Comparing Thrift Shops in Georgetown, Kentucky

There are three major sources of thrift goods in Georgetown, Kentucky: the Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and the Peddler's Mall. They are all great to shop at, but they each have their pros and cons.

The Goodwill is located at 1002 S Broadway Street, near the Kroger in Washington Square. The Goodwill is open later than the Salvation Army, which is a pro. Another positive is they have a nice big bin in the back for donations after hours. During the day, they will come out and help you as needed. The downside to this Goodwill is that it's kind of messy on the inside. Items are strewn in reasonable heaps of similarity, but it leaves a little organization to be desired. If you're looking for some dishes or clothing their prices seem to be a little cheaper than the Salvation Army for those things. Sometimes their framed artwork is a bargain compared to the other two stores as well, but it usually isn't as good quality or variety. There is a rack upfront for "special" clothing items, like wedding dresses or leather jackets and nicer purses. All in all, it's a good store with a friendly staff, just be ready to take your time sorting through stuff.

The Salvation Army store is just down one light from the Goodwill, across from the hospital at 1139 Lexington Road. Unfortunately, they are closed on Sundays, and only stay open until 7:00 through the rest of the week. Also, they do not accept donations after 6:00, and there is no after hours drop off bin like Goodwill. Their store is much bigger than the Goodwill, but the most awesome thing is how clean and organized it is compared to other thrift stores. There are obvious sections for various kinds of items: seasonal, women's, men's, and children's clothing, housewares, books, furniture, artwork, crafts and fabric. The Salvation Army people even sort clothing and household items by color! What a help to the customer! Not only that, but they do seasonal displays like the retail stores do; bringing out fourth of July items at the right time of year, or shorts for summer, or back to school stuff for fall, etc. They use the furniture they get to create reading areas near the bookshelf, dining room settings, or what-have-you. Their prices can be a little more than I think they should be for some of the housewares or clothing, but you can't beat their prices when they have their tag sales. For example: 50% off all kids' clothes at back to school time, or all skirts for 99 cents. Also, if you're a book lover, stop here! Most books are under a dollar (and often under fifty cents), with a few hardcover new books at 1.99 or 2.99 tops. If you're looking for old college textbooks, there is often a wide assortment here. They also frequently have "free to a good home" baskets out front full of random items.

Lastly, there's the Peddler's Mall in the Outlet mall, at 401 Outlet Center Drive. This is where people rent booths or tables to "peddle" their wares, so this is a little "higher-end" thrifting, if there is such a thing. You can often find really good prices on nice and unique furniture here. However, everyone seems to think their Aunt Trudy's ceramic hippo from 1933 is some kind of rare antique, and the inflated prices reflect those unfounded ideas. On the other hand, you can also find good deals on nice home decor items cheaper than in most retail outfits and just as cute. Plan to spend hours wandering through all the various booths here. The place is huge, and it's easy to get engrossed in everything!

Happy thrifting!