I went to Monarch Thrift Shop on a day when the whole store was 50% off and had a great time…read moredigging around for hidden gems. The store is large, but still well-organized and decently clean. There are three fitting rooms available which is always appreciated at a thrift store. The store has a nice selection of items, including clothing for the whole family, pet supplies, and homewares. I ended up leaving with a Ted Baker dress, some collectable pins, and a beautiful crystal bowl. Everything was fairly priced and the employees were all very friendly. I'll be back here for sure!

Great space! I found a few cute new tops without having to dig a bunch like other thrift stores…read more Monarch was organized well and the prices seemed reasonable. Lots of good brands (I was finding lots of Gap, which I loved!) and a good selection of home goods and trinkets too! The woman working was also very nice.

Had to run here very quick for a last minute pair of pants and I was pleased with how organized and…read moreclean it was! I got a pair of linen pants for only $3! They also have self checkout!

One of the workers at the register took 2 items from me right before I checked out and told me they…read morecouldn't sell them and was very rude. There was nothing wrong with them and there was no reason for this. Horrible service.

I can't say enough about this place. I think they should change their name to Five Stars Shop!…read more What a great selection. Friendly associates, super cool vibe here. The building is really cool. Prices are very reasonable. I bought a leather chair here and it's really comfortable and the price was right. I love it. This place changes often as things come and go, so check it out.

Big focus on furniture rather than clothing or home goods; since this can be harder to find, it's a…read moregood one to remember. Part of the Avondale Vintage Row along Milwaukee Ave.

This is a well- kept store. Very friendly staff, and I always find great deals. Some of the…read morehousewares section is a little over-crowded with so many items on the shelves - but there's a lot to chose from.

GO ELSEWHERE!!!!! Do NOT use their donation drive thru! There are many other charitable…read moreorganizations to donate to in Chicago that aren't shady and won't cause the absolute headache I've dealt with for the past 7 months. My car was damaged by the garage door of their donation center due to a malfunctioning sensor. The sensor didn't recognize when cars were present (we saw cars before and after mine struggle with the door), and eventually hit my car. There was even a makeshift sign out front with instructions for accessing the donation area, assumingely due to the several other cars struggling with this issue. When the incident happened, the employee by the door told us to "sue them" because he had been telling management for weeks that the sensor was broken and would cause damage. We obviously don't plan to sue a non-profit, but the employee's distaste for his bosses was an indicator of the struggles to come. The manager on duty at the time of the incident, Will, took my report of the incident and apologized, saying I would be contacted shortly and everything would get "taken care of." Within a week, a regional representative of Goodwill called me to apologize again, saying they would cover the repair for the damages and to let them know how much it will be. They told me to go ahead and get the repairs done then send them an invoice - I didn't trust that they would pay be back for repairs solely based on a verbal promise over the phone (thank god I didn't!), so I got an estimate first. When I shared the estimate, all of the sudden the story changed. They referred me to deal with their insurance company, which was a miserable experience, and after weeks of back and forth with a very rude representative they got back to me saying they weren't at fault, the sensor was never broken, there was never any report by staff of wrongdoing (which is a lie), they won't share video footage from their camera by the door, and they will not cover the full cost of damages. I had been assured by each person in this process that damages would be covered, but of course they were never willing to put this in writing. I would never have guessed a charitable organization to be so shady and fraudulent with an incident like mine, where I'm simply trying to do the right thing and donate items instead of sending them to a landfill. Now 7 months later, there's still no resolution with Goodwill and they expect me to pay over $1000 out of pocket to fix damages caused by their broken sensor and negligence (that they refuse to acknowledge). I'm very disappointed with this entire experience as I have been a Goodwill customer and donator for over 10 years. I would give zero stars if I could and I highly recommend donating to Salvation Army or Village Discount instead! These are not good people and they don't look out for their customers.

The pricing structure of the SA stores overall teeters dangerously on the brink of full-on retail…read more This particular location of SA is totally not near any of my other errands. It has surly customer service and idle cash registers and I grow a long white beard while I wait to pay for my stuff. Yeah yeah, I know the "new" SA has wider aisles, a cleaner shopping experience, ample parking. Whatevs. So does Target, and their prices ain't that much higher than the SA's now. So why the hey do I bother going to the West Humboldt store, and why am I giving it four stars? Because Wednesday mornings from 9:00 to noon is EIGHTY SEVEN CENTS A POUND SALE TIME! A corner of their parking lot is sectioned off for this blessed weekly event and they roll out troughs and troughs of the items that are unfit to sell as "upscale thrift". Grab a cart if you dare and start digging. (It's pretty crowded though so I suggest using a basket or bringing your own canvas bag.) Inventories vary from week to week. There could be bales of 5K t-shirts, or enough winter scarves to choke a Yeti, or Hammer Times where I can buy a whole box of pink parachute pants if I want. (I don't.) But you know what? I have gotten a TON of crazy crap, as well as some tres chic items NEW WITH TAGS, plus also designer clothes in decent condition for my daughter. The best part is, if I get something home and it sucks, I can just donate it when I come back the next Wednesday. Who cares because IT ONLY COST 87 CENTS. Eighty seven cents! Jeebus. I know, right?

By far one of the best Salvation Army locations I've ever been too (spoiler: I've been to a lot)…read more Would I come here at night? Most likely not but in the daylight this place was a dream. There were 25% and 75% off tags and I had to ask to find out what colors they were because I didn't see them when I walked in. Staff was friendly and helpful and this store is organized with a capital O! I found a number of goodies for cheap...Eileen Fisher, Lululemon and more. Don't sleep on this location!

2.5 stars so far? Come on, guys. As far as the merchandize goes, they deserve more than that…read more Please give them some TLC! I didn't smell anything disguising other than the typical thrift-store aroma tonight, so it has to be at least three (3) stars in my book. Well, when it comes to thrift shopping, you better know the current market prices on merchandize. My thrift-shopping expertise is on women's ready-to-wear. Before I commence the thrift-shopping 101, if you're a novice, you should check out stores like Kohl's, Nordstrom Rack, Forever 21, Express, Ann Taylor, and even Chico's so you get a fundamental understanding of "price points." On the other hand, thrift stores may appear to have some "designer stuff," but do you really want to spend $45 on a Jessica Simpson bag when you can get one brand new, and perhaps in the current season, for the same price or less at a department store when it goes on sale? In this case, you may want to purchase one at a department store, obviously. The same principle applies. Would you want to a "Candie's" brand coat for $40 at a thrift store when you can get one at Kohl's (where the brand can be found) for even less? Thrift-shopping pupils: I think you've gotten the picture. Hubby purchased a nice-condition PS 1 for $16 and a couple of vinyl records for $3. Tonight's selections on clothing and other merchandize were pretty decent. Thus, give this store a chance and pay a visit. They do have a private parking lot for your shopping convenience.

Three is a bit generous but you can find some okay stuff if you dig for a manageable price if…read moreyou're working with a budget. But they are out of their mind with just about any item over $20

Stopped by on one of my occasional thrifting days. When it comes to vintage shops, unlike monster…read moresized stores like Goodwill, the Salvation Army or Unique, they cater their collection because they don't have the same kind of space. Each vintage shop will have their own preferred style, so a vintage shop may be great but just not the kind of clothing you'd personally care to buy. In my case, Vintage Frills definitely has a style that's up my alley! All the clothing is organized by color, which makes for a pretty store layout. They add their own labels to each item that gives a quick rundown (decade, brand, material and any possible issues)--but, of course, make sure to inspect any piece you'd like to buy! I think it would be a good improvement to add some kind of Velcro strip to the fitting room or a loop to the curtain to have a more secure hold. Definitely a shop I'll head to every so often when the stock refreshes!

This vintage shop is beautifully curated. Not only are all of the items -- from antiques to vintage…read moreclothes --clean and pressed/polished, but they carry a range (and I mean a range!) of sizes. Prices are fair. Are they thrift store prices? No. But you're paying for the curation and care of solid vintage pieces. And, again--- the sizes!!!!

I absolutely adore this place. I'm a local of the neighborhood and have been visiting this shop…read moresince the late 2010s (through one of its name changes). They have an amazing selection of vintage clothing, belts, and various knickknacks. Everything is curated beautifully and I'm always able to find something unexpected. The basement is full of books, records, VHS tapes, DVDs, and miscellaneous home goods. I didn't get the chance to get the woman who was working there's name, but she was very welcoming and kind - I was in the basement going through the books for well over an hour, and I never once got the vibe that I was overstepping. Definitely a hidden gem worth checking out.

I'm loving my neighborhood Thrift store even more now that it has new ownership! Great selection of…read moreclothes, housewares and kids stuff. Very nice new look!

So it's tiny, but mighty. Each booth is curated, colorful and whimsical. Many mid-century items…read more they had a nice selection of records at good prices. The lady at the counter was so friendly, and actually listened and seemed interested to carry a conversation. Very welcoming! Loved the total experience.

What a refreshing change! The "old" mall was hard to navigate, cramped and had a worn out feeling…read more The "New" Mall is very welcoming and open with a lot of personality. Great variety of vendors with eclectic tastes. Some real values and some amazing high-end art and collectibles. They even have a Vegan baker; just in case you're hungry and need to fuel your shopping.