I visited 3 thrift stores in SLO with a $25 budget. Here’s what I found
At the southern end of Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo, a string of secondhand shops line both sides of the road.
In this part of town, thrift stores have taken over the neighborhood, selling a variety of previously used, low-priced wares ranging from clothing to home goods, books, jewelry and linens. And, depending upon the location, the money raised from purchases go toward specific nonprofits or even a local private school.
I recently completed a thrift-crawl through the area for On a Budget, a monthly series where Tribune reporters try reader-suggested eats and activities around the area on a $25 budget. A Tribune reader recommended I visit a few of the affordable stores and compare prices since “the community LOVES thrifting,” she said in an email.
My closet needed a refresh for the spring season, so I happily hopped over to downtown to hunt for some bargains.
Here’s how it went:
Visiting thrift stores in San Luis Obispo
I arrived at my first destination — SLO Thrift, 445 Higuera St. — around 9:30 a.m. Thursday. I parked in the customer lot behind the store, and then walked up to the storefront where I found a cheery ‘70s-style mural that boasted of “bargains & treasures.”
Once inside, I discovered a well-curated interior with clothing racks filled with floor-length formal wear along with a wall of secondhand shoes. On the other side of the shop, there was a jewelry display and shelves of sheets, pillows and comforters. In the back half of the shore, there were ample rows of men and women’s clothing and hundreds of books, DVDs and CDs.
Some objects were priced on a rainbow sticker scale from $1 to $5, although many other items had price tags that ranged from around $5 to $20. This year, a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, according to SLO Thrift’s website.
I found a couple of tops I liked and headed to the dressing rooms. I nearly bought a flowy and floral Billabong long-sleeve for $10, but sadly it was missing a button. I browsed some more, searching through plush jackets, hardbound books and ceramic mugs, but nothing piqued my interest enough to blow my budget on.
However, it was an extremely pleasant shopping experience — quiet, tidy and lots to choose from — but today was not my day to find a treasure or a bargain at SLO Thrift, so I ducked out to another store down the block.
Next up was Fred & Betty’s Thrift Store at 532 Higuera St.
The store had a few customers roaming around the rows when I got there around 10:15 a.m.
Depending on the item of clothing, pieces ranged from $6 to $12, with all proceeds going directly to SLO Classical Academy. That day, there was also a 10% discount off all home decor, according to a whiteboard at the entrance.
The objects for sale at the store were fairly similar to SLO Thrift, though I was impressed by Fred & Betty’s extensive selection of jeans and pants. The shop also has a section full of staff picks with more vintage and name brand clothing, though it will cost you a tad more for these curated finds.
I tried on a soft black cashmere shirt from Banana Republic and a couple of khaki pants. But unfortunately, I continued to strike out because nothing fit me quite right.
Are local thrift stores affordable?
After peeking at the books and earrings, I decided to jump ship and head across the street to Lumina Thrift at 545 Higuera St., where donations and purchase proceeds go to the Lumina Alliance, a local nonprofit that provides services for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence.
The store had the best home goods of the three spots, with beautiful matching sets of plates, bowls and cups. One 69-piece set I spotted was being sold for $125. There was also a wall of propagated plants for $4 per tube.
Most of the store is filled with women’s clothing. Every item is priced individually with the majority between $10 and $20. Clothes were arranged by color, not by size, giving each rack a fun, rainbow-colored aesthetic.
I grabbed an armload of dresses and shirts and crossed my fingers that I would find something to spend my budget on. I pulled on a yellow cropped shirt that was way too big as well as an almost-cute orange tank top.
Finally, I tried on a $12 sheer gray long-sleeve sweater that was perfect for warmer weather. It fit well and could easily be thrown over a swimsuit, dress or a halter top.
I browsed through the book collection and added a copy of the Odyssey for $2 to my haul. I figured it was time for a re-read ahead of the blockbuster movie coming out this summer.
I’ve never had the most stamina for shopping, so after two hours of thrifting, I was exhausted. I checked out with my sweater and book in hand. I was way under budget this time around, coming in at just $15.22 in total.
And it’s not difficult to find really affordable clothing in these shops and other SLO thrift stores. The used items are a fraction of what you’ll find in other clothing stores — though it does take some time and digging.
I’ll definitely be back to find more cheap clothing in my free time.
Where are thrift stores in SLO?
San Luis Obispo has at least 10 thrift stores across the city. Here’s where:
- Achievement House, 3003 Cuesta College Road and 553A Higuera St.
- Assistance League Thrift Store, 697 Marsh St., Suite A
- Fred and Betty’s Thrift Store, 532 Higuera St.
- Goodwill Industries, 15 Higuera St. and 880 Industrial Way
- Lumina Thrift, 545 Higuera St.
- Mission Thrift, 2958 S. Higuera St.
- SLO Thrift, 445 Higuera St.
- United Voluntary Services Thrift, 474 Marsh St.
Where should I go next?
Have any ideas on where I should visit for on a budget?
Next month, we’d like to try somewhere in North County, so reach out with your favorite affordable spots in Atascadero, Templeton and Paso Robles.
Send me recommendations at hpoukish@thetribunenews.com or by filling out the form below.
