Are you looking for some funky outfits or just for a great bargain? Vintage and thrift stores are the way to go. Salem has a fantastic array of stores selling used items, from clothing and books to housewares and sporting goods. Shopping in these unique shops is like a treasure hunt – you can’t go in with an idea of what you want, and you might find a great deal!
Salem Vintage Stores
Then Again Classics
233 Commercial Street NE, Salem
Then Again Classics, located in downtown Salem, is one of the top places for vintage clothing around. The owner has carefully curated a broad array of apparel, shoes, and accessories from different eras. The window displays are fun and constantly changing, showing the diverse wear that customers can find inside. Then Again Classics has a good mix of both formal and informal clothing and is open every day except Wednesday, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. and until 9 p.m. on Fridays.
Blast Off Vintage
860 High Street NE, Salem
Blast Off Vintage and its skate shop are another excellent choice for informal vintage clothing. If you’re looking for some fun sweaters or button-down shirts, this would be a great place to start. The aesthetic is mainly from the 1980s to the present, and there are some great deals. Open every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Sundays when the hours are noon to 5 p.m.
Dark Wash Vintage
189 Liberty Street NE # 209, Salem
Dark Wash Vintage, located in the Reed Opera House, is a vintage store (with some new clothing) specializing in denim and other informal wear from the 1970s-1990s. Located in the Reed Opera House, it’s a small store but very carefully curated. It’s open Wednesday to Monday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thrift Stores in Salem
In Salem, many thrift stores are connected to a charitable group and the profits fund that organization’s mission. Some are for specific local charities, while others are part of national establishments.
Union Gospel Mission Thrift Store
885 Commercial Street NE, Salem
Union Gospel Mission Thrift Store helps to fund the homeless outreach work of the Union Gospel Mission. An organization specifically focused on helping people through Christian religious work, the mission provides daily meals to the homeless and helps people find housing and work. The Thrift Store has a wide array of items and is especially strong in sporting goods. They report that every three dollars spent at the store provides a meal for someone at the mission. Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Salem ReStore
1249 13th Street SE, Salem
Connected to the national Habitat for Humanity home building organization, Salem ReStore has everything connected to home building and making. From furniture and appliances to lumber and cupboards, the ReStore is a great place to start when making upgrades or improvements in your home. They are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Thrift Store
3840 River Road N, Keizer
The Thrift Store is an ample space in Keizer, and the profits help the Boys and Girls Club. The store has a lot of clothing, but it’s also good for VHS and DVDs, as well as the usual home and sporting goods. They have great weekly sales and are open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Goodwill Stores
3235 Portland Road NE, Salem
585 Edgewater Street NW, Salem
3535 Lancaster Drive NE, Salem
When we think of a thrift store, many of us think of one of the Goodwill Stores. Goodwill Industries exists to help people with disabilities find employment through their enterprises. As in many cities and towns, Salem has multiple Goodwill stores. However, the one on Portland Road is unique because it has bins instead of the typical store setup. Customers can pick through the donations themselves and get some truly outstanding deals if they are willing to wade through many items they don’t want. The Goodwill Outlet is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
The stores on Lancaster and Edgewater (open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily) are traditional Goodwill Stores, with lots of clothing, books, aisles of home goods, furniture, sporting goods, and a pretty good puzzle and game section. They also sell their best stuff online, and prices tend to be reasonable.
One of the most gratifying parts of shopping at thrift and vintage stores is not knowing what you will find. You might discover something you never knew existed and be thrilled or horrified at your new knowledge. Or find something special for a gift that hadn’t occurred to you. Whatever your taste, browsing through a thrift or vintage store in Salem can be a fun way to discover items that are both old and new, even if you don’t buy anything!
