Growing up in San Francisco, where thrifting is a central aspect of teen culture, my friends and I loved discovering the many thrifting spots our city had to offer. Our school, centrally located on Valencia Street in the Mission District, allowed us to survey different thrifting locations with a slice of Arizmendi pizza in hand. My early experiences of stopping at the Salvation Army on the walk home — then maybe checking out the local record store to investigate their cheap cassettes — helped me to gain valuable thrifting skills and to develop my own sense of style. When I moved to San Diego this hobby persisted, and I soon found my new favorite thrift spots. Below are some of my favorites in Central San Diego.

• Hope the Mission ($-$$)

Located on University Avenue in North Park, Hope the Mission recently replaced the local Walgreens, and boasts a large assortment of clothing and home goods, including a rack of wedding dresses. The store sources their clothing from LA, and always has nice items for a reasonable price. The best strategy to approach this thrift store is to carefully pick through the racks, because cool finds are usually hidden somewhere in the middle of the large store. Highlights include an abundant athletic wear section (it couldn’t be San Diego without an athletic wear section), frequent Free People items with tags, and a huge assortment of cute homecoming dresses. However, no dressing rooms are offered, so plan accordingly.

• Day to Day Vintage ($$)

Only three short blocks from Hope the Mission, Day to Day Vintage provides a curated thrifting experience. Frequent brands include Abercrombie, Hollister, Harley Davidson, American Eagle, and various surf brands. Their handpicked collection offers a sporty 2000s vibe and requires little searching, due to the small store size and meticulous collection. Prices are slightly higher than your neighborhood thrift store, although they do occasionally offer deals for bundled items. Highlights include dressing rooms, an adorable vintage t-shirt collection, and proximity to local soft serve shop North Park Creamery.

• Buffalo Exchange ($$-$$$)

Buffalo Exchange has San Diego locations in Hillcrest and Pacific Beach, each perfect for finding colorful and costumey clothing. Buffalo Exchange boasts an ample selection of clothing and accessories, curated by their highly tasteful sellers, whom one often sees waiting for their turn in the sellers line with a large trash bag full of clothing. Although the shoppers make it look easy, don’t be fooled: selling at Buffalo Exchange is not for the weak. Rumor has it that occasionally a couple of bucks in store credit can be made, but these situations are few and far between. However, I always recommend Buffalo Exchange for a first-time thrifter, because their tasteful selection of clothing ensures a good find, albeit at a higher price than other thrift stores. 

• Flashbacks ($$)

This vintage store also boasts locations across San Diego, although their Hillcrest location is right across the street from the Buffalo Exchange, making for a perfect lineup of curated thrifting. This colorful store, besides selling a wide array of wigs, has a large vintage collection and an incredible ugly Christmas sweater display around the holidays. Perfect for finding anything unique and colorful, Flashbacks is a great choice for local thrifting.

• Vintage Markets ($$-$$$)

Vintage markets in San Diego are a great choice for a seasoned thrifter looking for vintage purses, cool handmade t-shirts, and a wide selection of 2000s clothing. I always recommend the Day to Day Vintage Market (yes, hosted by the aforementioned Day to Day Vintage!) at North Park Way and 30th, because of the proximity to an adorable area of North Park. Set up in the same location as the Thursday evening farmers market, this vintage market is great for any thrift lover. I stumbled upon it with some friends on the bus on our way up to North Park, and we had to get out a stop early to check it out. But be warned: most vendors are cash only, and prices are usually high. Another great choice is Figure 8 Market, which is often hosted at the courtyard of the Mission Valley Mall. Although some vendors may set up portable changing tents, there is typically no changing area, so be prepared. The best way to stay up to date with dates and locations of vintage markets is to follow them on Instagram, where markets will be announced with current information.

• Salvation Army ($)

A favorite of mine, Salvation Army is the best place to go if you are looking for an entertaining search through the store for hidden gems. This thrift store requires in-depth digging and searching through an entire rack, because good items are never easily found. Although this can take more work, it is often more fun, and can be a great bonding activity for friends. Additionally, the prices at the Salvation Army cannot be beat. I recommend checking out the location on El Cajon Boulevard in La Mesa, my favorite place to thrift with a friend.