Cincinnati's Best Thrift Shopping

Though Cincinnati was America's first "boomtown," experiencing an influx of people and wealth that other cities had not dealt with before, the people in this town have maintained a rather down-to-Earth and practical attitude that values functionality over form; thus, many of the people care little for high price tags, and so avoid some of the high costs of modern living by visiting thrift stores in the Greater Cincinnati area. The best of these are The Salvation Army in the city of Norwood, Goodwill Industries in Hyde Park, and Village Discount Outlet, located across the river in Northern Kentucky.

Nestled between Interstates 71 and 75, the small city of Norwood is a "town within town," home of the Bicycle Playing Card Company, and formerly, GM's Firebird production plant. Housed on the former GM property, in an older four story warehouse-style building, stands the Salvation Army, where the thrift shop spans three floors of the western wing; the east wing contains a drug rehab treatment facility. Shoppers will find a huge furniture outlet, alongside discount electronics, housewares, and toys. The entire basement of the western wing is devoted to clothing, with dozens of racks holding new and old fashions for men, women, and children. Attached to the facility in the east wing, dozens of drug abusers in rehabilitation receive treatment with funds acquired through the sale of goods across the hall, symbolizing a win-win relationship in the retail world -- consumers receive a great deal on quality used goods while contributing towards helping those who severely need it.

Another well-known name in the thrift business is Goodwill; the closest to downtown Cincinnati is in Hyde Park, a neighborhood that mostly includes young couples, single educated professionals, and few families. Only a few blocks from Hyde Park Square, at the head of a residential street, Goodwill takes in hundreds of donations on a weekly basis while retailing thousands of items at rock-bottom prices; the funds raised by this charity storefront help to provide employment to the otherwise unemployable, encouraging independence and self-sufficiency. The location's three primary departments fall under the categories of clothing, furniture, and electronics, although various housewares, books, and other items are available in the fifteen thousand square foot facility. Catering mostly to a market dependent on rather than volunteering to receive thrift goods, a fifty percent discount is given to elderly and disabled individuals.

Finally, Cincinnati's greatest thrift store, and one of the area's less-visited, is located across the river in the Northern Kentucky town of Newport. In size somewhere between Goodwill and the Salvation Army, the Village Discount Outlet is features quality and clean used items, with a clothing retail section to rival the basement store of the Salvation Army. Items to be found at this store that are mostly unavailable at area thrift venues include blankets and other fabric goods, decor, household appliances, and toys. What truly sets the Village Discount Outlet apart, however, are its astoundingly low prices; pants and shirts begin at $0.50 and scarcely cost more than $3.00, while a heavy winter coat would be considered expensive if priced over ten dollars. Promotions are held throughout the week, with the store's various colored price tags being discounted on certain days.

For quality goods that won't leave a sizable gap in your wallet, these Cincinnati area thrift stores are premium shopping venues for those after a good deal. A varied selection, low prices, and the knowledge of passing charity to others make Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and the Village Discount Outlet Cincinnati's best thrift stores.