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Metro Detroit thrift shops offer unique finds, big savings: 6 worth checking out

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Metro Detroit thrift shops offer unique finds, big savings: 6 worth checking out

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Calling all treasure hunters!

Between National Thrift Shop Day on Aug. 17 and back to school shopping, what better time to introduce you to six stores worth checking out?

The spots listed are all bona fide thrift stores, which means they benefit a nonprofit. If supporting a charity is important to you, you may be especially interested in these stores.

A few things to know before you go: Shopping a thrift is a treasure hunt; you never know what you will find so it’s best not to go in with any expectations. With some patience, you’ll find deals on both current and vintage merchandise. Make sure to check the return policy before you buy; most thrifts don’t allow returns. If you want to try on a item before purchasing, know that some thrift stores have fitting rooms and some do not. You may want to take your own shopping bags; some stores offer bags or boxes and others do not. Know also that all the stores listed below have frequent sales; the most up-to-date info will usually be on the stores’ social media pages.

Finally, this is not an exhaustive list. It’s a starting point full of possibilities.

Encore Upscale Resale

The store is well-organized, spacious and clean and you’ll find all sorts of clothing for men, women and kids. You’ll also find a small selection of toys, lots of housewares (priced comparably to Ebay; not long ago that meant $9 for a single Pfaltzgraff brand au gratin dish) and affordable Christmas decor (a few bucks for a holiday platter, for example.) No furniture, though. All sales are final. There’s no fitting room, so if you’re buying apparel and want to try it on, you’ll need to be creative. (On a recent trip, one woman tried on a dress over her clothes.)

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The store has weekly sales — most recently it was half off clothing. This next part is really important: The store also has daily discounts where certain shoppers get 25% off.

Encore is a fundraiser for Southfield Christian School, which enrolls students pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Encore Upscale Resale: 29080 Southfield Road (just north of 12 Mile), Southfield. Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Mon.-Sat. More info: Info and details on weekly sales: encoreupscale.com

Council Resale

The place is packed full of merch ― clothing, accessories, dishes, figurines and other housewares. Unless otherwise marked, short dresses are $12, women’s blazers are $15, jeans are $12 and evening gowns are $25. Men’s bazers are $15, jeans are $12 and tuxedos are $25. And best of all: frequent sales. Aside from a few exclusions, everything in the store was 75% off not long ago. That meant the pristine J. Jill T-shirt style dress that started out at $12 was only $4 that day. Another recent sale: $1 platters. (For the most up-to-date info on sales, check out the store’s Facebook page: facebook.com/councilresale). The store has fitting rooms. All sales are final.

Proceeds from the store support community projects by the National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan chapter.

Council Resale: 3297 W. 12 Mile Road (east of Greenfield), Berkley. Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. More info: councilresale.net. If you’re heading there on Dream Cruise Saturday, hold off. Council Resale expects to be closed.

Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop

PTO Thrift has two side-by-side store fronts. There’s the Showcase, which is stocked with a selection of vintage items and collectibles, but no clothing or furniture. This is where you’re likely to find Limoges China pieces or Detroit memorabilia or Lenox items that are no longer being produced. (Spotted recently: a Lenox candy dish in the shape of a dove featuring gold trim for $4, nicely below Ebay prices.)

Dishes, glasses and other hosuehold items, furniture (but no mattres), records, books, clothing for men, women and kids and lots more stuff are located next door. There are treasaures to be found, if you look. PTO’s main store has sales every week. All sales are final, except for electronics. There are fitting rooms.

The store is a fundraiser for Ann Arbor Public Schools’ parent teacher groups and student organizations.

Store locations: The main store is at 2280 S. Industrial Highway and the Showcase is at 2284A S. Insustrial Highway, Ann Arbor. (They’re next door to each other in the same industrial park.) Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. More info, including latest sales: www.a2ptothriftshop.org or facebook.com/A2PTOThriftShop/

Second Hand Rose

Clothing for the whole family, plus furniture (including some mattresses) and household items. Women’s tops start at $3. Household items are well-priced, though the selection isn’t as expansive a some other stores. Here’s a recently spotted blast from 1970s: A set of six Holly Hobbie Christmas glasses — and they were on sale for half off, which would have made them about a buck apiece. The store has frequent sales, including half off color of the week tag sales, 25% off super saver sales and, on Wednesdays, 25% off for people 55 and older. Plus, Second Hand Rose is celebrating National Thrift Shop Day the entire month of August by offering half off clothing. For the most up-to-date details on sales, go to the store’s Facebook page: facebook.com/turningpointssecondhandrose. The store does not have fitting rooms but it does allow returns on clothing within 10 days of purchase, as long as the tags are still in place. Second Hand Rose benefits the Turning Point, a Mt. Clemens-based organization that provides services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.

Second Hand Rose: 36660 S. Gratiot (between 15 Mile and Metro Parkway), Clinton Township. Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. More info: turningpointmacomb.org/resale/.

Salvation Army

Some are better than others. Stores in Ann Arbor, Rochester Hills and Trenton are well-liked by thrifters. The giant Clinton Township location is actually two stores. It’s the site of a traditional Salvation Army Thrift store, which is well stocked with clothing household items (the seasonal decor aisle is especially fun with some good deals and boxed items that have clearly never been used.) It’s also the site of a the Salvation Army Outlet, where shoppers can pick through bins of stuff that’s sold by the pound. It’s the only by-the-pound Salvation Army in southeast Michigan and it draws serious bargain hunters and thrifters, including those who resell what they find.

Here’s the pricing schedule:

  • 10 pounds or less: $1.89 a pound
  • 11 to 40 pounds: $1.49 a pound
  • 41 pounds and up: $1.29 a pound.
  • Shoes are $3 a pair.

Salvation Army Thrift stores offer returns on clothing within three days of purchase and most Salvation Army Thrift Stores have fitting rooms. The by-the-pound store does not have fitting rooms or offer returns on items. Proceeds from the stores benefit the work of the Salvation Army.

Salvation Army in Clinton Township: 34150 S. Gratiot, Clinton Township. Hours: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday for the thrift store; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday for the outlet. For more info: the Salvation Army’s Facebook page has the most current info, including sales: facebook.com/semiarc but you can also find store information at satruck.org.

Volunteers of America Thrift Store

Located in a former Toys R Us in Westland, this is the only Volunteers of America thrift in metro Detroit. (Other locations in the state include Burton, Corunna, Saginaw and Lansing, which has two stores.) And unlike lots of thrift stores, this one is open seven days a week. That means you can look for furniture, clothing for all, sporting goods, dishes and other household every single day of the week, except, of course, for holidays.

Pro tip: Make sure to check out the wall of mugs which sell for .99 cents each, though with frequent sales you could get them for less. The store has a loyalty club and half off Tuesdays and more sales. Found recently: a pair of bone China mugs with no signs of use from a department store in London. Proceeds from the thrift store benefit Volunteers of America programs to help people in need of housing, food and other services; it places special focus on veterans. Volunteers of America Thrift Store: 34800 Warren Road, Westland. Hours: 9 a.m. -9 p.m. Moday.-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sun. More info and the lastest sales: facebook.com/VOAMIThrift/.

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