The Twin Cities thrifting scene is snow joke. At these St Paul and Minneapolis thrift stores, explore refurbished antiques, charming tchotchkes, clothing from every era, and DIY supplies.
The local art scene is the Spoonbridge and Cherry on top.
Looking for an outfit to make you feel positively Prince-ly? Then grab your cash and make it (purple) rain with one of these thrift stores (or all of them!).
While you wait at Caribou for a caffeine fix, prep yourself for your thrifting adventure by perusing our thrift shopping tips (or watching the highlights below).
Index: The Best Minneapolis & St Paul Thrift Stores
- Old School By Steeple People Thrift Store Jump to store
- Groovy’s Minneapolis Vintage Store Jump to store
- Twin Cities Habitat For Humanity Restore Jump to store
- The Cat And The Cobra Jump to store
- Hidden Treasures Thrift Store Jump to store
- Repair Lair Jump to store
- Southside Vintage & Quality Goods Jump to store
- St Vincent De Paul Thrift Stores Jump to store
- Flying Pig Thrift Store St Paul Jump to store
- Back In Black Thrift & Estate Resurrection Jump to store
- Everyday People Clothing Exchange Jump to store
Old School By Steeple People Thrift Store
Old School by Steeple People is a community staple keeping wardrobe staples affordable for a good cause.
First established in 1979, then reopened in 2018, this Minneapolis thrift store is almost entirely run by volunteers and has been a cornerstone of the downtown community for decades.
Since opening, Old School has donated over 1.5 million dollars to community outreach programs like Groveland Food Shelf, the Courage Center, and the Women’s Prison Book Project.
Check out Old School for kitschy kitchenware, live plants, old school roller-skates, and more.
Price Range: $
Groovy’s Minneapolis Vintage Store
Groovy’s is a groovy little thrift store in Minneapolis.
Flip through their collection of vintage records to score the perfect playlist for any season.
Or peruse wall to wall shelves of eclectic glassware, coffee mugs, and vintage fall decor curated every year during spooky season. Think: jack-o-lanterns, ancient tomes, and pin up witches.
Groovy’s rock and roll vibe and friendly, family run atmosphere make it one of the best for both locals and out of towners.
Price Range: $$-$$$
Twin Cities Habitat For Humanity Restore
Ready to finally tackle that DIY project? Let Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore help.
From small projects to major remodels, ReStore Twin Cities stocks everything you need to get started on a budget: furniture, lighting, appliances, paint, and tools for the install.
This unique thrift store accepts inventory from local retailers and contractors so customers can shop professional quality at discounted prices.
As the name suggests, all sales support Habitat for Humanity’s mission to secure safe and affordable housing for families in need.
Price Range: $-$$
The Cat And The Cobra
The Cat and the Cobra is tucked in a moody, industrial space with nostalgic lighting and vintage tees on display from floor to ceiling.
Vintage is this store’s specialty. Shop 20th-century workwear, funky knitwear, corsets and bustiers, or patchwork denim.
On the way out, stop by Mother Co. next door to get your houseplant fix.
Not a local? No problem!
Shop The Cat and the Cobra’s Etsy shop instead. Each listing includes detailed photography so you know exactly what you’re getting before you buy.
Price Range: $$-$$$
Hidden Treasures Thrift Store
Enter Hidden Treasures and find a community of neighbors with a vision to “enhance the lives” of everyone who walks through their door.
Their mission is to help formerly incarcerated individuals experiencing reentry or recovery transition successfully by providing a “restorative work environment.”
Conveniently located just outside the city, this thrift store also hosts a Makers Market featuring local artists and food vendors.
That’s on top of their selection of clothing, footwear, homewares, furniture, decor, artwork, and more.
Price Range: $-$$
Repair Lair
Repair, learn, consign, and shop under one roof.
Repair Lair is one of the best thrift stores in Minneapolis thanks to their belief that “the greenest gear is the gear you’ve got.”
With that philosophy in mind, they specialize in fixing outdoor equipment. Think: tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, jackets, and more.
Mending what you already own conserves energy and materials.
Price Range: $-$$
Southside Vintage & Quality Goods
As far as MN thrift stores go, Southside Vintage & Quality Goods has got to be the coziest.
Through plant-filled windows lies a selection of vintage furniture and décor that’s been handpicked and thoughtfully styled.
The lived-in feel conjures images of decking your own home out with the likes of refurbished mid-century modern accent chairs or a boldly retro shag rug circa 1970.
Before you head in, click over to Southside’s social media to find out whether owners Chris and Susan Donnelly are in shop or out treasure hunting, and for a sneak peek of their latest discoveries.
Price Range: $$-$$$
St Vincent De Paul Thrift Stores
St Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is a familiar name to savvy thrifters around the world.
And each locale, whatever country it’s in, shares a commitment to “reaching people where they are,” both physically and emotionally.
For these thrift stores (in both Minneapolis and St Paul), this means partnering with healthcare, schools, food pantries, housing services, and other local non-profits to build engaging and effective community outreach.
Their affordable prices and service-oriented atmosphere give pre-loved clothing, housewares, small appliances, and books a second chance.
Price Range: $
Flying Pig Thrift Store St Paul
Flying Pig Thrift is a non-profit and cooperative thrift shop.
Flying Pig donates to other local nonprofits fighting for social justice and reduced gun violence. They also maintain a dedicated space featuring local artisans.
Founded to honor the owner’s late sister’s eclectic and generous spirit, Flying Pig soars to the top of our list of St Paul’s best thrift stores.
Whether it’s a delicate, vintage tea set, retro outfit, or an aptly placed piggy bank, discover something just as rare and unusual as the name suggests.
Price Range: $-$$
Back In Black Thrift & Estate Resurrection
Back in Black Thrift & Estate Resurrection does home and storage space clean outs, then delivers the goods to Back in Black Thrift, where customers can shop unbeatable sales for gems.
Think: vintage portrait rings, designer bags, Gucci sneakers, you name it.
As recycling and repurposing experts, their work takes keepsakes out of storage and keeps them away from landfills.
Not a local? Check out Back in Black Thrift’s eBay boutique to score secondhand Minneapolis wares from your sofa.
Price Range: $-$$
Everyday People Clothing Exchange
Older than most of the thrift stores in St Paul, Everyday People Clothing Exchange has supplied everyday people with fun and fancy-free clothing since 1997.
They’re a one-stop shop for your favorite era: from 80s shaker sweaters and 70s flair to a full on Great Gatsby-esque flapper getup.
Scroll through Instagram for a chance to snag hot items before they’re scooped up.
While you’re there, look out for featured “caturday” fits: aka cat-themed attire on Saturdays, courtesy of co-owners and sisters Liza Youngscap and (appropriately named) Kitty Van Hofwegen.
Price Range: $-$$
Why Thrift In Minneapolis & St Paul?
The City of Lakes knows a thing or two about water and waste.
As fresh water becomes increasingly scarce throughout the globe, conservation is more important than ever.
Textile production alone uses 93 billion m3 of water every year, but making water saving choices can help to change that.
Where fast fashion encourages constant consumption, slow fashion keeps sustainability in mind.
Since secondhand shopping (AKA not buying new) is one of the best ways to avoid fast fashion, supporting thrift stores is a great way to scratch that shopping itch in a planet friendly way.