I must admit that I have mixed emotions about Wheeler Mission Store, a thrift store located just inside Fishers on East 96th Street that supports the programs of Indy's Wheeler Mission.
I was unaware of the Wheeler Mission Store until today's trip up to Fishers to check out a couple of other places. Located in the Strip Center with Petco and Pep Boys, Wheeler Mission Store is almost exactly what you'd expect with a few exceptions.
First off, this is a thrift store but it's easily the cleanest and most organized thrift store in Indy. It puts every single Goodwill location to shame.
The layout does somewhat resemble a Goodwill. The front doorway actually has an automatic door, though this is a leftover from the previous tenant rather than a conscious decision. There's accessible parking that's semi-ADA (ADA compliant actually requires the metallic signs that do not exist here).
The floor plan is very wheelchair friendly. I was able to get everyplace I wanted to go in the store, though I will note the shopping carts are a bit high for wheelchair users.
It's important to note that there's a definite Christian vibe throughout Wheeler Mission Store - this should not be a surprise given Wheeler's mission of providing "Christ-centered programs and services for the homeless and those in need." Contemporary Christian music, think NeedtoBreathe, was playing in the background.
The selection here is pretty close to phenomenal and surprisingly well organized and displayed. Again, it blows Goodwill out of the water. Items here all appear to be clean and well presented. Items range from home decor to clothing to books/entertainment to a whole slew of other items.
Prices vary. Wildly. I saw men's pants, for example, priced from $7.99-$12.99 and even higher. I just laughed. Yes, they were a bit nicer. Yes, they were cleaner. No, I would never even think about paying that at a thrift store (Admittedly, I think Goodwill is also overpriced. However, part of that is Goodwill so poorly organizes and sizes their items that I know for a fact I'll give half my items home and they won't fit. It happens every single time).
On the flip side, I saw kitchen wares at fairly reasonable prices. For example, I picked up a frying pan for $5.99. It was in decent condition and definitely a good price.
Most of the entertainment items were decently priced, though $5.99 for used vinyl is silly. Home decor was hit-and-miss. I saw great prices. I saw "No way" prices. That said, if you're a supporter of Wheeler and this cause is important to you then you may very well say "It's worth it to me."
Employees, and I'm not sure if they're paid or volunteer, were uniformly friendly. My hope is that they are paid and/or in some sort of vocational training. Regardless, they were top-notch. The young woman working the check-out was friendly, precise, and clearly knew what they were supposed to say.
As another note, they offer a 10% discount for seniors (55+). As another note, they'll also ask you if you're willing to round up. They also inform you how many meals your purchase bought.
I'll be honest. I thought about a 3-star. However, there's a lot to love here in terms of items, atmosphere, accessibility, employees, and the mission. While I'm not willing to go with a 5-star, for those who are looking for a better thrift store option checking out Wheeler Mission Store makes sense. This is easily the cleanest and most organized thrift store I've seen in Indy. While some of the pricing may take it out of reach for some folks, there's enough variation here that the old saying "There's something for everyone" very likely applies. I'm not sure I'd call this a destination thrift store, but there's no doubt I'll be back. read more