Best Thrift Stores in Waterloo and Kitchener
Thrifting can be a great way to save money and find great deals. Luckily, the Waterloo region has a good selection of thrift stores to choose from. We’ve compiled a list of the best thrift stores within the Kitchener and Waterloo region. Most of these should be fairly easily accessible for students with a car or bus pass.
Value Village
120 Ottawa St. N Kitchener
This Value Village is one of the more well-known thrift locations in Kitchener/Waterloo. As such, it’s a big hit or miss location. It’s tougher to find high-end pieces at this location, but if you’re looking for vintage pieces then you likely won’t be disappointed. Also, keep in mind that this location is older and more frequented, so don’t expect it to be the cleanliest.
Value Village
50 Gateway Park Dr, Kitchener
This is one of the newer Value Villages in the area. It’s in a more affluent area, so you can be sure to find some higher-end and newer pieces here. The location itself is less frequented because it’s a little bit of a ways out of town, closer to the 401, but the trip is well worth it. If you’re looking for some great finds, this is the place.
Talize
1144 Courtland Ave E, Kitchener
Talize is the best thrift store you’ve never heard of. Located near Fairview Mall, you can be sure to find some great clothes here. The quality of items here is similar to what you’ll find out by the Gateway Park Dr. Value Village. Prices are comparable if not cheaper here as well – and post-secondary students with valid student ID and seniros (55 or better) receive a 10% discount every day. They also offer a $5 off coupon with any clothing or housewares donation. Talize isn’t as well-known as Value Village, so it’s not usually as busy.
Salvation Army Thrift Store
563 Highland Rd W, Kitchener
If you’re looking for a thrift store that’s close to Laurier or University of Waterloo, this one isn’t too far away. You won’t find nearly as good of a selection as Value Village and Talize, but you can still find some unique and older vintage pieces here. They also have a lot of auction pieces here, typically things such as Louis Vuitton, old game consoles and other antiques. It’s not the nicest store, so be prepared.
Luster & Oak | Vintage and Consignment Boutique
2 King St. S, Waterloo
If you’re looking for something more conveniently located near the Uptown area, Luster & Oak is a great alternative. We’re located in the core Uptown Waterloo area, we’re a smaller shop but the quality of selection is much better than any of the thrift stores in the area. Of course, the prices are a bit higher, but generally we try to stay in a range comparable to thrift stores in the area. If you’re looking for vintage or new pieces, we’re the place to go. We get tons of clothes from Aritzia, American Apparel, H&M, Forever 21, Supreme, Stussy, Steve Madden and other similar brands for a fraction of the price.
All of our items are sold on a consignment basis, so you can also resell your items and either get paid out in cash, or use in-store credit and receive a discount on your purchases. Luster & Oak is walking distance from Laurier and University of Waterloo, so you don’t need to travel far to reach us!