Secondhand September (Part I): OFG’s top 10 thrift/reuse shops in Austin

Howdy fellow Austinites,

Organized For Good is celebrating Secondhand September by sharing our top 10 favorite places to shop for pre-loved items!

This year, we’re honoring our beloved city of Austin, TX, where a bustling culture of upcycling, thrifting, and slow fashion thrives. Wait, what? You’ve never heard of Secondhand September?! To recap, Secondhand September is all about dipping into the local scene of pre-existing goods (clothes, accessories, furniture, home goods, and hobby items). As you probably know, the most sustainable way to shop is buying things that aren’t newly manufactured. They’ve been around the block (maybe a few times), and that just makes them more cool, more unique, and more exciting to stumble upon.

Shopping secondhand first helps reduce waste and ensure that local resources are put to good use for a longer time.

This September, make your goal to see what you are able to shop secondhand first rather than buying things new.

And don’t worry, once you’ve perused our list below, you’ll have plenty of amazing options. Not to mention that many of these stores operate as non-profits and benefit worthy causes in the community. We’ve outlined our personal favorite destinations to donate, shop, and score really cool finds.

Can’t wait to see you in the aisles at:

1. Heartening -  Heartening

Photo Credit: Yelp

• What: Heartening operates a free clothing stand, a $3 clothing warehouse, and individually priced items in their premium room.

• Location and Hours: Located at 650 Canion St (back right side), Austin, TX 78752. Wednesday–Friday: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

• Donations to Bring: Accepts clothing during business hours. 90% of donations are offered for free at the stand or passed to local charities; the rest are sold to help cover operations.

• Founding & Mission: Kelley Rytlewski founded Heartening during the pandemic, starting with sorting donations from her home and evolving into a community-driven redistribution hub. The free clothing stand opened on January 1, 2024. Heartening aims to divert usable items from landfills while fostering volunteer-powered kindness.

• Bonus: We interviewed Kelley Rytlewski this past Valentine’s Day. Read about her amazing journey developing the mission of Heartening *here*.

2. Hope Family Thrift Store (ADRN Thrift) | Hope Family Thrift

• What They Accept: Gently used household items: furniture, clothing, shoes, décor, art, jewelry, toys, books, small appliances (fully-working), linens. Excluded: ovens, large appliances, built-ins, office equipment, worn mattresses, old cribs or car seats unless brand new.

• Location & Hours: 13801 Burnet Rd #200, Austin, TX 78727. Open Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; closed Sundays. Donations accepted Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. 

• Known For: Operated as ADRN (Austin Disaster Relief Network), it supports disaster survivors—proceeds fund relief efforts.

3. The Salvation Army Family Thrift Stores | Salvation Army

Photo credit: Yelp

• What: Gently used clothes, furniture, appliances, household items. Pick-up options available.

• Locations & Hours
  Several in Austin:

• South Congress: 4216 S Congress Ave

• Research Blvd: 8801 B Research Blvd

• Round Rock: 601 W Louis Henna Blvd
  Hours vary, but typically Mon–Sat from 10 a.m.–8 p.m. 

• Mission: 100% of proceeds fund the local Adult Rehabilitation Center—supporting rehabilitation and recovery services.

4. Austin Habitat for Humanity ReStore |  Austin Habitat for Humanity

Photo Credit: Claire Shoop, Community Impact

• What: Home improvement donors: furniture, appliances, building supplies. Items help support Habitat’s housing mission. (Exact donations and disallowed items are managed per store.) 

• Locations & Hours

• South Austin: 500 W Ben White Blvd — Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

• NW Austin: 13804 N US-183 — Same hours
  Donation doors close one hour before store closing.

• Mission: ReStore supports affordable housing initiatives led by Habitat for Humanity by reselling quality donated goods.

5. Treasure City Thrift | Treasure City Thrift

Photo credit: Treasure City Facebook Page

• Donations & Specialty: Works with local charities, promotes sustainable and zero-waste living. Thoughtful, affordable donation programs. They accept a wide range of donation categories including clothing, home goods, furniture, and novelties.

• Location & Hours

• Until Sept 21, they are located at 2142 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702. Open Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; closed Mondays.

• *NOTE* They are moving locations to Cameron & 52nd in late Sept 2025. Donation final call at the current location was Sept 14th, and they will open the new location later this fall. 

• Local Roots: Owned by a group of seven locals—thriving as a community-centric, affordable gem. Their tagline is “Solidarity Not Charity.”

• Bonus: Love Treasure City? They are looking for help with their big move, and you can support them by sending them a clutch venmo (@treasurecitythrift) or through their gofundme page, *here*.

6. APA! Thrift (Austin Pets Alive!) | Austin Pets Alive!

Photo Credit: Austin Pets Alive Thrift

• What: Accepts new & gently used clothing, accessories, home décor, furniture, electronics. 

• Locations & Hours:

• Several Austin-area shops (Burnet, Oltorf, 51st, Round Rock, Pflugerville).

• Sun–Thurs 12 p.m.–6 p.m., Fri–Sat 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

• Pull up your nearest shop on maps to double check hours!

• Mission: Fun, boutique-style stores with quirky events (dog yoga, foster-pup takeovers), a store cat named “Bug,” local art, vintage vibes—thrift with heart. Supports local animal rescue—net proceeds fund lifesaving programs.

7. Austin Creative Reuse (ACR) | Austin Creative Reuse

Photo Credit: CBS We Are Austin

• Donations Accepted: By appointment only (released two weeks in advance). Welcomes a wide range of creative materials: art supplies, fabric, yarn, scrapbooking materials, vintage collectibles, tools, and more. 

• Location & Hours: 2005 Wheless Lane, Austin, TX 78723. Open Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.–6 p.m.; closed Mondays .

• Mission: A nonprofit fostering sustainability, education, and creative reuse. It serves artists, educators, and makers by making donated materials available affordably and diverting over 97% of waste from landfills.

8. Use2 Neighborhood Reuse Center | Use2 Reuse Center

Photo credit: Use2 Neighborhood Reuse Center Facebook Page

What: A community reuse hub in South Austin, offering affordable secondhand household goods, clothing, furniture, books, and more.
Location & Hours: 6055 US-290, Austin, TX 78735. Open Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (Check Facebook for holiday or weather updates.)
Donations: Accepts reusable household items, clothing, and small furniture. Emphasis on keeping usable goods out of landfills.
Mission: Run by community volunteers, Use2 promotes environmental sustainability and affordable access to quality goods while fostering neighborhood connections.

9. Top Drawer Thrift | Top Drawer Thrift

Photo Credit: Austin Chronicle

• Location: 5312-A Airport Blvd, Austin TX, 78751 (corner of North loop/53rd.)

• Hours: Tues - Sat 11am - 5pm. Closed Sun-Mon.

• Mission: Top Drawer is a 100% donation driven thrift store with all merchandise having been lovingly donated by our community. Every dollar spent helps fund their hospice and recuperative care programs as well as their subsidized housing programs for people living with HIV.

• Bonus: Want to help Top Drawer keep their iconic chest of drawers? They are looking for help paying to remove it from the roof and relocate it, and you can contribute *here*.

10. UT Surplus REuse Store | UT Surplus Store

Photo Credit: CBS Austin

What: Public resale of surplus University of Texas property. Items include furniture, electronics, office supplies, athletic apparel/equipment, books, artwork, and more. Prices drop 25% each month items remain unsold.
Location & Hours: J.J. Pickle Research Campus, PRC Building 30 (3300 Read Granberry Trl, Austin, TX 78758). Open Thursdays 3–7 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Contact: surplus@austin.utexas.edu | 512-471-7889
Mission: Supports UT’s Resource Recovery and Zero Waste goals by repurposing university assets for public use, making UT memorabilia and equipment available at affordable prices.

And one more time for the people in the back:

And one more time for the people in the back:

• For furniture or building materials: Habitat for Humanity ReStore is your best bet.

• For eclectic, affordable home décor or everyday stuff: Treasure City and Hope Family Thrift are gold mines.

• For pet lovers who want to help: APA! Thrift combines fun shopping with life-saving efforts.

• To support rehab or community aid: Salvation Army and Heartening.

• Looking for disaster recovery support: ADRN Thrift (Hope Family) directly helps local survivors.

• For community-driven reuse and free finds: go with Heartening.

• For creative supplies or crafting resources: Austin Creative Reuse is your maker’s haven.

• For HIV/AIDS care and housing support: Top Drawer Thrift directly funds Project Transitions programs.

• For neighborhood reuse and affordable games + puzzles: Use2 Reuse Center keeps goods in circulation.

• For university gear, furniture, and surplus finds: UT Surplus REuse Store is a treasure trove tied to UT’s Zero Waste mission.

Thus concludes our batch of favorite places in Austin to donate, shop, and sometimes just peruse. We wish everyone an amazing time secondhand shopping, and look forward to our second installment of Secondhand September which dives into best consignment stores and places to sell that pile that’s been sitting in a corner for a few months… We all have them!

Excited for more on Secondhand September? Check out our blog from September 2024 about the power of being a consumer and all the amazing benefits when you shop secondhand items: *Read Here*