s kiss*
Store Ratings
Vintage: 5. 100% Vintage. 100% Amazing.
Prices: 2. I have to be hard on them for the sake of this rating system. It’s Pricey. Is it worth it? Yes. Is it less than online vintage sellers? YES. You can find good deals here too, some pieces are only $15/$20 while others may be $55. A lot of this store could be sold online for over $100, so I think they are very fair with their pricing.
Ambiance: 6! I’m sorry but I’m breaking the system to give them something they deserve. The atmosphere here is my favorite. It’s beautiful and so very Austin. Natural lighting throughout the store and into the dressing rooms. The staff is so cool. I want everyone to have this experience.
Overall Score - 13
**Final Thoughts: Amazing Vintage for less than Vintage costs online. A local and tourists dream.
This Goodwill has a cool story: it was the original Whole Foods grocery store! Now it houses a “boutique” version of Goodwill, meaning they don’t have any items in the shop that are unusable, and a lot of items are considered quality brands. Because of this the items are over-priced in my opinion. The selection doesn’t seem to be much different than a normal goodwill, while the prices are higher. I do enjoy coming here, and do think it’s worth a stop in, because they just might have what you are looking for.
Store Rating
Vintage: 1/5. I think because they attempt to curate this shop as a boutique, a lot of vintage pieces don’t make the cut - seems like they want modern brands in this store. I dd find a *few vintage items, and they were a low price.
Prices: 2/5. Regular items were marked way too high. They do have brands like Madewell, Free People, Reformation - but they had them marked at $20 and $30. While this might be a good deal in comparison to full price, it’s not a good del for a thrift store. I did find a linen set with no tags discounted for $8 - so that was a great win for me!
Ambiance: 5/5. The store is the prettiest Goodwill I’ve ever seen. Its very clean, very organized, and definitely owns up to the name “boutique.” I love visiting this spot because I know it will be an easy store to look through.
Overall Score - 8
**Final Thoughts: This store is definitely for a quick look, and modern brands. If you have never been, you have to see it at least once!
Monkies Vintage & Thrift
This store is one of the coolest places to find nostalgic vintage items. It’s a small-ish shop, with 100% vintage. It’s kept at a very affordable price point, and in a great location. And let’s be honest, it just looks like a shop I want to go into. Next door you can grab a cup of coffee before you start thrifting!
Store Ratings
Vintage: 5! All Vintage here. Everything from Levi’s denim, letter jackets from the 70’s, Graphic Tee’s from your grandparents summer vacation. They don’t carry a big selection of dresses and blouses, but they have a TON of the classic vintage jeans, jackets, tee’s and pullovers.
Pricing: 3. It’s really decent pricing for the amazing vintage pieces, but it’s in the $20 range rather than $5/$10.
Ambiance: 4. This place is SO COOL. Really great staff, fun decor, and a great shopping experience. The dressing rooms are nice and big, and the shop has a Vintage “theme” to it that makes you feel like coming back.
Overall Score - 10
**Final Thoughts: Perfect place for a Vintage graphic tee or a pair of Vintage denim.
In Conclusion…
Final Scores:
Goodwill Boutique on Far St. : 8
There' isn’t a bad thrift store mentioned here so I hope you get the chance to stop by each of these shops. But there is a winner, and I stand by it: Full Circle Vintage! It’s absolutely a must see when visiting Austin, TX.
I hope you enjoyed looking through this guide and feel ready to take on a thrift adventure the next time you find yourself in Austin! Happy Thrifting!