What a charming little thrift store! Mount Carmel Salvage Shop is the kind of place that makes browsing fun because you never know what you'll find. The store is very well organized and has a little bit of everything. There are separate sections for men's and women's clothing, along with games, kitchen items, home décor, vintage treasures, and many other unique finds. Everything is neatly displayed, making it easy to browse without feeling overwhelmed. What I especially liked was the variety. Whether you're looking for clothing, a vintage piece, a kitchen item, or just enjoy treasure hunting, there is something here for everyone. If you're spending time in downtown Mill Valley, this is definitely worth a stop. It's a cute, welcoming shop and a perfect place to wander through after lunch or while exploring the area. Highly recommended for thrift store lovers and anyone who enjoys discovering unexpected gems. read more

A great little 'shop around the corner' which gives back to the community and those in need. I've been going to the Mt. Carmel shop for years to donate items and to shop. I love the selection, have found fun toys for my daughter when she was young and re-donated when she grew out of them. I have found some great cookware i.e., Corning Ware pieces, small kitchen appliances throughout the years. The staff is very friendly and accomodating. And they often have some sort of promotion with '1/2 off days' or everything green 1/2 off for St. Patricks day. Oh, and they often have throwback music playing which adds to the kitschy ambience. read more

There are some designer items here priced at $5 or less. Upon walking into the store, the clothing section doesn't look that exciting but if you dig through it, you'll find some high quality items at extremely cheap prices. Maybe you'll even come across what I did and have a laugh! 4 stars because they don't accept cards. read more

Mt Carmel Salvage Shop - Thrift Stores Near Me - Mill Valley, California

I saw some previous reviews that down-rated this place for not accepting cards, so I decided to post a review to update that. They do accept cards now and they have a touch-free payment option if you're into that sort of thing. I was taking a walk downtown and popped in here. Prices were very reasonable and there was a nice selection of items spread out over two stories. The quality and variety are better here than in your average (chain) thrift store. The woman working at the time was a hoot. I would definitely go back. read more

Happy people working there. Very organized and well kept. Lots of rooms to explore. My boyfriend and I both found some treasures! My boyfriend found a wool Pendleton shirt new with tags! We bought 7 cds for listening to on our travels. Will definitely come back when passing through this area again. read more

Amazing business will amazing Service and amazing people they have an amazing selection of items and the value is some of the best I've seen in a thrift store ever. read more

I love this store, but lately they are over pricing you donates items, Just because you looked it up on eBay and it was priced high, doesn't mean it SOLD, for that much. Mount Carmel thrift shop, helps people in need, correct? Since Covid hit and I being a senior, my only income was and is reselling, I consider myself in need. When items in your store are way over priced, that's not helping me or others in the same situation. Please show a little compassion to your buyers because we contribute to your store as well. Thank you. read more

Love this place!! Friendly people and great finds. Found some great clothing pieces, fun downstairs area with all kinds of things to search through, puzzles and games. Had an easy time finding parking every time. read more

Me and my sister were in town doing a Muir Woods Hike and found this gem of a shop after lunch! The ladies working there are so pleasant and nice! All clothing is flat priced and I found lots of great pieces for myself! It's very organized and well Maintained which makes the shopping experience way better! We will be back! read more

I used to live on this street and I would stroll into this store from time to time. My experience was always pleasent even if I didn't find anything. The store was organized, the people that worked there were friendly and the prices were reasonable. Today, I went into the store and I was appalled by the prices. There was a popcorn machine that they were selling for $50 dollars. I don't care if someone, somewhere on ebay or some e-commerce site is selling it for that price. That doesn't make it a good practice for a brick and mortar thrift store to charge as much as possible for every item. It seemed like anything that was a brand name or of antique value, they tried to charge as much as possible to match the going online rate. At this point, I would imagine that customers would be driven to make purchases online versus going into the cute little thrift store. Before the Pandamic, prices seemed reasonable. Now, they seem absurd. It's unfortunate. read more

found some of my fav pieces there!!! the pricing is really fair for such good quality stuff and they have clothes and really cool decorations. basically my favorite vintage/thrift shop within marin!! friends with the gals who work here and everyone is really nice. read more

Such a fun thrift store! Really really enjoyable to shop in and browse! Looking forward to coming back

Almost hesitate to spread the word, but it is too much of a well-kept secret. My best friend and I go here every month of two and stock up on all kinds of goodies, but mostly clothes for me. Overall the clothes and the jewelry are in great shape and well-priced. It is fun to seek and find all the treasures, and well worth the visit. The workers are all very helpful, too, managing quite a few of us crazed shoppers at once ; ) Thank you all for making such a nice shopping experience for us gals. We have been shopping buddies for going on 40 years and this is one of our real faves! read more

My organizer took my donations here instead of Goodwill, where I'd asked her to go, and these people were just plain nasty about giving it back, even though I called them the moment I found out about it, refusing *viciously* to let me go through what they had. I wasn't even asking them to do anything themselves, and I also had a detailed, dated list in hand of what I was looking for, that I made as I was putting the items aside, so they could have even checked if I was telling the truth about things or not if they didn't believe me. The woman who wouldn't let me go through things to find my stuff also started giving me flack about parking in the yellow zone three spaces away and demanding I move my car, despite the fact that I have commercial plates and had every right to be there. She claimed it was *their* space, even though there is no sign designating it as such. One old bat even sneered derisively and made fun of me and made really nasty remarks when I said I really needed the tax deduction certainty. She then started to argue with me and act like she thought I was lying when I commented that not everyone who live here is rich and can afford to ignore these things, and a couple of others took up the same snotty attitude. Funny, that, since their whole argument about why they're a good place to donate to is because they help the poor in this town, so obviously they realize that not everyone is wealthy here. The fact is that the IRS website does not list them as an approved site to donate to - and the IRS is making a big deal on their own website about auditing people who make substantial donations-in-kind and disallowing deductions for donations made to organizations that are not on their list. Apparently just being a 501(c)(3) isn't necessarily cutting it any more, and I am not taking any chances. They all basically acted like it was some kind of crime to not want to give to *them* specifically, and out of the plain goodness of my heart, with no regard to deductability - which frankly is the main reason I'm donating the stuff anywhere instead of selling it. Yes, it's a good cause and they do good and necessary work, which I applaud, but there are other good causes I prefer to donate to, for various reasons. Frankly, it's my right to do so, for whatever reasons I choose, and without having to justify or defend my preferences. I added back one star just because the manager (Martie, I believe) finally came out and was very nice and understanding, and kindly helped me go through both the items still in the back waiting to be priced, as well as the rest of the store, pulling out whatever I could find of my stuff, and told the nasty old bags who were sniping at me to cut it out. I wasn't able to find it all, but at least got more of it. But after this experience, with the nastiness and judgmentalism overall, from so many of them, there is no way I'd ever willingly donate anything to this store, and no way I'd even shop there, even though I did see some things I could have used and would have otherwise purchased. read more

Love this cute little thrift store and the wonderful ladies that work here! My sister and I came in to look around and found some great deals! The prices are great and the inventory is organized and hung up nicely. I plan to visit next time when I am in the area, and to support their cause. read more

I almost always find something here - books, clothes, pots for plants, furniture, pottery - and the prices are so reasonable. A like-new Brooks Brothers shirt for $4! A fitted sequinned jacket for an upcoming gala for $20! And they often take a few dollars off the price when ringing me up. Quirky, yet generous volunteers help to make this a charmingly unique thrift shop. read more

This place is my new all time favorite thrift store located off a side street from downtown. It has an array of items and although a little bit dusty, it is very organized. The ladies at the front counter were very pleasant and I spent less than $20.00 for a bag full of new treasures! read more

I've been shopping here over the years and must say, it is always an uplifting experience to go there. It has a high track record in satisfying my urge to find quirky as well as mainstream treasures of all sorts. The salespeople are always nice and it has great light to enhance your search. read more

I stopped in to take a look, and found the selection to be stale and over priced. Went to purchase a cookbook, can't say it was vintage, just average and was told the prices was $9. Downstairs seemed to be a land that time and humans forgot, not much happening, and over re-cycled junk. . Maybe it's like other places in that you have to frequent. Staff and volunteers was very friendly though....I may go back just to test my own hypothesis, but I won't make an out of the way trip. read more

Mt. Carmel Salvage Shop is a classic thrift/junk store with all that implies: mostly junk, a few jewels-in-the-rough, a musty smell despite the efforts of the lovely volunteers who staff it. If you need a tee shirt for painting, a halloween costume, etc., this is your place. Most of the clothing is well-used, but they have a separate 'designer' section for better brands. Sometimes they were better brands, say, back in the 80s, but you will find the occasional J. Crew sweater or Talbots blazer there. I donate here more than I buy, but I keep a look out for glass vases (nice when you're bringing some to a friend) and pretty plates (ditto for taking cookies somewhere). If you love to thrift, this should be on your Mill Valley list. read more

Love this little treasure trove! One of the last of the best. Run by the cutest sweetest seniors ever and filled with all sorts of gems to discover. read more

I would definatly come back! Staff was welcoming, store was organized and full of treasures!!

If you look, you can pretty much always find something. Everything's really cheap, and the kind people of Mill Valley get rid of anything.... Last week I bought a $200 burberry shirt for $8. Doesnt look like it's been worn :) read more

I really love this place! Sure, it's dusty and a little weatherworn, but the finds here are amazing. A few months ago, I walked out with two All-Clad pans, organic sheets from Pottery Barn, a chic blazer, and a pair of earrings for less than $25. Just plan to take your time and be willing to explore. read more

Mill Valley's only department store. You can find just about anything here, right in downtown MV! Low prices, friendly atmosphere. Love it! read more

I have coveted this secret spot for years, and I always find a little something here that I never knew I needed, you know how that goes! The sweet old ladies who volunteer here are always cheerful and helpful. There's just something about a little shop where the cashiers add up your purchases by hand, on a pad of paper, in cursive long-hand, without using calculators. Mt. Carmel offers a well-priced menagerie of household items to clothing in a clean, organized and pleasant atmosphere which invites lingering. I'm amazed that this kind of a place still exists in tony downtown Mill Valley. It's like stepping back in time, before the yupsters descended upon this former sleepy artists enclave. But no complaints here; they're the folks who donate their castoffs to Mt. Carmel so heck yes I'm cool with that. A LITTLE BIRD TIP: Don't miss the basement, where you'll find funky and cheap furniture, mix tapes, fabric yardage, kids stuff, picture frames, and craft findings. read more

I love this hidden spot. In downtown Mill Valley on a quaint little side street. I find the best gems here. Mill Valley residents get rid of the best stuff. I've found Marc Jacobs shoes, vintage coats, purses and paintings. They say, "One man's junk is another man's treasure." Well, here it's so true. It is a thrift store so it can be hit or miss. But when I hit, it's so good! read more

Good stuff. They had tons of halloween items and have now flooded windows with christmas. ample parking

I've been shopping here for several years and almost always find something nice. I got a great pair of jeans for $5 and some books for $1.50 each. This shop is set up like an old department store and they put out new items everyday so if you go a lot you can find some cool stuff. The staff is friendly and there's a community vibe with the customers. Prices are good but some of the furniture prices are high. But they hold half-price sales a couple of times during the year. Overall it's one of my favorite thrift stores. read more

The minute I walked in to the cute cozy little shop, I knew I'd love it. The first thing I saw was vintage, beautiful ornaments hung on a shelf. Next, I went downstairs and found a variety of sections of kitchen utensils and all sorts of goodies. I bought myself 2 lamps (one for me and my sister), staple remover (we really needed one) and a scrap book to put my pictures in. Everything was in good condition and the cost was between .00 to $5.00. I love it there, and I will remember to always go back! read more