While we do love a shopping spree at a mall, there is nothing better than the best thrift stores in Chicago. It’s the exhilaration of opening the door to your local vintage store, sifting through a plethora of clothing, and finally coming across a beautiful jacket, a patent leather purse, or a set of antique painted plates—all at an affordable price. Whether you’re in the process of cleaning out your closet or moving into a new home, finding pieces that surpass fleeting TikTok trends is essential to curating a personal style.
We wanted to share the beauty of buying resale with a list of the best thrift stores in Chicago because hidden gems are ubiquitous; you just need to know where to begin the scavenge.
1. Lost Girls Vintage, Various Locations
This vintage store curates a collection of clothes for those who choose to be individualistic regardless of societal norms. Founded by Sarah Azzouzi and Kyla Embrey, Lost Girls Vintage’s mantra, “no risk, no reward,” permeates the store from the 1930s to 1990s items they’ve selected. When you try one of their pieces, you’ll be reminded of the type of confident stride that stems from an incredible outfit. For a person in your life that loves vintage hunting, take them here for their next birthday.
📍Addresses: 1947 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 2710 N Sawyer Ave, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Monday—Friday. 12-7 PM, Sat-Sun 11-6 PM
2. North Shore Exchange, Various Locations
North Shore Exchange is a nonprofit organization, with sales primarily supporting Chicagoland charities serving children and families living in poverty. As a more highly selective boutique store, the consignment store offers a curated selection of upscale and contemporary women’s fashion, jewelry, distinctive furniture, and home decor.
📍Address: 900 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 🕒 Store hours: Monday—Sat. 11-6 PM, Sunday 12-5 PM
📍Address: 1100 Central Ave, Wilmette, IL 🕒 Store hours: Tuesday—Sunday. 10-6 PM
📍Address: 372 Hazel Ave, Glencoe, IL 🕒 Store hours: Tuesday—Sunday. 10-530 PM
3. Life of Vintage, Lakeview
This essential thrift store in Chicago is brimming with hundreds of garments neatly organized by color and all lined in racks throughout the showroom. If you’re looking for a cozy sweatshirt, an oversized shirt printed with your favorite sports team or university, or a quirky graphic with a comical phrase, this is the place for you.
📍Address: 614 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Saturday—Sunday 12-6 PM
4. Knee Deep Vintage, Pilsen
In the heart of Pilson, this Chicago vintage store is nestled in the historic music venue, Thalia Hall, which spans over 1500 square feet. Now that might be daunting, but this is the solace for spunky, fashion-forward clothing; whether you need a 50s dress for a themed party or a grungy 90s shirt for a Nirvana cover band show, find anything here.
📍Address: 1219 W 18th St, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Monday—Saturday 12-7 PM, Sunday 12-6 PM
5. Cynthia’s Consignment, Lincoln Park
Cynthia’s Consignment is a small intimate boutique specializing in designer brands and carries a variety of luxury clothing, handbags, jewelry, and shoes. The brands range from Rails, All Saints, and Isabel Marant to more expensive pieces from Chanel, Hermès, Prada, and Gucci.
📍Address: 2218 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Monday—Saturday 11 AM-5 PM, Sunday 12-5 PM
6. Shangri-La Vintage, Roscoe Village
A Roscoe Village staple since 1992, this cozy vintage shop in Chicago offers affordable clothing from the 1950s to the 1980s. You’ll get to sift through everything from clothing, accessories, jewelry, hats, vintage fabrics, and more. Debbie and Jim Gallo have you covered if you want to boogie to the Bee Gees in bell bottoms or refresh your purse collection with a patent shoulder bag.
📍Address: 1952 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Monday/Thursday/Friday/12–6 PM, Sat-Sun 12-5 PM
7. Elliott Consignment, Various Locations
Founded in 1996 by the Elliot Family, Elliot Consignment’s champions handpicked, in-style designer apparel that is either gently used or brand new. You’ll uncover anything from rare vintage designer pieces, and some garments you’ll find are from the current season, so you are fated to get a reasonable price.
📍Address: 2465 N. Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 🕒 Store hours: Monday—Sunday 11-5 PM
📍Address: 3015 N. Broadway Chicago, IL 🕒 Store hours: Monday—Thursday 11-6 PM, Friday 11-6 PM, Sat. 10-7 PM, Sun. 12-6 PM
8. Crossroads Trading Co., Various Locations
Crossroads Trading Co. is a buy/sell/trade establishment in Chicago that keeps its clothing to the current season. The curated secondhand finds are continuously changing, and they have the best of everything from clothing, accessories, and shoes. However, even if you want to do vacation secondhand shopping, they have locations in NYC, LA, and other cities as well.
📍Address: 2711 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 📍Address: 1519 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Monday—Friday 11-8 PM, Saturday 10-8 PM, Sunday 10-7 PM
9. Buffalo Exchange, Various Locations
A trailblazer in the resale fashion industry, Buffalo Exchange is another buy/sell/trade with multiple locations throughout Chicago. In both stores, you’ll find an assortment of vintage, designer, and one-of-a-kind pieces ranging from a few dollars to upwards of a hundred.
📍Address: 1478 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 📍Address: 5252 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Monday—Sunday 11-8 PM
10. Mt. Sinai Resale Shop, Lake View East
This resale shop has been around for over 34 years and is vast, concentrating on furniture, housewares, and clothing. It’s considered one of the best thrift stores in Chicago. You can stop into the store daily and still discover something new from the floods on regular inventory. There is even a designer section for a bargain from labels like Prada, YSL, and Manolo Blahnik. Shopping here also comes at a good cause, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Mt. Sinai Hospital.
📍Address: 2902 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Monday—Friday 10-7 PM, Saturday 10-6 PM, Sunday 11-5 PM
11. Out of the Closet, Boystown
This is one of the thrift stores in Chicago where you’ll find a bit of everything, such as clothing, books, houseware, and other unique finds that won’t break the bank. Like Mt. Sinai, Out of the Closet’s proceeds go into providing HIV services worldwide when you purchase items here.
📍Address: 3311 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Monday—Saturday 10-7 PM, Sunday 10-6 PM
12. Dovetail, West Town
Dovetail’s store was established in 2008 and currently lies in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood, replenished with high-quality handpicked items designed to be a lasting closet and home staple. Owner Julie Ghatan found inspiration for Dovetail from growing up shopping at flea markets, estate sales, and thrift stores in Chicago, and it shows from individualistic pieces found in the store.
📍Address: 1452 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Saturday—Sunday 12-5 PM
13. Kokorokoko, Wicker Park
Kokorokoko, like its name, is colorful and brings levity that brightens the store when you walk in. Considered the best thrift shop in Chicago for era-specific clothing, the store is packed with clothing and accessories and stocked with beautifully sourced vintage gems. It is one of the best thrift stores for treasures from the 80s, 90s, and Y2K.
📍Address: 1323 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Monday—Thursday 12-7 PM
14. El Dorado, Logan Square
Located at the heart of Logan Square, this Hispanic family-owned vintage shop is one of the best thrift stores in Chicago for everyday elevated finds. Known as the Lost City of Gold, you will find treasures while scanning the vast racks. This is the place you want to go to if you want a forever sweater—or you’ve been eyeing a dress that’s just a little too expensive; this is the store where you will find something similar and unique.
📍Address: 1472 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
🕒 Store hours: Wednesday—Friday 12-7 PM, Saturday—Sunday 11-7 PM
15. Consume Vintage
If you’re looking for a tastefully curated vintage shop in Chicago with lots of unique finds, then head to Consumer Vintage. This family-owned and operated boutique specializes in rare vintage apparel and accessories.
📍Address: 3452 S Western Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60608
🕒 Store hours: Fri – Tues, 12 PM – 7 PM
16. Pilsen Vintage
📍Address: 31430 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608
🕒 Store hours: Monday—Friday, 11 AM-6 PM, Sunday—Sunday, 11 AM- 7PM
17. Goodwill
This long-standing nonprofit chain has a range of pre-owned clothing, housewares, and miscellaneous items. Sometimes, someone has walked away with a $5,000 Prada purse for $50 or bought a $3 pencil sketch only to find out it was a Dali original. You truly never know what you’re going to find, which is Goodwill remains one best thrift stores in Chicago.
📍Address: 1201 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
🕒 Store hours: Monday—Saturday, 9 AM-7 PM, Sunday 10 AM-5 PM