Whether you’re searching for hidden treasures or just on the hunt for a great deal, local thrift shops Second Best, Thrift Cottage, and the Christ Church Thrift Shop are the first places in town you should consider. Since the shops rely solely on donations and only need to pay for their operating costs, they are able to keep prices incredibly low, meaning you can get some great stuff without emptying your wallet.
Second Best, the thrift shop adjacent to Sharp Coronado Hospital (at 1513 Third Street), is staffed and operated by volunteers of the hospital’s auxiliary. They carry boutique clothing, books and videos, games, jewelry, and lots of stuff for the home (picture frames, dishes, vases, etc.). Though they do carry many different items, a volunteer of the hospital auxiliary states that she would like to see more kitchenware, pots and pans, and upscale clothing donated. Donations are accepted daily (Monday through Thursday, 10am-4pm) and nothing is turned away; anything deemed “unsellable” or unwanted is given to American Veterans (AMVETS). Despite regularly having unbelievably low prices, Second Best often has sales that change weekly. This past week, they offered a sale on pants and linens (just $1.75 from $3.00) and belts (only fifty cents!). Even if you don’t catch one of the sales (though there has been one every time I’ve stopped in), you won’t spend more than a few dollars on anything. Their boutique clothing section offers designer and more high-end garments that are priced around $4.00-$6.00. Every penny made directly benefits the hospital, and goes toward purchasing things like new medical equipment, furniture, and wheelchairs.
The Christ Church Thrift Shop is always a fun one to visit because the shop itself is set up inside a house, located at 1210 Ninth Street (across the street from the Christ Episcopal Church). They have a great and well-organized section of (new) greeting cards, as well as racks of clothing, linens, and ‘odds and ends’. With prices as low as twenty-five cents, you’re bound to find something in this multi-room shop. They are currently having an “end of summer” sale, with summer clothing (shorts, tanks, etc.) one sale for just one dollar. About fifty percent of funds raised at this shop is allocated to the church and the Day School, while the other fifty percent is donated to women’s shelters, the San Diego Food Bank, and other groups and organizations in need. They accept donations daily (hours are 10am-1pm Tuesday through Saturday) at their back door.
Thrift Cottage, at 1211 Tenth Street, is part of the local Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church and is located just behind the church. Thrift Cottage offers lots of clothing for sale, and has several racks brimming with men’s, women’s, and children’s garments. Donations are accepted during operating hours, and Thrift Cottage is the only shop of the three that also does consignment (head over to the window in the alleyway for this). Funds raised at the shop are returned to the church and are put toward scholarships for students, and also donated to battered women’s shelters and other deserving people and programs. One of the shop’s volunteers also informed me that if the homeless seek help within the church, they will be given a credit for the thrift shop, enabling them to purchase a pair of shoes, a backpack, clothing, or whatever else they may need to get back on their feet. Most items range in price from one to a few dollars, and nothing is over ten dollars. Learn more about the interesting history behind Thrift Cottage here.
If the thrill of finding a great bargain isn’t enough, you can shop with the knowledge that each penny you spend and each item you donate is put to good use and nothing goes to waste. For further incentive, donations are tax-deductible and each shop offers a tax write-off slip upon request.
I have heard many varying opinions on which local thrift shop is “best”. In my opinion, they are all the best for different things: Second Best for its low prices and boutique section, the Christ Church Thrift Shop for its unique layout and organized displays, and Thrift Cottage for its endless racks of clothing and option to consign. My advice: visit all three and judge for yourself – we’re lucky to have these shops right in the neighborhood and they are just a quick bike ride apart!
Second Best: 619-522-3676
Open Monday through Thursday, 10am-4pm
Christ Church Thrift Shop: 619-435-9470
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-1pm
Thrift Cottage: 619-435-5380
Open weekdays 10am-4pm (closed Wednesdays), and Saturdays 10am-1pm
