Feel the urge to update your closet with the latest flared jeans trend or maybe that leather skirt you have wanted for “oh so long.”
But wait, it is the middle or end of the month, and the last thing you want to do is spend excessive and unnecessary money. Then Thrift Store is for You!
There’s nothing like delving into a colourful rack of used clothes and discovering the sweater you’ve been looking for for months or a skirt that fits perfectly and goes with everything you own.
As post-lockdown makeovers begin, updating your look in a sustainable, ethical way may be tough and doesn’t break the bank.
Despite the abundance of big-brand charity stores such as Value Village and the Salvation Army, finding anything suitable can take hours and hundreds of fruitless trips to the changing rooms.
If you’ve been disheartened by previous fruitless attempts to go thrift shopping in Montreal, we’ve assembled a list of a dozen independent secondhand businesses that will rekindle your passion for thrifting.
What is Thrifting?
If you’ve heard someone say, “I’m going thrifting,” you may be curious about what they mean.
Thrifting is the process of reusing pre-owned, upcycled clothing items, accessories, and more at affordable and reduced prices! Items that have been thrifted have been loved by a prior owner, but they are typically in good condition and have enough life still to be helpful to a new owner.
As described, thrifting is shopping at a thrift outlet, garage sale, or flea market for gently used products at reduced costs.
What distinguishes a thrift outlet from other stores?
It is a store that offers gently worn clothing, furniture, and other home things at a low cost.
We receive contributions from the community every day at Goodwill, so our shelves are always loaded with loads of one-of-a-kind items.
The main distinction between a thrift shop and a retail store is that the products for sale at a thrift outlet aren’t brand new, but that doesn’t imply they’re in bad shape. Thrift shopping is a great way to give those goods a new lease of life.
Shopping in a thrift store is different from shopping at a department store. You don’t always go with a list when you go to a thrift store.
Thrift shopping is more about the quest than finding a specific item. Seeing what you can find in thrift outlets is exciting because they’re full of antique and out-of-season items.
Whatever calls to you, whatever you adore, is what you purchase! Furthermore, when you reach the checkout line, you’ll realize that your bill is substantially lower than at a retail store.
Best Thrift stores open in Montreal
1. Empire Exchange
Address- 5225 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H2T 1S4, Canada
Visit their website!
They have two locations in Little Italy and one in Mile End.
You are bound to find all your fashion cravings here. Being a clothing exchange-based business, they book appointments with their buyers and take clothes and cash donations.
This is the first and the only store in Montreal to offer exchange services. They have been serving customers in Mile End since 2013 and recently opened up their second location in 2018. You can find everything here: apothecary products, jewelry, candles, stationery, and homewares.
Also, its Empire exchange’s sister store is one of the recommended charming vintage shop out there, and unlike other stores you can use store credit when you go to thrift shops. It specializes in street style collections.
2. Annex Vintage
Address- 5364 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H2T 1S1, Canada
This and Empire-Exchange can be called sister stores. Thus, a similar funky and artsy vibe will be felt in secondhand clothes.
You might struggle to keep yourself not lost in all those racks of colourful vintage clothes. They offer a wide range of products, from vintage clothing, art prints, accessories, and homewares, to local t-shirts.
Their vintage pieces are very well-curated to match current styles and trends. Make sure to check out their website!
3. Ruse Boutique
Address- 5141 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H2T 1R9, Canada
The vibe at Ruse Boutique is sophisticated and chic.
Authentic pieces can be found here from high-end brands such as Christian Louboutin, Alexander Wang, Prada, and more. Good pieces get sold out and out of stock extremely quickly. Visit their website!
4. Ex-Voto
Address- 6534 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3C6, Canada
Relax as you can make Ex-Voto your one-stop store for everything sustainable and local.
Handmade goods from local artisans and vintage garments are sold here. Make sure to check out their website!
5. Shwap Club
Address- 6682 Jeanne Mance St, Montreal, Quebec H2V 4L2, Canada
The idea of exchanging your old clothes and making space for new statements gets you excited.
Then you can get a membership at Shwap Club vintage store.
The cost of a visit is 8$. Annual membership costs 115$ or 155$, which offers unlimited entries.
Registration for the membership can be made in-store during opening hours or can be made online.
You can bring your clothes to give, and each item they accept gives you the right to another thing of your choice, regardless of price or category.
These clothes are sorted based on the order of the arrival of swappers in a first-arrival, first-served manner, and there are no minimum or a maximum number of clothes you are allowed to bring.
For all items that they accept, you cannot recover, and for the rejected items, you can either take them back with you or leave them for donation purposes. Be sure to visit their website!
6. Kapara Vintage
Address- 3903 Saint-Denis St, Montreal, Quebec H2W 2M4, Canada
Kapara Vintage’s specialization is diversity and choice. They have an extensive catalogue that offers a collection made from secondhand fabrics and reworked pieces.
They aim to donate parts of their profits to several local non-profits. Kapara’s primary mission is to be eco-friendly in every way possible without compromising fashion.
Their dedication to philanthropy makes them one of the best thrifting stores in Montreal.
Kapara Vintage is not just a clothing store or clothing brand; more than that, it is a community that loves and supports each other.
7. Eva B and Eva D
Address-2015 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H2X 2T3, Canada
They are a staple when local fashion sense comes into talks. Eva B offers one of the biggest second-hand goods collections.
They also recently opened another store across from Eva D Saint-Laurent street, the original, where you can get curated designer pieces in vintage stock at an affordable price. Make sure to check out their website!
8. Era Vintage Wear
Address- 999 Rue du College #41, Montreal, QC H4C 2S3, Canada
It stands ready to serve you with whichever look you want to embody, let that be 80s prom attire or 60s chic dress.
This store is all about both sustainability and fashion. Here, nothing goes to waste or is out of trend. At Era, the new is meshed with the old to create one-of-a-kind, unique pieces.
They have always stayed true to the 3R’s- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and absolutely nothing goes to waste while shopping here.
They spend hours repairing, redesigning, and completely reconstructing almost every design, you will find in their collection to bring ready-to-wear vintage pieces of a flair at an affordable price range. Make sure to check out their website!
9. Le Dressing
Address- 3854 Saint-Denis St, Montreal, Quebec H2W 2M2, Canada
Le Dressing is a hidden gem and the best vintage store in Montreal when vintage boutiques come into talks. One can find contemporary pieces in a wide range and designer brands here.
According to google reviews, their customer service and fitting rooms are extremely good, and the store is one of the best high-end thrifting shops they have visited. Make sure to check out the store’s website!
10. Les Folles Alliees
Address- 365 Du Mont-Royal Avenue E, Montreal, QC, Canada, H2T 1R1
It is a vintage and thrift clothing and accessories business. The boutique contains some one-of-a-kind garments for practically every decade, from the 1920s to the present.
The shop’s décor is vibrant and colourful, creating a pleasurable shopping experience. Come in to see our antique clothing collections for every occasion.
11. Citizen Vintage
Address- 5330 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H2T 1S1, Canada
Another go-to thrift store in Montreal is Citizen-Vintage.
Unique secondhand styles are sold here, but they also run their fashion line.
The Studio Citizen, their self-titled collection, is handmade with deadstock materials to give an additional way to enjoy sustainable fashion. Be sure to check out the store’s website!
12. Cul-De-Sac
This store has been carefully curated with secondhand clothes of pretty decent quality and a cool supreme vintage collection for both women and men.
Their vintage-clothing ranges from cozy sweaters, puffer coats of the 80s, leather handbags, and military jackets to jewelry and even some exciting selection of home furniture.
This store is located at 3794 Saint Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H2W 1X6, Canada. Be sure to check out their Facebook page!
13. LNF Shop
They offer a carefully curated selection of pre-owned clothing, shoes, and accessories.
The retail store is located in the Mile End and is open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Be sure to visit them on Instagram @LNFshopmtl; new goods are accessible through the stories.
Closing Thoughts
While shopping at cheap thrift stores in Montreal might take a bit more of your hunting skills, discovering pieces of unique style, finding just the item you have been wanting, and of course, the extra savings are entirely worth all of it, no doubt!
You can also check out 9 top thrift stores in Vancouver. You can also bring your old clothing item for donation at these stores. They generally operate for charity goals, and money earned here goes towards that purpose.
Happy shopping!
Frequently Asked Question
1. Why do people enjoy shopping at thrift outlets?
It’s fascinating to think about what you could find when thrifting.
The thrill of the search is what draws most people to thrift outlets. The majority of thrift-store consumers are also creative. They can think beyond the box to envisage new life for a lightly worn object.
Clothing in a thrift shop, for example, isn’t necessarily in-season, but those who buy items at a thrift store might get creative to express their particular style in a way that is relevant to what’s in-season.
The majority of thrifting store shoppers get lost in the aisles. The rows and rows of ancient volumes. Clothes shelves brimming with old designer discoveries.
Board games are no longer available anyplace else. There’s a lot to sort through. A thrifting shop is also a terrific location to locate collectibles, precious jewels, and goods simply impossible to find elsewhere.
If you enjoy the thrill of discovering something completely unexpected and one-of-a-kind, you’ll enjoy shopping at a thrift store. You never know what you’ll find when shopping in these stores.
You could go into the store looking for clothing and leave with a stack of books or a work of art.
2. Why should you shop at secondhand stores?
Experimentation teaches you what works for you and what doesn’t. Investing in these shop garments allows you to experiment with your wardrobe without spending a fortune.
Trendy clothing is available that is not always available at retail outlets. They are not usually from well-known companies, yet they are high quality.
The items you locate here will be significantly distinct from the rest. You will stand out since the clothing you wear is not easily found by others. You are unlikely to come across a twin in public.
Because you spend so little money on thrift items, it is feasible to get rid of them. Unnecessary stockpiling of products is avoidable.
If you buy clothes that don’t fit you after a few days or months, you can give them because you didn’t spend much money.
Finally, thrifting helps the community. A significant amount of money is donated to charity by many thrift businesses. You may also contribute to being a part of it.
