As the cost of living continues to rise, more people are turning to secondhand shopping — not just to save money, but to find quality pieces with a little more character than what’s on big-box store shelves. Every thrift shopper has a different strategy. Some people want the absolute cheapest prices possible. Others love the thrill of digging through mountains of donations. Some are after vintage fashion, while others are trying to furnish an apartment without draining their bank account. The best thrift store ultimately depends on what you are searching for — and how much time, patience and trunk space you bring with you.
The good news? The Springs has a little bit of everything.
I’ve been thrifting since I was a kid, and after years of hunting for everything from prom dresses to apartment furniture, these are the Colorado Springs thrift stores I keep coming back to.
Crafted & Thrifted
Best for: Affordable vintage clothing and small house decor.
Walking into Crafted & Thrifted, I was greeted by Shania Twain playing over the speakers and racks filled with leather jackets, quirky porcelain knick-knacks and carefully selected vintage clothing.
Instead of facing endless rows of donated clothing, shoppers can take their time looking through a manageable collection of quality, curated pieces. From M&M-themed cookie jars to a large children’s clothing selection, there is definitely character oozing out of every thrift find here. The store also fits an impressive amount of solid-wood furniture near the front, making it worth visiting for shoppers who are more interested in furnishing a home than rebuilding a wardrobe.
My best find was a pair of genuine leather purple cowboy boots for $20 — a purchase I didn’t need, but one I have yet to regret. Most of the clothing and smaller home decor I saw was priced around $10 or less, which makes Crafted & Thrifted a particularly good value compared with many curated vintage stores.
Because of its size, you can easily browse the full store in about 30 minutes. The strong prices and distinctive inventory, however, make those 30 minutes count.
3037 N. Hancock Ave.
The Rustic Roost
Best for: Antique decor, records, collectibles and a long afternoon of browsing.
The Rustic Roost offers a different kind of secondhand experience. The antique mall is divided among dozens of individual vendors, each with a distinct collection and style. Within a few aisles, shoppers can move from vintage records and antique kitchenware to furniture, old signs and enough Broncos memorabilia to outfit committed football fans.
The store is considerably larger than Crafted & Thrifted, and browsing it requires more time and patience. I was asked to leave my bag at the front desk before entering, so shoppers may want to arrive without carrying much.
Rustic Roost is especially strong in home decor and conversation pieces. Records, CDs, DVDs, housewares, vintage signs and furniture appear throughout the booths, and the vendor-based format means no two sections look exactly alike.
The tradeoff is price. Because sellers select, organize and display their own merchandise, many pieces are priced more like antiques than traditional thrift-store donations. I have found a number of standout items between $20 and $40, while larger furniture pieces climb considerably higher.
The size of the store can also be either its greatest strength or its biggest drawback. Shoppers who enjoy examining every booth can easily spend an afternoon here. Those who prefer a quick, focused trip may find the selection overwhelming.
2727 Palmer Park Blvd.
Arc Thrift Store
Best for: Furniture, formal clothing, costumes and an affordable all-around thrift trip.
The Arc on West Uintah Street remains one of Colorado Springs’ most dependable all-purpose thrift stores. Operated by Arc Thrift Stores, the charity assists and advocates for developmentally delayed adults.
I have visited Arc locations for everything from last-minute Halloween costumes to bathroom decor. Years ago, I even found my prom dress at one.
The Westside Uintah store is generally clean, organized and easy to navigate. Its clothing selection regularly includes pajamas, professional clothing and formal dresses, while its furniture department offers an ever-changing assortment of couches, chairs and other large household pieces.
One of the store’s biggest advantages is that it still has fitting rooms. Many thrift stores removed theirs during the COVID-19 pandemic and never reopened them, but Arc shoppers can try on clothing before committing to a purchase.
It also pays to check the store’s current sales calendar before visiting. Arc regularly discounts merchandise according to tag colors and designated sale days with Saturdays half-off and Mondays for military discounts.
That said, Arc shopping has one unavoidable rule: luck.
As with any large donation-based store, the inventory depends on timing. Some visits produce an armful of unexpected finds. On others, it can seem as though Colorado Springs donated nothing but sweatpants with holes in the crotch. And despite a common misconception, donated clothing is not washed before hitting the racks — so whatever you find, give it a wash before wearing.
That unpredictability is not a flaw so much as a basic rule of thrifting: You have to be willing to leave empty-handed occasionally to appreciate the days when everything works out.
Multiple Locations
Our Favorite: 1830 W. Uintah St.
Eclectic CO.
Best for: Statement vintage pieces, locally made gifts and downtown browsing.
Located downtown and in Old Colorado City, Eclectic CO. carries vintage and consignment clothing alongside accessories, artwork, candles, jewelry, plants, home decor and products from local makers. Most of the vendor collections are women- and LGBTQIA-owned. The displays are polished but still approachable, with enough variety to make the store interesting even for shoppers who are not primarily looking for clothing. It’s a little like Etsy in real life and all local.
Both locations are unique, and I usually go downtown. The apparel there is more selective than what you would find at Arc or Goodwill, though that curation comes with higher prices compared to Crafted and Thrifted. Many pieces lean toward vintage, boutique or designer labels, and the prices reflect that curation. I have found much of the clothing priced roughly between $40 and $80.
That makes Eclectic less practical for anyone trying to furnish an apartment or rebuild a wardrobe on a very limited budget. It is better suited to shoppers searching for one distinctive piece, a locally made gift or a pleasant stop while walking around downtown. Even without buying anything, it is an enjoyable store to explore.
Downtown: 214 1/2 N. Tejon St.
Old Colorado City: 2518 W. Colorado Ave.
Goodwill
Best for: First-time thrifters, affordable apartment essentials, and shoes.
Goodwill is my personal favorite when I want a traditional thrift-store trip with a little bit of everything. At this location, I spend most of my time in the knickknack and housewares section. On a recent visit, I found a vintage silver-plated candlestick holder for $6. It was well-made enough to look as though it could have cost significantly more elsewhere.
Secondhand shoes are often treated as a thrifting faux pas, but I have had particularly good luck with them at this South Circle Goodwill. I have found several inexpensive pairs that still had their original retail tags attached, making the shoe racks worth checking even for skeptical shoppers.
The store is large, clean and organized by both color and size, which makes sorting through the clothing much easier. It is an approachable choice for first-time thrift shoppers who might be intimidated by less organized stores, and the selection is broad enough to serve people on a limited budget.
As with Arc, success depends on the day. The store does not have fitting rooms, so come prepared to try clothing on over what you are already wearing. Shoppers should also pay attention to labels, materials and original tags. A low price does not always mean an item is valuable, but careful searching can uncover a $3 piece that originally sold for hundreds.
Multiple Locations
Our Favorite: 2007 S. Circle Dr.
B-COS We Care Bargain Box
Best for: Supporting local programs, affordable knickknacks and a quick downtown stop.
Open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, the B-COS We Care Bargain Box on Nevada Avenue is a small downtown thrift store with a much larger community purpose.
The shop is the primary source of funding for B-COS We Care’s philanthropic programs, which support children, adults and families with a variety of needs throughout Colorado Springs and El Paso County. The organization is entirely volunteer run, and proceeds remain in the county to support local programs.
The store itself has the warmth of a well-kept home. With a smaller store size, shoppers will find clothing, shoes, books, toys, jewelry, linens, seasonal items and small housewares, all packed into a relatively compact space. Clothing styles sometimes skew older, but patient shoppers can still come across a surprisingly good piece among the classic blouses, jackets and dresses.
Because the selection is limited, Bargain Box is best treated as a relaxed addition to a downtown afternoon rather than the destination for an extensive shopping list. Stop in after coffee, look through the racks and talk with the volunteers, who are quick to offer a warm greeting or compliment.
The shop accepts cash and credit or debit cards, but all purchases are final. Donations of gently used items are accepted during business hours at the receiving entrance behind the store.
405 S. Nevada Ave.
Looking for more upcycled, budget-friendly clothes and goods as an alternative to fast fashion? Check out our guide to local consignment shops.
