Seven San Francisco Secondhand Spots Recommended by Professional Thrifters
From a bright pink Valencia Street charity store to a craft-supply warehouse in Bayview, local resale experts name their favorite places to shop and the best finds they have made.
By Mei Ling · · Originally reported by The San Francisco Standard
San Francisco's secondhand scene has grown well beyond the Haight Street thrift corridor as more shoppers buy used clothing for environmental reasons, to save money, or simply because it is fashionable. With thrift stores, vintage boutiques, consignment shops, clothing swaps and recurring flea markets all competing for attention, it can be hard to know where to spend time. The San Francisco Standard asked professional thrifters to name their favorite shops and most memorable purchases.
Porter chose Community Thrift Store at 623 Valencia St., known as CTS, which is painted bright pink and whose proceeds benefit local charities. She praised its fast turnover, saying everything feels freshly put out, and its jewelry section, which suits anyone willing to dig through a bucket. Her most treasured find there is a limited-edition batik art print in a gold frame, bought for about $15 on a half-off art day. The cashier told her the frame alone was worth around $500.
Kai, who documents her finds on TikTok, favors Out of the Closet at 1498 Polk St. She said its central location produces strong inventory, a blend of longtime residents' vintage pieces and new-with-tags items from tech workers. Her best buys were two vintage Coach bags at about $30 each; she said a similar one is listed for close to $900 on eBay. She advises joining the rewards program, noting that 96 cents of every dollar the store makes goes to HIV prevention and treatment services.
Chen picked Moody Goose at 2036 Polk St., a sky-blue storefront run as a mother-daughter collective. She described a thoughtful mix of tops, jackets, dresses, shoes and accessories, including many Y2K-era items. She also likes the old Muni seat on the second floor and a thermal photo booth that prints on receipt paper. Her favorite chocolate-brown suede jacket from the outerwear section was later taken from her closet by her mother.
Hansen, who opened her Haight Street shop in 1968 and holds a large vintage collection of her own, heads to Love Street Vintage at 1801 Balboa St. in the Richmond when she shops elsewhere. She admires the owner's presentation and the range of Navajo, Zuni and Mexican jewelry. In her view, vintage offers quality, uniqueness, an environmental benefit and a bargain. Baldwin, meanwhile, recommends The Golden Hour at 147 Clement St., largely for owner Morgan Mapes, whom she called the "nicest, funniest person." Her top purchase there was a bright-purple Victor Costa blazer, which she wore the day she met Tommy Hilfiger.
Okagaki's choice is SCRAP at 2150 Newcomb Ave. in Bayview, a secondhand craft-supply warehouse cofounded by artist Ruth Asawa. It is not a clothing store and is currently looking for a new home. Okagaki, a regular since his high school days, called it "scrappy, beautifully chaotic, and full of surprises." He relied on it while building his vintage shops in Japantown and on Haight Street, and he bought a large bag of vintage dead-stock 1970s Talon zippers there to repair clothes.
Paulino's pick is the Goodwill at 4631 Mission St. in the Excelsior, which she considers the best of the city's five locations because new items are put out from mid-morning until closing. An employee once sold her a Breville espresso machine at a steep discount on his last day of work. She also recalled her cousin finding an oatmeal-colored cashmere crew-neck sweater, worth about $600, for $8.99. Paulino advises new thrifters to learn how different fabrics feel so they can spot quality by touch while going through the racks.
