Milwaukee, WI

Everyone loves a bargain, but where do Milwaukee’s bargain hunters go for thrift shopping? Milwaukee is home to a number of great (and not-so-great) thrift shops, and in this three part feature will take a look at the best and worst of Milwaukee’s thrift shops. The first segment will feature the thrift behemoth Goodwill Industries. The second segment will examine some of the other large thrift shops like the Salvation Army. The final installment will take a look at some of the smaller, boutique thrifts.

Part One: Goodwill Industries

Perhaps the most well-known and widespread of Milwaukee’s thrift stores are the Goodwills. Since Goodwill has the advantage of being so well-known, they receive many more donations than other thrift stores and accordingly the selections they feature do not get so stale. Staff at Goodwill is on the whole friendly and helpful, making shopping at Goodwill a consistently pleasant experience.

The Milwaukee area has four Goodwill locations, but not all Goodwills are created equal.

Franklin Store
6941 S. 27th Street in Franklin (located behind Gander Mountain on S. Riverwood Blvd.)
While not quite the cream of the crop, this Goodwill is always relatively neat, clean and usually good for a nice clothing find or two. For some reason, casino shirts and rockabilly wear turn up here on a regular basis, so if that’s your thing, this is your place. This location also seems to have an unusual amount of name brand purses at any given time. Furniture shopping can be hit or miss, as some days they have lots of nice offerings, and others they don’t have much of anything. Decor and glassware are fairly strong here. Overall, this is a nice Goodwill and worth a drive.

Oklahoma Avenue Store
11000 W. Oklahoma Avenue in West Allis
If you only have time for one Goodwill, this should be it. The clothing tends to be good quality and great variety. Record heads will find a nice selection of vinyl. The furniture is some of the best at any of Milwaukee’s thrift stores, and for some reason this store seems to have the most incoming furniture daily. The workers at this location are always extra helpful and extra friendly too.

Palmer Street Store
3900 N. Palmer Street
Unless you live in the area, this Goodwill is not a good bet for clothing or furniture. Items tend to be lower quality and the selection doesn’t seem as varied. The store itself is a bit cluttered as well. If you are desperate for some thrifting, give this one a try, but if you are in a hurry your time is better spent at any of the other three locations.

Milwaukee Store
6055 N. 91st St.
This store is another great Goodwill. Well lit and clean, this store is the opposite of what most people think of when they imagine thrift shopping. Clothing is very strong at this location and the variety is impressive. Furniture is not always a strong suit but some good finds can be had if your timing is right. Knicknacks and decor are always available in great quantity, and more often than not there are quality items hidden among the rest.

For more information on Goodwill Industries in Southeastern Wisconsin, including all locations and store hours, visit the Goodwill SEW website.

The next installment of Thrifting in Milwaukee will feature some of the other larger thrift stores, including the American Council of the Blind and the Salvation Army.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Thrift, Resale