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I love thrift shopping!\u00a0 It’s cheap, green, and far more interesting than shopping in regular stores.\u00a0 The phrase “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” is magnified when thrift shopping in a foreign country.\u00a0 Indeed, I still acutely recall the amazing feeling of shopping at London’s open air Camden Market on a free afternoon alone at the age of 18.\u00a0 What interesting things I found and what I wished I had the space to bring home!<\/p>\n
Not long ago I complimented a friend on her thick wool sweater; it contained a pattern Ive never seen before in a combination of colors I never would have thought of.\u00a0 I assumed it was a vintage designer find and that she’d paid hundreds for it.\u00a0 She told me that she had gotten it years ago in Iceland for less than $5.\u00a0 Apparently, in Iceland these sweaters are so ubiquitus that their value is minimal.\u00a0 But here in California, it’s a unique and special gem.<\/p>\n
Below are some thrift shops in the Pasadena area.\u00a0 I hope that you are able to find some interesting and special items with a history of great karma!<\/p>\n
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Online Thrift Shops:<\/strong><\/p>\n Thred Up:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.thredup.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n GoodWill:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.shopgoodwill.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n ReStitch (a GoodWill Company):\u00a0 https:\/\/www.restitch.com<\/a><\/p>\n Posh Mark: https:\/\/poshmark.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Local Thrift Shops<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Crossroads Trading Company <\/u>(a favorite)<\/em><\/p>\n 104 E Colorado Blvd,\u00a0Pasadena<\/p>\n Store Size: large (privately owned for-profit), \u201caward winning\u201d small chain<\/p>\n Kate says: The place to go if you are young and want designer selections!\u00a0 There is a ton to dig through, but it\u2019s super easy to find cool stuff.\u00a0 The more vintage and unique is downstairs, with seasonal on the main floor.\u00a0 If you can only go to one shop, spend the afternoon here!<\/em><\/p>\n Ritz Resale <\/u>(a favorite)<\/em><\/p>\n 900 Valley View, Pasadena (go north on Michellinda, on the corner of a tiny side street)<\/p>\n Store Size: small (privately owned for-profit)<\/p>\n Kate says: A wonderful little shop for vintage clothing finds!\u00a0 Sells only women\u2019s fashion (shoes and accessories).\u00a0 They are heavy on the smaller sizes, but I have found probably half-a-dozen special items that fit.\u00a0 This is more of an up-scale reused fashions or vintage shop \u2013 not like GoodWill.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n Savers<\/u> (a favorite)<\/em><\/p>\n 16 East Live Oak Ave, Arcadia, cross street: Santa Anita<\/p>\n Store Size: very large (privately owned for-profit)<\/p>\n Kate says: Savers is a large generic thrift shop with very large selection of clothes.\u00a0 They also have well sorted bric-a-brac \/ \u201cstuff,\u201d furniture, sporting goods and a small fabric \/ sewing \/craft supplies section.\u00a0 If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.<\/em><\/p>\n Out of the Closet<\/u><\/p>\n 1726 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena (near Pasadena City College)<\/p>\n Store Size: medium (supports free AIDS testing)<\/p>\n Kate says: This used to be the place to find cool, unique items, but selections have gotten more generic now; you can still find good clothes there as well as furniture and bric-a-brac \/ \u201cstuff\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Does not sell kids\u2019 items<\/em><\/p>\n Wistaria Thrift Shop<\/a><\/p>\n 550 W Sierra Madre Blvd,\u00a0Sierra Madre<\/p>\n Store Size: tiny (supports the Women\u2019s Club of Sierra Madre)<\/p>\n Store Size: tiny<\/p>\n Kate esays: \u00a0Though small, has some interesting items, including craft supplies .\u00a0 Not open on Wednesdays.<\/em><\/p>\n Treasure Fair Thrift Shop<\/a><\/p>\n 3239 E Foothill Blvd,\u00a0Pasadena (cross street: Sierra Madre Villa)<\/p>\n Store Size: small (supports Assistance League of Pasadena -programs for the underserved)<\/p>\n Kate says:\u00a0 A great general-purpose thrift shop with a little bit of everything.\u00a0 Sometimes I make wonderfully surprising finds there and sometimes they have nothing for me.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n ACTS Thrift Store<\/a><\/p>\n 1311 N Altadena Dr,\u00a0Pasadena (cross street: Washington)<\/p>\n Store Size: medium (Supports Lake Avenue Community Foundation- programs for the underserved)<\/p>\n Kate says: recently down-sized, they no longer have much in the way of furniture, but bric-a-brac \/ \u201cstuff\u201d and clothes a-plenty.\u00a0 If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.<\/em><\/p>\n Good Will<\/u><\/p>\n 340 S Fair Oaks Ave Pasadena<\/p>\n Store Size: large (supports Alcoholics Recovery Services & the underserved)<\/p>\n Kate says: This is what I think of as a generic thrift shop.\u00a0 You won\u2019t find antiques in here.\u00a0 If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.<\/em><\/p>\n Good Will<\/u><\/p>\n 183 Altadena Dr, Pasadena<\/p>\n Store Size: large (supports Alcoholics Recovery Services & the underserved)<\/p>\n Kate says: This is what I think of as a generic thrift shop.\u00a0 You won\u2019t find antiques in here.\u00a0 If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.<\/em><\/p>\n Bargain Box<\/u><\/p>\n 64 East Live Oak, Arcadia, cross street: Santa Anita<\/p>\n Store Size: medium (supports Assistance League of Pasadena -programs for the underserved)<\/p>\n Kate says: a good place for \u201cstuff,\u201d though the few clothes seem to be conservative and dated.\u00a0 Try this place if you don\u2019t find what you are looking for at Savers (around the corner).<\/em><\/p>\n The Huntington Collection<\/u><\/p>\n 100 W. California Blvd., Pasadena (cross street: Fair Oaks)<\/p>\n Store Size: large (supports Huntington Hospital)<\/p>\n Kate says: The place to go for furniture or a lovely tea set.\u00a0 You might also find dressy shoes, a formal gown or designer coat.\u00a0 This shop is supported by ladies who lunch, and things are not cheap, though you could make a spectacular vintage find.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n Vintage Treasures & Antiques\u00a0<\/u> 340 E Foothill Blvd, Arcadia (between Santa Anita and Fifth)<\/p>\n Store Size: tiny<\/p>\n Kate says: More of an antique shop than thrift store, there isn\u2019t much in the way of clothes, but definitely has many unique accessories. I don\u2019t go here very often, but stop if you are driving by anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n Valley Thrift<\/u><\/p>\n 777 W Foothill Blvd, Azusa (take the 210 freeway east, on Route 66)<\/p>\n Store Size: large (supports Vietnam Veterans of America)<\/p>\n Kate says: a large selection of every-day clothes and shoes, some furniture<\/em><\/p>\n If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Specialty Thrift Shops<\/strong><\/p>\n Remainders <\/u>(for fabric and sewing \/ crafting supplies)<\/p>\n 1713 East Walnut Street, Pasadena<\/p>\n 626.533.5129<\/p>\n Habitat for Humanity RE-Store <\/u>(for home repair or building supplies and furniture)<\/p>\n 410 S. Irwindale Ave, Azusa<\/p>\n 626.387.6900<\/p>\n Pasadena Arcitectural Salvage <\/u>(for vintage home items)<\/p>\n 2600 E. Foothill Blvd, Pasadena<\/p>\n 626.535.9655<\/p>\n I\u2019ve not yet tried, but would like to:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Big Yard Sale Thrift Store<\/u> 2110 N Fairoaks Ave, Altadena<\/p>\n Full Circle Thrift<\/u><\/p>\n 2245 Lake Ave, Altadena<\/p>\n High Low Vintage<\/u><\/p>\n 1031 East Green Street, Pasadena<\/p>\n LA Road<\/u><\/p>\n Eagle Rock<\/p>\n Meowmeowz ?<\/u><\/p>\n 2423 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena<\/p>\n Uncharted Antiques<\/u><\/p>\n 27 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena (cross street: Colorado)<\/p>\n De-Cor Antiques<\/u><\/p>\n 30 So San Gabriel Blvd., Pasadena (cross street: Colorado)<\/p>\n The Bearded Beagle<\/span><\/p>\n 5926 N Figueroa Street, Los Angeles<\/p>\n Hotbox Vintage<\/u><\/p>\n 1127 Mission Street, South Pasadena<\/p>\n Owl Talk<\/u><\/p>\n 5060B Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock<\/p>\n More Thrift Shops to the East (of Pasadena):<\/strong><\/p>\n Vintage Odyssey<\/u><\/p>\n 201 W Bonita Ave., Claremont, CA 91711<\/p>\n A Lot of Good Thrift<\/u><\/p>\n 1980 W Foothill Blvd., Upland, CA 91786<\/p>\n