Price marked on item, when I got to the register he said that was wrong and it was four bucks. I complained and he said I'll give it to you for the price on the item. When he rang it up he added a dollar to the price. I complained and he said bye. I didn't see any deals in the place. read more

This an awesome thrift store great prices , it's no a Barbie thrift store!!!! You may need to get your hands dirty to find what you want, but they have a little bit of everything!!! Staff was very attentive and helpful read more

I always love this thrift store and the people who work here are so nice! Today Anna and another lady who I didn't catch the name of helped me. They were really sweet and accommodating and I definitely recommend this location read more

Coupon invalid. Owners says it's from 6 years ago but Yelp hasn't taken it down. Lots of cool stuff! I wish they didn't write their prices with sharpies but they do it because customers remove/wrap out price tags. I'll be back! :) read more

Went into Empire Thrift Store on Saturday and was at the register checking out. The young lady ringing me up started adding taxes to each and every item that I was going to purchase. When I questioned her about the price i.e. the item was $8.00 she rang up $8.66. I said why are you charging me $8.66 the item is $8.00 she said taxes, and proceeded on to the next item which again was another $8.00 item and she again added the taxes. I told her that is not how it is done. She replied to me and told me that everyone pays taxes, I told her after the all the items are rung up you then charge taxes she told me no that is not how it is done. Even Ross does it this way, she then asked a co-worker who agreed with her. I told her I beg to differ and told her to keep the items and I left. This falls under price gouging, I will never go there again. read more

I love spending time at thrift stores. I like to dig through and find antiques or just cool stuff. This place is ok. Very big and open. They really did not have antiques just mostly junk items. Prices were slightly expensive. Not sure if they had AC in but it was stuffy and a bit uncomfortable digging around. The 2 employees seemed nice. That just sat at the counter and asked if we need any help. Over an ok place to dig around. read more

Empire Thrift Store - Always looking for treasures - Thrift Stores Near Me - El Cajon, California

This is not a thrift store! Just another delusional dismal store that is under the impression they are a high-end retailer. I found a belt hat I liked with all the others, then at the register the owner decided that it was too nice to be normal priced after closely looking it over.. He then interrogated me as to where I found it and told me I wouldn't like the new price. It was no longer $3 but $18. Are you kidding me what a joker! Be a thrift store, be a thrift store if that's what you say you are. But really what would you expect from a shop that still sells Confederate flags in the year 2020. read more

Located across to Amvet thrift store(closed on aug w6 2016) and foodland supermarket. Can be reached by public bus no. 816 and 815. I went there on aug 3rd 2016 and the store employee said they just opened for 5 months. There is furnitures, woman shirts and jackets, caps, bags, dinnerware, tools, dvd etc. So many varieties. Parking space is plenty. I did not see any daily sale or reasonable price. On 21 aug 2016, there was 25% off any purchase. I wish they will offer discount more often. read more

Empire Thrift Store - Inside store - Thrift Stores Near Me - El Cajon, California

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Romeo and Anna his wife are very very nice. They have great deals and great inventory. They make you feel like you're at home. I really hate that they have to be closed right now and I hope they get to open soon. Everybody that works there is very nice. I wish them all the best during these trying times. read more

Was a decent place until the owner lady came over to me and in a nice way accused me of stealing when all I did was put a cd w no case in another case that I was buying both and the case was clear.. told i couldn't do that while I shopped some more..f.u.b read more

I do not recommend coming to this store if you DO NOT: -Have plenty of time to get lost in the thousands of collections of cool stuff this place has -Like Great customer service -Like an Owner who personalizes every visit with every customer and is knowledgeable with EVERY item in his shop. -Enjoy fair prices as a buyer, or reasonable payments as a seller Not a single complaint here, except for that they arent located closer to where i live (and they're already only 2.8 miles away!) read more

LOVE this thrift store. I've gotten some awesome deals on shoes here with their 50% off deal on clothing. The clothing itself has been a miss for me (things not in my size) but it's the other stuff in here that really sets it apart from other thrift stores. You can really tell that whoever is picking the items for this store knows what's up. They just have these random things like phonographs and old geeky items... Gah. I'm kicking myself for writing this review... Nothing to see here. Move along.. *runs to store* read more

I really like looking around this store. I buy little things that I need. Someday I'll buy that guitar amp. It's at good price, but it's hidden high on a shelf so no one can find it. read more

What a fun store this is! The place is PACKED with lots of interesting items and the prices are fair. The man at the register was very nice and cheery, too! Definitely come to this store if you have a little bit of time on your hands because is plenty to browse through! read more

**note: they have moved to main st in el cajon** Ive been a thrift store junkie since the early 80s and have seen such private shops come and go but this one is a real winner. They will haggle if it is called for. Lots of tools and collectibles and DVDs. Save the time you were gonna spend at that bigger place up Morena blvd for lunch, you wont find much there. They must get their stuff from the dumpster of Empire. read more

I walked in just to walk around. They sell a little bit of everything. The cashier spoke perfect understandable English until someone said that selling cable boxes was illegal and suddenly she said no understand. All the customers around looked at each other. It's interesting she knew English until someone said she could get in trouble. Makes me question the quality of honesty in this place and if she uses that excuse to get out of any conflicts. Doesn't sit well with me and I'll go somewhere else to walk around next time. read more

One of the best thrift stores ever. The staff is amazing and always there to help and they have great stuff.

Over priced on all their stuff. But the crystal meth behind the store was great.

Came in with my daughter and I liked what I saw well organized decent products good prices.

Went here with my mom a few weeks ago and came across nothing but JUNK! Overpriced junk, at that! Trash is actually being sold at this store!!! There was a can of bug spray that was about 1/4 full being sold for $3!!! Wtf!!?? Believe it or not, I actually gave the place another try and went alone about a week ago. The same exact overpriced junk items I had seen 2 weeks prior were on the shelves and floors, including the $3 nearly empty can of bug spray smh!!! One plus is that they have a decent selection of dvds for only $2 each, but make sure you open the cases and check the discs, because many of them had dents and other damages. I found several of the Tyler Perry Madea plays and movies. Thus, the 1 star. read more

A lot smaller in person. Granted there's some awesome stuff inside but the two stars are for the prices, and customer service. When we walked in we weren't greeted the girl totally ignored us. Not a friendly vibe at all. Now to the prices, 10bucks for a used Tshirt? 100bucks for a used sewing machine! My suggestion go down the way to mattson & co that place is awesome! read more

Sold my used college books here, and walked out with a great summer hat. Staff was very helpful & friendly. Would do business with again.

Since I live in Houston, I haven't been to this store in person, but I had the opportunity to buy a couple of paintings from them. They went out of their way to accommodate my every need and were so helpful in getting the items to me. They are honest and fair and I would gladly give my business again. Awesome customer service!!! read more

Oh my gosh...so much cool stuff to look at an electric mix of modern, thrift and collectible. I will definitely be back.

What a load of junk. This is really more of a thrift store than an antique store. And way overpriced!

Before entering Empire Thrift Store I decided to take a look at the furniture sitting in front of the store. As I walk down the sidewalk looking at one piece at a time I'm thinking to myself, it can't get any worse than this, well it did! Right before my eyes, I see 4 disgusting torn up dining table chairs and a few other dirty chairs that looked like the use of gloves should be mandatory before touching them. Not only that, they were ridiculously overpriced. With that impression, I thought about getting back in my car and driving away but with second thought I decided to give it a chance otherwise, I wouldn't know if it had anything worth value. I walk through the door and immediately I stopped in my tracks because I was a little taken back by the owners/employees reaction as I walked through the door. As in many establishments, I was expecting a welcome greeting or perhaps a grin or maybe a smile but I received neither. She looked at me and immediately put her head down almost as if she was ashamed or afraid to make eye contact with me. It was weird and a bit uncomfortable. I'm not sure what that was about, people have bad days so I brushed it off, however as we proceeded to walk away in the opposite direction. I noticed she began to spray the clothes with an industrial spray bottle filled with a clear liquid. Again I'm thinking to myself. I'm thinking that liquid on those tightly packed clothes could be creating a nesting ground for mildew. With that thought, I didn't even bother looking through the racks of clothing. I decided to walk around the perimeter of the store and it was just as disappointing as It was outside of the store. As I suspected it was not worth my time. I get to the end of the store when my husband walks in and we both decided it was time to leave. We walk towards the exit, and here comes the owner/employee again. She walks past me and now my husband without acknowledgment. At the same time, a tall transgender male to female walks in. I greet her with a smile as we all walk past each other. No sooner than we get to the exit to leave, I hear a great big "hello, how are you" greeting from the very same owner/employee who decided I wasn't worth acknowledgment. Overall, their items look like they retrieved them from dumpster diving and the customer service is horrible. Empire Thrift Store, you have no worries about me. I won't be entering your place of business ever again! Unfortunately, I can't give them a zero however my husband did say they had better items when they first open so with that 1 for effort. read more

It's very easy to get lost in a place like this. Not because of size just because there is so much to look at. I came in looking for a particular thing and unfortunately they didn't have it. There was a very nice girl working there. I didn't see her at first but I also had tunnel vision looking for what I came in hoping to find. read more

Had a good inventory. Not just filled with crappy clothes like a lot of other thrift stores. I got a sand wedge and some golf balls for $15. That's a win in my book. read more

Ok - dirty? Yes. Disorganized? Yes. Can you find great things that are pretty cheap - yes! Granted they desperately need a spring cleaning, but if you dig you can find some great deals read more

First time here and found some items that were in line with the budget. I will say that many items such as household and everyday items are a bit over priced and I would not consider purchasing here because I could buy at Walmart for the same price. A lot of thrift stores seem to over price these days and don't seem nearly like "thrift" stores at all anymore. However, their women's clothing were almost accurately priced and I found myself 4 items. I wanted a top that would have really made my day but I refuse to purchase any clothing item that has been pre owned, and being sold for the ticket price of $10.00. For those out there making minimum wage that is an entire hours worth of work. Other than that the young man working at the counter seemed more than friendly enough and when I asked about any specials that they might offer he did offer me 10% off my total purchase (better than nothing). The other employees were busy working and were not in your face about the level of customer service offered, which to me is the exact kind of service I like when shopping because I hate feeling bombarded. The final last piece of information I would like to mention to make this place stand out would be to perhaps get rid of the used cosmetics at the front counter. That's such a health violation and anyone using used cosmetics and not knowing where they might of come from is just gross! Not to mention it's a California state law to sell used cosmetics but hey, I am not out to tell others how to run their businesses but just making an observance and simple suggestion. I would return and shop here again definitely. read more

Look no further, this is the best shop ever! I go once a week and never leave empty handed. Great prices, friendly staff and fabulous merchandise. I just got a pair of gorgeous Valentino pumps- G O R G E O U S! Can't wait to be in for my weekly visit. read more

Interesting place, but shelves and racks are so jumbled with stuff that it makes it difficult to even see what's there without having to dig and pick through it. The clothing racks were packed so tight that you cannot really push any hangers right or left, they were that packed. My biggest gripe is that almost everything I saw was way overpriced for being at a thrift store. When things you can buy new at the dollar store are 2, 3, or 4x the original price, it's just silly. many items were not marked with a price, so you have to bring it all the way to the counter just to see how much it is. They have way too much inventory, not enough organization, and terrible prices. The person behind the counter was very polite to me, so that was a plus. I won't be coming back again unless I hear it's improved. I think they would sell a lot more if they priced items more appropriately, put half the inventory in storage so people can actually see what's there without having to wade through it, and maybe throw in some weekly deals. read more

Best Thrift Store in San Diego hands down! Very friendly staff, incredible treasures, and amazing deals. Always new stuff. My go-to place on the weekends. read more