My mom loved coming here as a kid. So this spot is a memory staple…read more Anyways no it doesn't have super cool or fancy stuff but it's simple. The dark alley way to get to it, that's a good spot for some pictures. Especially when it's raining and it's leaking. Anyway they are nice and yeah it has it's own unique smell. Anyways maybe I am just a fan of old vintage simple places. That's just me though.

Run by a great crew, very chatty, very committed, very helpful. Quality of the items is fairly…read moretypical thrift store fare, but I HAVE DISCOVERED SOME AMAZING ITEMS there that keep me coming back. Local 'antique/retro/vintage' dealers are regulars. Manolo Blahnik Shoes ... probably not. Retro lamps and fun kitsch, likely. Good vintage granny stuff, costume jewelry, and some occasional to die for treasures. Great pricing. Odd location. If you are a thrift store fan, this should be on your lists of regular/occasional stops.

Went to pay for my few items. One man in front of me with two items. System won't take his card…read more This starts a good ten minutes of nothing. Employee says it's the system and everything has to be rebooted at her register. No other register being used while employees are walking all around near us. Now there's six people in a line getting longer. Everyone is staring at the ceiling. Finally, he's able to pay. I approach with my items. Employee won't take a fifty. She has change I would need. I tell her I'm not gonna use plastic and go thru the same train wreck and have others in the growing line suffer. She won't take it. I dig out enough from my other pockets. Pay and leave. Don't think I'll be back there for a long time.

Decent store with varied selection that varies routinely. Like many thrift centers, they have…read moretightend conditions for donations resulting in better goods

Fun place to look through and you will probably find a few things you want to buy. VERY expensive…read moreso be prepared to pay top doller, HOLLA!!

Whatnots & Whimsies in downtown Elgin is a wonderful secondhand store that has a little bit of…read moreeverything. It is a shopping experience like no other. It's a delight that engages all your senses. So much beauty surrounds you. Truly one of my favorite places in Elgin. The staff is so super attentive, kind and treat their customers wonderfully. I love this store so much because of the beautiful and unique items. Fran the owner of the store makes my experience pure joy from the moment I walk in. I feel welcomed immediately. I will go out of my way to shop there because I always find just the right thing and I always feel happy when I leave. This store is a beloved pillar of the Elgin community. I encourage you to stop in. You will not regret it.

Pretty fun and decent place in downtown Elgin right around the corner from Rediscover Records and…read moreThe Dr. Who coffee shop. Kewl, didn't find anything, but sometimes they have sales

I had DM'ed the instagram page about buying clothes because they don't really mention it, but they…read moredo in fact buy clothes. Really nice guy running the counter, offered fair prices for what I brought in. Good amount of clothes to look through and very organized.

After visiting The Oddities Show in Rosemont, it was suggested to visit this shop which I did…read moretoday. I sort of knew about this shop after attending a play down the street several weeks ago. However, the time of the play and the hours of this store did not match that day. Interesting, strange, one of a kind items are here. If you visit, be sure to look up! I did have to buy an Edgar Allen Poe pill box before leaving. I was the only person in the shop and I would have stayed longer but I couldn't stand the music any longer. Perhaps I will visit again with my Paranormal friends.

Tucked quietly on the corner is a beautifully strange little sanctuary for the curious and the…read moremacabre. The moment you step inside, you're wrapped in a moody, gothic atmosphere that feels less like a store and more like a place to linger -- to explore, to wonder, to feel. The collection is a haunting blend of morbid mementos, scientific oddities, and dark, beautifully crafted pieces that pull you in and refuse to let go. Every shelf holds something fascinating. Every detail feels intentional. What makes it even more special is that the owner creates most of the pieces. There's soul in the work -- and it shows. Warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate, they make the space feel personal and alive. Elgin is lucky to have a shop like this -- a little corner of the strange and the beautiful. Prices are fair, the vibe is unforgettable, and it's absolutely worth stepping inside.

Decent selection, but I found the prices to be all over the place. Items were either very…read morereasonable or too expensive for the product. My main issue was with the staff (and I should have looked this is up on Yelp before visiting because it seems to be a common concern). The woman who rang me out was rude and asked me questions which then she openly judged when I responded. I hope they get some customer service training because the store itself does have potential.

Horrible. If you want abuse, sell here. Incredibly rude. I had a friend drop off some of my…read moreclothing for me as I've been very ill for many years and can't really drive. The woman helping her was so inappropriate with her comments about my clothing and my friend's appearance. Unbelievable. If it were me taking my items in and this woman spoke to me the way she spoke to my friend, it wouldn't be pleasant. She asked completely appropriate questions. Asked if I had a shopping problem because I had a lot of clothing. This woman has no idea what I have been through (battling severe illness for 10+ yrs) and questioned why I am selling so much. She insulted some of my clothing because clearly she is clueless about fashion. Even thought she considered her shop "high fashion" which it is not whatsoever. They need to educate themselves on their knowledge of what is considered "high fashion". There are other consignment shops in the area where I will be taking my goodies elsewhere. Never again.

This is one of my favorite shops to visit when looking for both new and old items…read more The owners have selected a variety of merchants who are crafters,builders,painters and artists just to name a few. Beautifully organized in a peaceful and comfortable setting. Located outside of the St Charles downtown area along North Ave with plenty of parking. Whether you are looking for home furnishings,jewelry,clothing or art..this is the place to visit.

A blend of vintage items and contemporary offerings in a large warehousey space (building is…read moreattached to Industrial Treasures). If you're just looking for vintage it will slow you down significantly because you have to mentally process what's there, if that makes sense. I did get a card with artwork depicting St Charles by a local artist (they also had Geneva and Batavia).

This used to be one of my favorite Goodwill's, and I would drive a little distance to go there…read more They still have a great selection because of the people in the area donating really nice things, but the prices that the store charges are really high, almost as much as you would pay for brand new items. The prices at this Goodwill are drastically different than others in the area.

I don't even feel like going to Goodwills are like going to thrift stores anymore. Goodwill branded…read morecarts, bags, end caps. This one seemed like a Marshall's light. I walked in and saw the cash registers and it reminded me of a Marshall's set up. Pretty decent selection of books. Hard covers are 1.59 which is not bad. Some pretty decent titles. Well organized and I noticed that they had their pants organized by size which was nice for people looking through versus having to dig and dig. This one seems pretty new and must have just opened. It even smelled good and not dusty and old like some of the other thrift stores.