Thrifting has become a popular pastime with the trending looks of vintage fashion. Before it was stylish to wear clothes purchased from resale stores, clothing given to such stores would be sold at a price that was affordable to those with a lower income.
The idea that second-hand buying is becoming a more popular alternative to shopping brand new is a double-edged sword.
The sustainability aspect of thrifting has been a benefit; buying pre-owned clothing and housewares decreases excess waste from the production process. In addition, thrifting adds more life to gently used clothing.
However, because of the supply and demand aspect, prices in many thrift stores have risen. This makes the once-accessible prices less accessible for lower-income shoppers, which can make a world of difference. Many different families rely solely on second-hand stores for day-to-day apparel and home necessities.
Without the accessible prices, lower-income families and others are left without options for affordable, basic essentials.

The Attic
404 Massey Blvd.
This hodge-podge of art from local artists, antiques, clothes, jewelry and more is owned by Misty Wofford, who calls The Attic a “flea-tique,” for it’s likeness to a flea-market with some boutique-type items.
“We have a little bit of old, a little bit of new and everything in between,” Wofford said.
During the months of May-July, the store offers 10 percent off for students and teachers who show their school ID.

Christian Associates Thrift Store
741 W. Center CiRCLE
This second-hand store has an abundance of shoes, clothing, furniture, home decor and more. CA Thrift Manager Christine Tives said a wide range of shoppers from teenagers up to 90-year-olds come to bargain shop.
“We are a team of local volunteers and staff members –– we aren’t [all] paid staff,’ Tives said. “We have a lot of volunteers that work here and put in a lot of hours to benefit the community. We couldn’t do it without them.”‘

Riker’s Fleas and Furniture
407 N. Old Wilderness ROAD
This local flea-market consists of 140 booths filled with diverse inventory from vendors. From furniture to clothes to movies and games, there are many second-hand treasures to be found.
Riker’s Fleas and Furniture manager Harold Bender said that customers return for the variety, quality of merchandise, service, the price and the fun.
“We have something for everybody,” Bender said.

The Maze
423 W. South STREET
The wide range of merchandise is similar to that of an antique store, flea market and furniture store. With more than 100 booths and about 100 different vendors, owner Grant Gatzemeyer said the variety of The Maze is unique.
“We’ve got … furniture, to antiques that are 100 years old, to new popular decor – We’ve got a person that does … vintage clothes,” Gatzemeyer said.

Kid’s Closet
916 N. Main STREET
This resale store caters to families searching for gently worn, pre-owned children’s clothes, toys and more. However, it is different from many second-hand stores. Kid’s Closet merchandise is not obtained through donations.
“What we do is people bring the clothes and the baby gear and we buy it outright – both cash or store credit, whatever they’re looking for,” owner Susan Smith said.

Primitive Chick Antiques
407 W. Lee STREET
This antique store is a place that is packed from ceiling to floor with hidden gems consisting of handcrafted items to antiques.
“We have vintage items and garden items, we make different custom shelves, we make garden items or craft items – We also have a craft room where we rent the room out,” owner Melisa Wright said. “We’re just a local business that tries to sell these handcrafted items back into the community.”