Exploring the Top 5 Thrift Stores in Toronto

Buying used goods can be an excellent way to save money on things you require or desire.

There are lots of locations to locate used goods, and we’ll give you the lowdown on some of Toronto’s greatest thrift stores in this guide!

Some of the best thrift stores in the nation can be found in Toronto. There is a thrift store out there for you whether you’re searching for general knickknacks, antique furniture, or vintage clothing!

Top Thrift Stores in Toronto

The following inquiries served as our evaluation standards for Toronto’s top thrift stores.

How much do products at thrift stores in Toronto cost?

In the following table, we listed the common types of products found at thrift stores in Toronto, along with their price ranges.

The cost of products at thrift stores can vary greatly depending on a number of factors.

In Toronto, some of the main factors that can affect the cost of products at thrift stores include the condition of the item, the demand for the item, the rarity of the item, and the store’s location.

Value: Does the thrift store offer their products at fair prices? No one likes paying too much for used items, but a good thrift shop will find a balance between being affordable and profitable.

Products: Is there a wide selection of quality items to choose from? Clothing, footwear, accessories, and bags, both new and gently used, would make for a well-stocked thrift shop.

Atmosphere: Does the thrift store have a well-organized and friendly space? Cleanliness and good customer service make the shopping experience more enjoyable.

Location: Is the location convenient and accessible? A thrift store that is near other shopping stores and public transit is a plus.

1. Black Market Vintage Clothing

Initially, Black Market Vintage Clothing served musicians, artists, punk rockers, and OCAD students. Compared to before, it is now more focused on serving a wider demographic.

Black Market Vintage Clothing is renowned for having a large assortment of vintage goods, many of which are reasonably priced.

We discovered that the shop possesses one of the best vintage assortments we’ve ever seen. They sell everything from apparel and accessories to shoes and even intimates! Check out their racks!

If you browse their website, you’ll notice that they offer a “Vintage Condition Guide” that customers can use to determine the state of the products they’re interested in.

We are grateful that this guide aids customers in determining which products are more recent or in-demand.

The physical store of Black Market Vintage Clothing has always taken pride in creating a rusty and vintage atmosphere. However, because of its large size and layout, there have been complaints about the place being hot and dusty.

The unfriendliness of the staff is yet another drawback. Some of the customers we spoke with reported receiving subpar service and said that certain employees were careless because they were very talkative and distracted.

Additionally, they could organize their clothes better by grouping them into categories like tops and bottoms and further classifying them according to factors like style and size.

Black Market Vintage Clothing is easily accessible for all, as it is situated on Queen Street, close to a bus stop.

All in all, you might be persuaded to visit their boutique by the rare collectibles. If you’re thrifting, you should definitely stop by because the majority of their customers say they had a positive experience and great products.

Pros

• Known for their unique vintage pieces
• Reasonable price range
• Wide selection
• Has a helpful “Vintage Condition Guide.”
• Convenient location

Cons

• The place can be dusty and hot.
• Staff lack friendliness.
• The organization could be improved.

Customer Reviews

Happy to leave with several dresses

“Super rad spot with great prices! Everything I purchased was 10 dollars apiece, including a cute dress that I found from the Hawaiian brand Hilo Hattie’s as well as a brand-new hiking tank top. This location has a variety of other shops also located inside, which were closed the day I visited. I originally stopped in just because of the entrancing spirals leading inside, but I was happy to leave with several dresses and my tank top.” —Healani Norman, Google Reviews

Amazing store, and I would definitely come back again.

“Probably the only vintage store in Toronto with reasonable prices. I bought a leather wallet for 10 bucks here. Amazing store, and I would definitely come back again. Thank you for the amazing experience.” —Rens, Google Reviews

2. Courage, My Love

The fact that some of the products at CourageMyLove are upcycled before being sold makes them proud.

We think it’s great that they use old fabric to make new pieces and create newly designed clothing because it gives their products a personalized touch!

Additionally, CourageMyLove offers their customers pieces at a very reasonable price point with their $5.00 rack. This is, in our opinion, among the least expensive things you can get from a thrift store.

Nearly everything is discounted at this thrift shop, including clothing, accessories, jewelry, shoes, artwork, and much more. Furthermore, clients frequently referred to their products as “very cool” and “unique.”

However, depending on their quality and condition, these exceptional and distinctive items can be expensive. Because you can buy items for $5 at a thrift store or pieces worth $100, their price range is broad and varied.

Although they take great pride in offering a wide range of options for women, we found that men’s options are somewhat limited.

Furthermore, we suggest that CourageMyLove improve the way its employees are trained to be accommodating and prepared to assist clients.

This is due to a customer’s complaint that the staff member in charge was preoccupied with using their phone and neglected to assist them in making the purchase while they were enjoying their time perusing the merchandise and enquiring about specific pieces.

It is more convenient for you to visit their store on Kensington Avenue, which is close to Kensington Market.      

Pros

• Upcycles some of their pieces
• Has a $5.00 rack
• Wide selection for women
• Has unique pieces
• Wide price range
• Accessible location

Cons

• Limited selection for men
• Staff could be more helpful.

Customer Reviews

Apart from vintage clothing, there is a huge collection of jewelry and more.

“I loved this store in Kensington Market!! Apart from the vintage collection of cashmere sweaters and so much more clothing and shoes, there is a huge collection of beads, crystals, jewelry, cutlery, and whatnot. Prices start at $1.50—yes, that is true!! It is like a market inside that space with so much to shop for!!!” —Kamal Dhillon, Google Reviews 

The people working there are really nice.

“Really awesome place to get some cute, good quality vintage stuff that isn’t too expensive. And the people working there are really nice too. You don’t want to miss this place when you’re exploring Kensington.” Mariel, Google Reviews

3. Siberia Vintage

Among other thrift stores, Siberia Village is renowned for having one of the best curated collections. This boutique offers an excellent product selection in addition to inclusive sizing.

Regular thrift store patrons comment that because the merchandise is of such high caliber, the prices are a little higher.

We found that the owner arranges their racks according to the season, making it easier for customers to peruse the clothing.

We have also spoken with regulars who express satisfaction with the cleanliness of their clothing upon post-purchase inspection.

Regarding customer service, the employees maintain their standing as some of the most thoughtful and considerate. A client who described how the staff promptly responded to their online question served as evidence of this.

Because they offered suggestions for pieces when we asked about which ones would best suit our needs or tastes, we also thought that the staff at The Siberia Village was friendly and knowledgeable.

In terms of their actual store, it has a wonderful scent. The area’s impeccable condition immediately caught our attention, and to top it all off, they play fantastic music that only served to enhance the welcoming atmosphere!

Nevertheless, you are unable to browse their products on their website. They do announce sales on their Instagram account, which is open for you to view.

On Bloor Street, there are galleries, restaurants, hotels, and designer shops all around the location.

Siberia Village is an excellent place to visit if you’re looking for high-quality secondhand clothing. Try visiting their shop if you don’t mind shelling out a little more for vintage goods.

Pros

• Inclusive sizing and good quality selection
• Displays items depending on the season.
• Clothing feels clean.
• Knowledgeable, thoughtful, and accommodating staff
• The place smells amazing.
• Accessible location

Cons

• Items are more on the expensive side.
• No website, only an Instagram account

Customer Reviews

I walked out with more stuff than intended, but I don’t regret it!

“What a great store this is… Excellent customer service, great selection, and well-priced. I walked out with more stuff than intended, but I don’t regret it! Definitely going back.” —Mahira Karim

Very organized and lovely staff

“Cute vintage shop with decent prices for curated pieces. Very organized and lovely staff. Everyone I dealt with was so pleasant and kind. I also purchased items through their Instagram—very simple and straightforward. I wish I lived in the neighborhood so I could go more often, but maybe it’s a blessing in disguise that I don’t… 💸” —Lisa Gelineau

4. The Salvation Army Thrift Store

Recycling is the Salvation Army Thrift Store’s primary area of advocacy. They gather unwanted household goods and resell them for less money.

Discount coupons are given to those who donate their goods, which they can use to buy merchandise from their store. In our view, this is a great deal!

While they promote themselves as being for those who struggle to obtain affordable yet high-quality household products, some have noted that their prices are rather high.

We think The Salvation Army has provided justification for this because a large portion of their sales proceeds support their social programs, in addition to their frequent sale days!

They sell a large variety of household goods, including apparel, books, board games, and used comics. They also have a fantastic assortment of both new and used goods.

Customers commend the store for maintaining beautiful fabrics and designer clothing in their collection despite their donation-based business model.

But a good portion of the feedback indicates that they frequently attach incorrect price tags to various items, which ends up costing the customer more and creating long-term inconvenience.

We noticed that the store arranges its merchandise according to color when we visited, which we believe is not the best method.

We recommend grouping related products together, such as mugs and utensils, as this may make it easier for many customers.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store does not have dressing rooms because of COVID regulations, but they do have an excellent 15-day exchange policy.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store has over ten locations throughout the city and Greater Toronto Area, making it simple for customers to find and visit.

Pros

• Advocates for recycling and reselling items
• Donators receive coupons.
• Have sale days regularly.
• Wire array of household items
• Great selection for used and brand-new household items
• Convenient location
• All stores have restrooms for guests.

Cons

• Items can be quite expensive.
• No changing rooms
• Price tag mistakes

Customer Reviews

They are always out in the community, providing services to people.

“I frequently give to this charity because they put their money where their mouth is. They are ALWAYS out in the community, providing services to people that need them most.” —Paul Kenyon (Pepkeny), Google Reviews

My go-to thrift store

“Very friendly staff, and you can find there’s huge variety. My go-to thrift store. Recommended 100%.” Rome Chy, Google Reviews

5. Value Village

Value Village advertises its “Value Village Cycle,” which entails receiving donations from people, reselling them, and paying their nonprofit partners in order to fund community programs.

They are, however, a “for-profit” business. We did notice that, in comparison to earlier, the store’s prices have continued to rise.

Despite this, we discover that their products are reasonably priced given their quality, as do our regular customers.

It impressed us that they had a large selection of products for kids in addition to those for adults as we browsed their racks, since it’s not always simple to find thrift store finds for kids.

Toys, books, clothing, accessories, housewares, vinyl goods, and more are all sold at Value Village.

In addition to having a large inventory, their racks and storage areas are tidy and orderly. The majority of their customers attest to the well-maintained and handled clothing.

They do, however, have a return/exchange policy in place despite not having a fitting area.

We discovered that their customer service has been plagued by a number of problems. One customer complained that even though they asked for assistance, the staff was unable to help carry the donated items.

Concerns concerning incorrectly priced goods were also brought up. One customer was irate that they had to return the following day since the employees had to change the tag.

Positively, thrift shoppers will find it easier to visit their store because it is easily accessible by public transportation.

Pros

• Value Village Cycle
• Wide collection for men, women, and kids
• Organised racks 
• Clothes are well managed and maintained.
• Has restrooms
• Accessible by transit

Cons

• They increased their price range recently.
• No fitting rooms
• Negative remarks on customer service and mispriced items

Customer Reviews

The staff was friendly.

“I was in the area and decided to pop in; the location is quite big and has a lot of variety in books, clothes, shoes, homewares, etc. The staff was friendly 🙂 And the cashier is mostly self-check-out. —Betty, Google Reviews

There’s lots of stock, and most things are reasonably priced.

“This thrift store is massive; there’s lots of stock, and most things are reasonably priced. You need time to shop, as there’s so much to look at. The check-out can take a little bit of time as there are so many shoppers. I’ve found some great decor pieces for my home here.” Alexis, Google Reviews