Best Thrift Stores in Boston
A Guide to Boston’s Best Vintage and Secondhand Shopping
Boston, with its rich history and diverse culture, is home to a vibrant thrift store scene. Whether you're a budget-conscious shopper, a vintage enthusiast, or simply enjoy the thrill of the hunt, thrift stores in Boston offer a treasure trove of unique finds waiting to be discovered.
What You’ll Find in This Guide
- Vintage clothing boutiques
- Affordable thrift stores
- Designer consignment shops
- Retro furniture and home decor
- Cambridge and Somerville hidden gems
- Sustainable secondhand shopping
From trendy clothing and accessories to retro furniture and collectibles, there's something for everyone at these eclectic shops. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at some of the best thrift stores in Boston, where you can score great deals and unearth hidden gems while supporting sustainable shopping practices.
Boomerangs The Thrift Store - Cambridge / South End
(operated by More Than Words)
With multiple locations across the city, Boomerangs is a beloved thrift store chain in Boston known for its curated selection of clothing, accessories, furniture, and home goods. Whether you're hunting for vintage clothing or searching for unique home decor items, Boomerangs has something for everyone.
📍 Cambridge: 563 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
🕒 Mon–Sat: 11am–7pm | Sun: 12pm–6pm
📞 (617) 524-5120
🔗 shopboomerangs.org
Buffalo Exchange
For those with a penchant for trendy, fashion-forward finds, Buffalo Exchange is a must-visit thrift store in Boston. Located in the vibrant Davis Square neighborhood of Somerville, Buffalo Exchange offers a curated selection of stylish clothing and accessories for men and women. Whether you're looking to update your wardrobe with on-trend pieces or score designer labels at a fraction of the cost, Buffalo Exchange has you covered.
📍 Brookline: 312 Harvard St, Brookline, MA
📍 Somerville: 238 Elm St, Somerville, MA
🕒 Mon–Sat: 11am–8pm | Sun: 11am–7pm
📞 Brookline: (617) 779-7901 | Somerville: (617) 629-5383
🔗 buffaloexchange.com
photo credit: BostonCentral
Cambridge Antique Market
The Cambridge Antique Market is a five-story antique mall in East Cambridge that sells nostalgic items, antique furniture, vintage clothes, textiles, artwork, jewelry and more. What makes this market different from others is the sheer volume offered across 150 booths, all within a fairly wide range of prices.
The parking lot for this venue is very small, so if you have to drive, get there early to find a spot. If you can take the T to Lechmere, it’s a three-minute walk from the station.
📍 Cambridge: 201 Msgr. O'Brien Highway, Cambridge, MA
🕒 Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 6pm
📞 (617) 868-9655.
🔗 cambridgeantiquemarket.com
Goodwill Industries
Goodwill is a household name in the world of thrift shopping, and Boston is home to several Goodwill locations where you can browse a wide variety of gently used items at affordable prices. From clothing and shoes to books and electronics, Goodwill stores offer a diverse selection of secondhand goods. Plus, by shopping at Goodwill, you're not only saving money but also supporting job training and employment programs for individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
📍 Boston: 1010 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA
📍 Cambridge: 520 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
📍 Allston: 965 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA
🕒 Mon–Sat: 9/10am–6/7pm | Sun: 12pm–6pm
📞 Varies by location
🔗 goodwillmass.org
The Garment District
Located in Cambridge, just across the river from Boston, The Garment District is a vintage and used clothing store that's a favorite among thrifty fashionistas. This sprawling store is famous for its "By the Pound" section, where you can fill a bag with clothing and pay by the pound—a budget-friendly option for savvy shoppers. In addition to clothing, The Garment District also offers a wide selection of costumes, accessories, and retro finds.
📍 200 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
🕒 Retail: Mon–Fri: 11am–8pm | Sat: 10am–8pm | Sun: 11am–7pm
🧺 By-the-Pound: Same hours, closes Fri at 6pm
📞 (617) 876-5230
🔗 garmentdistrict.com
Great Eastern Trading Company
Nestled in the eclectic Central Square neighborhood of Cambridge, the Great Eastern Trading Company is a local institution beloved by thrifters and vintage enthusiasts alike. This spacious store offers an extensive selection of vintage clothing, accessories, records, books, and unique treasures from decades past.
Whether you're searching for a one-of-a-kind piece to add to your wardrobe or hoping to score some retro home decor, Great Eastern Trading Company has something for everyone. With its laid-back atmosphere and ever-changing inventory, it's no wonder that this hidden gem has been a favorite haunt for Bostonians in the know since 1969.
📍 49 River St, Cambridge, MA
🕒 12pm to 7pm Wednesday - Saturday, 1pm to 6pm Sunday & Monday, closed Tuesday
📞 (617) 354-5279
🔗 greateasternvintage.com
High Energy Vintage
It’s back to the ’80s and earlier at this Union Square gem that sells vintage clothing and funky shoes along with vinyl records and vintage electronics—including working VCRs and video games. It originally began as a pop-up at the Sunday SoWa vintage market and proved so popular the owners opened their own storefront that beckons with an arcade game and a welcoming, down-to-earth vibe.
📍 429 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA
🕒 Mon 12 to 6, closed Tue and Wed, Thu 12 to 6, Fri and Sat 12 to 7, Sun 12 to 6
📞 (857) 995-8055
🔗 highenergyvintage.com
Sister Thrift
Sister Thrift has 2 locations outside of Boston in Watertown and Framingham. New Merchandise Daily! Extremely fair prices and a fun selection of clothing and home goods.
A classic thrift shop, with a lot of random stuff and kind of cramped for space. Fun to poke around in. Clothing is organized by size, but not by details (like long sleeved, short sleeved, cardigan, pullover etc.). Not a huge deal, it just means a little more digging.
Sister Thrift was founded in 2004 by sisters Tiffany LeBrun and Rhonda Michaud. The stores benefit the MetroWest Humane Society, a no-kill cat shelter in Ashland, MA. They set out to do something together that benefited the community, the environment an d the animals.
📍 Watertown, MA
370 Pleasant St
📞 617-923-1168
🕒 Sunday and Monday: CLOSED
🔗 sisterthrift.com
Swank Seconds
Tucked along Broadway in Somerville is Swank Seconds, a secondhand shop with a curated collection of fine leather goods, accessories, and clothing for women and men.
The store’s assortment of shoes deserves a special shout out. You’ll find row upon row of leather cowboy boots, designer heels and other vintage footwear.
📍 282 Broadway in Somerville, (near Broadway and Grant St.)
🕒 Mon to Sat 11 to 7 and Sun 11 to 5
📞 (617) 755-6643
🔗 secondhandswank.com
Urban Renewals
Tucked away in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston, Urban Renewals is a hidden gem among thrift stores in the city. This large, warehouse-style store offers a vast array of secondhand goods, including clothing, furniture, housewares, and more.
With its constantly changing inventory and affordable prices, Urban Renewals is a favorite haunt for bargain hunters and DIY enthusiasts looking for unique pieces to repurpose and upcycle.
📍 630 American Legion Hwy, Boston, MA
🕒 Mon to Sat 9 to 6, Sun noon to 5.
📞 617-522-7383
🔗 familythrift.com
Vivant Vintage
Vivant Vintage made its debut on the streets of Boston. Owner Justin Pomerleau started off selling thrifted clothes out of a cart similar to the kind you’d see on the Boston Common peddling popcorn. Pomerleau’s small operation expanded over the years into a brick and mortar shop you can visit in Allston and an online store.
You’ll find a range of items here, from funky, patterned sweaters and coats to vintage lingerie, European workwear, and even jewelry and crystals. Prices range, though they can definitely skew high for designer items or those made from natural materials (but real leather isn’t usually cheap, anyway.)
Vivant Vintage recently unveiled its latest location on Newbury Street, in the former Johnny Cupcakes space, drawing an unexpectedly large crowd on its March 1 opening day. Unlike its Allston spot, this location features designer apparel alongside its curated vintage collection. Also, a “vintage” photobooth awaits.
📍 332 Newbury St, Boston
🕒 Daily: 11am–6pm
📞 (857) 228-8565
🔗 vivantvintage.com
Thrifting is Fun!
In short, thrifting in Boston offers a fun and sustainable way to shop while uncovering hidden treasures and supporting local charitable organizations. Whether you're on the hunt for vintage clothing, unique home decor items, or budget-friendly finds, the city's thrift stores have something for everyone.
So grab your reusable tote bag and embark on a thrifting adventure in Boston—you never know what treasures you'll discover along the way!
Find More Fun Things to do in Boston
You can find more great ideas for adventures and things to do in Boston for young adults in our handy guide to exploring the city. Discover a new place to go Rock Climbing, play some Simulator Golf, and lots more. We also have a great guide about Things to Do in Boston on a Rainy Day.
For more information about things to do in the Boston Area in the Winter, visit our Winter Guide to Family Fun in Boston, a list of where to ice skate in Boston, and our February Vacation Guide. Being in the know about where the best sledding hills near Boston can also be key for outdoor family fun.
Stay on top of all the fun happenings in Boston with our Boston events calendar and our weekly Boston events newsletter. We highlight lots of family-friendly events and activities to help you make the best of your free time.
Stacey Sao has been the Managing Director of the family-friendly events and activities website, BostonCentral for over 20 years. She continues to enjoy discovering and exploring new places to visit in the Greater Boston area.