Best of Orange County 2017: Best thrift store
Written by Marla Jo Fisher – The Orange County Register, September 20, 2017
1. Goodwill of Orange County
Multiple locations
714-547-6308, ext. 650
No one who likes thrift shopping needs to be told about Goodwill of Orange County, which operates 24 thrift stores, along with an online store at shopgoodwill.com. In addition to the traditional thrift shops, the organization operates OC Goodwill Boutiques at 502 E. First St. in Tustin and 23740 El Toro Road in Lake Forest.The OC Marketplace is the place to look for large discounted lots of clothing sold by the pound as well as wholesale auctions of other items in its location at 2722 Fifth St. in Santa Ana, which also has a computer sales site.BEST OF ORANGE COUNTY: See the full list of winnersThe newest community concept store is called Rare, which focuses on unique and vintage items, at 411 W. Broadway in downtown Anaheim. Incidentally, the nonprofit will open its 25th store in San Juan Capistrano this fall, according to Frank Talarico Jr., Goodwill of Orange County’s president and CEO, so stay tuned for that. The county’s Goodwill empire is large. Last year, the stores did 2.5 million retail transactions and had more than a million donors. Funding from the thrift stores supports jobs for people with disabilities and veterans. Talarico said that last year 25,000 people were served. The group also offers electronics recycling.
2. Orange Lutheran Thrift Shop
676 N. Tustin St., Orange
714-289-1182
It has been more than 20 years since Orange Lutheran Thrift Shop opened its doors, and it has many loyal fans. The money raised goes to support scholarships for students to attend Orange Lutheran High School. The store puts new items out on its floor daily, selling furniture, clothing, housewares, electronics, appliances, fabric, craft supplies, bedding, linens, DVDs and CDs. It also carries an excellent selection of books.
Check out the store’s great deals, such as 50 percent off specific items on Saturdays and $1 daily specials during the week. There are two buildings – one houses the furniture, appliances and other large items. Orange Lutheran Thrift Shop is always looking for donations and needs volunteers. They’ll even pick up large items.
3. Assistance League of Newport-Mesa Thrift Shop
2220 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa
949-645-5536
As you might expect for a thrift shop in the Newport Beach and Costa Mesa area, this one has the usual stuff, but also nice designer duds and items from some of the more upscale homes in the area. The first thrift shop run by this branch opened in 1950 but has since moved and grown in size.
Be sure to visit on the first Thursday of each month, which is Customer Appreciation Day, when everything in the store is half-price.
This shop is run by dedicated volunteers who staff it 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. Donations are accepted until 30 minutes before closing. The money raised by purchases helps support the Cheri Harris Dental Center, Operation School Bell – which provides school clothing to children of low-income families – and other nonprofit activities of the Assistance League.