These 12 Massive Thrift Stores In New York Are Perfect For Treasure Hunting

Treasure hunting but make it fashion, home décor, and random “how did I live without this?” finds. New York is hiding some seriously massive thrift stores where racks seem to go on forever and every aisle feels like a lucky dip. These giant New York thrift stores are where bargain hunters go when they want full bags without emptying their wallet.

You walk in telling yourself you’re just browsing. Then suddenly you’re holding vintage jackets, quirky lamps, books you forgot you loved, and something you definitely don’t need but absolutely must have. Time disappears fast in places like this.

Some shops feel like organised chaos. Others are perfectly sorted and easy to explore. Either way, half the fun is the surprise… and the bragging rights when someone asks where you found that amazing piece.

1. Housing Works Thrift Shops – Multiple NYC Locations

Think of Housing Works as your thrifting amuse bouche, elegant but approachable. The shelves gleam with designer jackets and crisp button downs, and the book nook feels like a quiet café without the espresso machine. After a win, you will want a celebratory bite near the Chelsea shop at 143 W 17th St, where the scent of fresh bagels drifts by like perfume.

Slip out and snag a toasted everything with scallion schmear from nearby Murray’s Bagels, then head back for another lap. Designer skirts pair beautifully with hot coffee, and you will browse longer when your hands are warm. Because their inventory rotates constantly, timing is your secret ingredient.

Show up early, and you might catch a just-donated statement coat.

Pro tip for you: scan the furniture corners first, then sweep the men’s blazers, and finish with books for dessert. Prices lean fair-to-splurge, but the finds fund life changing services, which makes every purchase taste better. If you love texture and story, this is your spot.

Consider it the crisp apple at the start of your thrift tasting menu.

2. L Train Vintage – Multiple NYC Locations

Picture a denim ocean and you are floating on a pepperoni life raft. L Train Vintage stacks jeans, flannels, and military jackets so deep you will swear a forklift just clocked out. When you hit the Bushwick outpost at 1377 Dekalb Ave, your stomach will start pinging for something saucy and immediate.

Grab a classic New York slice from a nearby pizzeria, fold it like a pro, and drip-proof your thrift swagger. Sauce on the wrist is the price of admission, and totally worth it when you score a 90s windbreaker that looks like a soda commercial. The bulk pricing racks feel like a buffet line where you pay by the pound, only tastier for your closet.

Insider tip: start with outerwear, then sweep the denim wall, then bins. Warehouse style can overwhelm, so snack breaks are essential pacing. Bring cash for speed, water for stamina, and a playful mood.

You will leave smelling faintly of old leather and oregano, which is the official cologne of victory.

3. Urban Jungle – Brooklyn

Nothing says treasure hunt like Urban Jungle’s endless aisles where hangers sing and bins beckon. It is one of the city’s biggest, and you feel it instantly, like walking into a stadium built entirely from plaid. The address at 118 Knickerbocker Ave sets you in snack heaven, because tacos lurk a few blocks away.

Chase the perfect vintage tee, then reward yourself with al pastor carved off a glistening trompo. Citrus, char, and a little pineapple sweetness will turn your second lap into a victory parade. Flat price bins are your dessert cart here, so keep smaller bills handy and eyes sharp for single stitch hems.

Strategy for you: scan the perimeter racks first, then dive into center bins once your taco buzz kicks in. Try everything that looks one size off, because the mirror loves surprises. Bring a lightweight tote and a mental playlist.

After an hour, you will start spotting patterns, and that is when the real vintage magic appears like sprinkles on soft serve.

4. Buffalo Exchange – NYC & Upstate Locations

Buffalo Exchange is like a well edited tasting menu for fashion, with rotating specials and reliable staples. You will find statement coats next to party tops and boots that look ready for a late night dumpling run. Hit the East Village location at 332 E 11th St, then follow your nose to nearby noodles.

A steaming bowl of sesame noodles fuels precise decision making, trust me. Try on that leather jacket again after a few bites and decide if it lights you up. Because they buy sell trade, inventory turns fast, so yesterday’s maybe can vanish by afternoon.

That urgency tastes like chili oil in the best way.

Here is a move: ask staff what just dropped, then head straight there before the mirror traffic builds. Accessories usually hide the silent steals sunglasses, belts, and little bags that complete the look. Keep your snack plan loose and your budget flexible.

You will walk out with something you did not know you needed, like finding a surprise truffle at the end of a meal.

5. City Opera Thrift Shop – Manhattan

Operatic is not an exaggeration here. City Opera Thrift Shop shimmers with gowns, framed art, and antiques that whisper in vibrato. After admiring the display cases at 222 E 23rd St, step out for a tiny espresso and a crisp cannoli to keep your scouting nimble.

Silk speaks differently after caffeine. You will glide through the racks, catching beadwork details and tiny couture clues that slower eyes miss. Furniture pieces stage like sets, so sketch measurements in your notes app before falling in love with a velvet chair.

This place rewards patience and a pastry.

Insider nibble: hit the store right when it opens, then break for espresso, then return to check the case again. New donations surface like encores, and you want front row seats. Prices vary but quality sings, and proceeds support the arts.

Consider it your matinee, with biscotti as the overture and a vintage brooch as the final high note.

6. Cure Thrift Shop – Manhattan

Two floors of temptation means you need carbs. Cure Thrift packs clothing, records, and whimsical decor into bright corners that feel like a well loved diner menu. At 111 E 12th St, you are a quick stroll from a crisp thin crust slice that crackles when folded.

Start upstairs for tops and dresses, then drift down for furniture and albums. A hot slice between floors is the move, because cheese is motivational. Records near the register often hide absolute mood lifters, perfect for a victory soundtrack on the walk home.

The store’s mission supporting diabetes research adds extra sweetness without the sugar crash.

Tip for you: measure your hallway before committing to a statement mirror, then test every pocket on jackets. Merch turns quickly, so loop back to the front before paying. If something winks at you twice, do not leave it.

You will thank yourself over the last bite of crust, which honestly tastes better when accompanied by a vintage lamp.

7. MyUnique Thrift – Long Island

Big box thrifting calls for a sandwich you need two hands to handle. MyUnique Thrift sprawls in glorious fluorescent abundance, with aisles wide enough for victory dances. The Westbury location at 699 Old Country Rd sits near classic delis where the pastrami stacks like cordwood.

Fuel up first, then cruise the housewares for vintage Pyrex and sturdy Dutch ovens. Furniture lines the walls like a mid century parade, so keep a tape measure and a rye crumb or two for luck. Clothing sections run deep, and carts are your friend here.

Shop slow, breathe, sip soda, repeat.

For best results, scan end caps for new color tag days, then circle back after a snack. Staff roll out racks like hot trays from a kitchen, and being nearby pays off. Check electronics with an outlet test if available.

You will head home with a stack of plates and a story, plus the kind of deli burp that says souvenir.

8. Amvets Thrift Store – Long Island Locations

Some days you want volume, and Amvets delivers like a weekend barbecue. Racks stretch to the horizon, and furniture anchors the back like a sturdy grill. Hit the Massapequa shop at 3510 Sunrise Hwy, then treat yourself to a hot dog or food truck fries for portable courage.

Salt on fingertips equals sharper thrift instincts. You will breeze through jeans, spot leather belts with lifetime mileage, and test recliners like you own the living room. Prices are friendly, and proceeds support veterans, which gives the whole trip a warm aftertaste.

Bring sanitizer, a measuring tape, and a snack plan.

Winning move: start with shoes, then coats, then home goods. Staff roll out new racks often, so orbit the fitting rooms between bites. If you see a vintage club chair in good bones, claim it and then analyze fabric.

You will drive home pleased, a little greasy, and definitely victorious.

9. The Salvation Army Family Store – Multiple NY Locations

Reliable and sprawling, Salvation Army is the diner coffee of thrifting strong, steady, everywhere. You will find appliances, racks of basics, and that one lamp your aunt swears is rare. Swing by the Queens location at 47 01 Northern Blvd, then reward your patience with a donut and strong coffee.

Sugar boosts focus for sifting through housewares, and a glazed ring is the perfect power up. Peek at the electronics shelf for mixers and toasters, then test zippers on winter coats like a pro. Furniture often hides along the back wall, so scout early and claim quickly.

Here is a sweet tip: pay attention to discount tag days and bring small bills for faster checkout. New donations arrive constantly, so circuits matter. Do a calm lap, snack break, then decisive strike.

You will catch that underpriced wool coat and celebrate with another sip, because thrifting is a marathon with sprinkles.

10. Savers – Long Island & Upstate NY

Organization lovers, this is your buffet line. Savers sets up departments like stations at a hotel brunch, and browsing feels effortless. Stop at the West Hempstead outpost at 364 Hempstead Tpke, then chase the thrill with a bagel layered in silky lox.

That salty bite sharpens your eye for classic wool coats and sturdy cookware. Books, linens, and seasonal aisles make tidy treasure maps, so loop them twice. If you love color tag discounts and loyalty points, you will eat this place up.

Carts roll smoothly, and staff are quick with restocks.

Strategy snack: start with housewares, pivot to men’s sweaters, finish with shoes. Keep a small pouch for loose tags and receipts. Measure frames before falling for art, and always check seams in bright light.

You will exit with a cart that clinks like cutlery and a grin that says brunch was a success.

11. The Red White And Blue Thrift Store – Rochester

Upstate thrifting deserves a hearty side dish, and Rochester answers loudly. Red White And Blue Thrift piles racks high with low sticker shocks that make you double take. Swing by 1450 E Ridge Rd and prepare your appetite for a local legend afterward.

The garbage plate is chaotic genius fries, macaroni salad, meat sauce, and joy on one plate. Tackle it after you score flannels and winter boots that laugh at lake effect snow. Low prices mean faster decisions, so keep a shortlist and move with purpose.

Your cart will look like a camping trip, in the best way.

Pro move: gloves for digging, water for pacing, and a trunk blanket for furniture finds. Check glassware for etchings and jackets for hidden pockets. Then celebrate with that messy, marvelous plate, because thrift success loves a reckless starch party.

You will roll home toasty, thrifty, and very full.

12. Thrifty Shopper – Upstate New York

Central New York’s comfort thrift, Thrifty Shopper feels like a hug with shelves. Departments sprawl, furniture lines up like loyal soldiers, and prices whisper be brave. Visit the Syracuse area store at 6453 Collamer Rd in East Syracuse, then reward your cart with grilled cheese and tomato soup nearby.

Warm soup fogs your glasses in the cutest way, ideal for reconsidering that floral chair. The stores benefit local community programs, which adds heart to every hanger. Seasonal sections bloom early, so snag winter gloves and quirky mugs before the rush.

Music is soft, carts are plentiful, patience pays.

Tip jar moment: test drawers on dressers, count screws on chairs, and carry measurements on your phone. Make one pass for clothing and one for housewares, with a soup break between. You will discover quietly perfect pieces that feel like home.

Then dunk another triangle of grilled cheese and call it a day.