Nice selection of thrift store clothing that is in good shape. I think they are selective about…read morewhat they accept. I find the quality and prices very good AND it's a registered charity; part of the Big Sisters/Brothers organization so proceeds are going to an excellent cause. They now have a small housewares section but don't have room for big items like furniture. I do make sure this place is on my list when I'm on the hunt for something. Ample free parking and close to other shopping on Merivale.

Thrive Select Thrift Store is a thrift store that sells clothing and accessories, and 100% of their…read moreprofits go to support Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ottawa. I like that the impacts of donations and purchases stay local. And organizations that help kids always have my support. The clothing at Thrive appears to be geared towards youth and so skews on the younger side, in my opinion. The racks are filled with brands like Old Navy, Garage, and Ardene. Prices are cheaper than places like Value Village. They had some new items like Funko Pops and Squishmallows, while I was there, but I guess these depend on donations, perhaps these were from a business (?) They also had some used video games and controllers. They also have (new) Big Brothers and Big Sisters merchandise. Staff are friendly. I believe that many of them are volunteers. They are located in the Emerald Plaza. Lots of free parking in the plaza.

I have shopped there many times, they have great stuff like new. It's a very clean place Great…read moreexperience overall.

From the owner: All our products are fully tested and sanitized, we offer New and really good condition items…read more Clothes, Shoes, accessories, electronic and more.

Last week, I experienced a disheartening situation while attempting to donate a sizable collection…read moreof gently used and brand new baby clothes. During the process, the individual responsible for collecting the donations made me uncomfortable by physically touching my back and opening my bag without my permission. He proceeded to inform me that certain items were not accepted, prompting me to select specific pieces to keep or discard. This interaction felt extremely disrespectful; it is inappropriate to rummage through someone's belongings in front of others, especially when the act of donating should be respected and appreciated. The way donations are handled is crucial, as it reflects the organization's values towards those who contribute. Instead of maintaining a judgemental atmosphere, management should foster a culture of gratitude and respect for the generosity of the donors. It was embarrassing to be put on the spot, as the person collecting donations seemed entirely unaware of what items might be valuable to others. Each piece we donate comes from a place of care, having been cleaned and sorted from our basements and garages with the intention of helping those in need. I left feeling disheartened and reconsidering where to take my donations in the future. Perhaps I will opt for the Salvation Army instead of Valley Village, where there seems to be greater respect for the act of giving. It is essential to recognize that volunteers and staff should connect with donors positively and meaningfully, as they are the backbone of many charitable organizations. Policies must be re-evaluated to ensure they promote goodwill and appreciation for generosity, rather than creating an uncomfortable environment that drives people away. Donors deserve to feel valued and their contributions acknowledged, rather than subjected to the embarrassment of having their items scrutinized. This is a call for a more thoughtful approach to donation collection, one that encourages community members to give freely and joyfully, knowing their contributions will be met with gratitude. All employee need seriously training plus management rude they don't answer your question This employee they hate the job because the management

Hardly leave reviews but AVOID this location. On one occasion, we were followed by a very…read moreaggressive security guard who tried to kick my friend out for not wearing a bra, although she was fully covered. He claimed it was because she was underage and other customers were uncomfortable, but the store was empty and the guard was uncomfortably staring at her chest- again, nothing was actually visible and everything was covered. On another, they tried to sell a friend's skateboard she had left out front (nowhere near the donation box) for maybe 5 minutes before they brought it in for pricing. Skateboards are usually not allowed in stores, so she left it outside out of respect, and multiple staff saw her with it before we came in. She was only able to get it back because I had multiple pictures of her with/on it and another customer who saw the whole thing go down backed us up. Prices are high (45$ for a pair of visibly used jeans, 30$ for regular, well-worn rain boots) and lots of stained or damaged items. I completely understand retail jobs are hard, and shoplifting is frequent lately so extra security makes sense, but too many folks here are unnecessarily rude.

Omg where has this place been all my life! What a great store!! And second hand in regards to…read moreclothes you would never know it! Brand name clothes and the prices are beyond amazing. A wide variety of clothes, shoes, household, movies, games and books. A must see if you don't mind a little searching but it is totally worth it. The staff were very friendly and helpful when I needed assistance. Such a great second hand store I want to go back tomorrow and I'm an hour away haha

I like this second hand store. The prices are super cheap plus all the money goes directly to their…read morecharity. They also frequently have sales based on the coloured tag of the day, so you often pay even less than you think you will. They've also opened some kind of "side door" that's open 10-2pm I believe every day. I'm thinking this is access to their furniture in the back room, but I'm not super clear on that.

The Alta Vista Drive outlet is my go-to because it is closest to where I live. I refuse to go to…read moreValue Village across the street as they are a for-profit organization and their prices are outrageous for a thrift store. However having said that, I have to say there are a few problems with this one. There is no handicap parking near it; nor are people in wheelchairs, walkers or moms with toddlers in strollers able to maneuver through the entrance without difficulty or hurting themselves, or damaging their valuable mobility devices. It is anything but handicap friendly. The staff are wonderful, friendly and helpful but the store is set up that even with a walker I cannot walk around the store without obstacles at every turn. Aisles that are not wide enough or merchandise on the floor preventing anyone from steering around them without ending up falling. I have also noticed in the last year that the prices are skyrocketing to near Value Village prices!!! How does this help the poor and disabled who are trying to make ends meet? The auctions are fun, but lately I've noticed that there are some serious outside or inside bidders that will overbid so high that it is impossible for the average person to bid on things. As well, you cannot even look at these items for auction until 2 days before. I suspect a lot of these things are either going to staff themselves or to a "consignment shop" and the owners are inflating the price further and pocketing the cash. They have tried numerous designs to the stores layout but none seem to work and the same problems occur over and over. It's really too bad because as I said, the staff are awesome and hard working. But whoever manages this thrift store should really move on into retail as their pricing is way too high for this type of establishment.

This Salvation Army is an okay thrift store. The sections are well organized and they occasionally…read morehave good clothing for very fair prices. However, when I come in, I usually go straight for their knick knack selection because they often have unique items. If you're still clinging to the medium like I am, they also have a large collection of VHS. I managed to find a copy of Deliverance (yesss!) here last time I went and I've picked up a couple other titles in the past. If you're in a thrift store mood, there's also a Value Village across the street.

This little thrift store is hidden behind Nate's Deli, in that old run down bingo hall sitting on…read moreMerivale Road. I pass it quiet frequently and always wanted to stop in, but it was never on the top of my priority list, especially with so many other thrift stores on that street. I had some Christmas items that I wanted to donate, and thought, this is my chance to check out Bibles for Missions. I could tell just from stepping up to the donation door that they bombarded with donations. The donation door was wide open and there were a couple of workers in the back, no greeting, acknowledgment, or thank you, so I plopped my donation down and decided to check out the store. The first thing that I noticed were the signs placed in the entrance "please leave big purses and bags at cash, we reserve the right to search your bag," and so on. Maybe there has been a lot of theft? Not sure, but it did not give me a friendly first impression. No greeting, or acknowledgment throughout the 15 minutes browsing the store, but there were plenty of staff on the sales floor for customer assistance/questions. I did not find that there was a great selection, it was like walking through grandmas basement. Nothing caught my eye here, and I was not "wowed" by anything in particular. What stands out about this thrift store than others, is that it is mostly volunteers, and the majority of the profit goes towards their partnership with the bible league of Canada. More information found on their website: http://www.bfmottawa.com/about-us Would I go back? Only to donate, not to shop.

Definitely the best thrift store in the city! Lots of quality merchandise at great prices…read more The store is well laid out and the staff are super helpful.

The May Court Bargain Box is operated by the May Court Club, a charitable organization run by…read morewomen. It's been around since 1970, and proves itself as a great second-hand store. The store has a decent variety of wares, with the clothing section having fixed prices based on their category. They have a surprisingly expansive jewelry section compared to other thrift stores of their size. The book section also has a broad range of genres to choose from; I spotted a world atlas published during the Cold War that I had to get. A great find for $2! The staff are volunteers of the May Court Club who are fantastic to talk to. They commended me for reading a physical book given my youthful demeanor (I mean...) and handled everything we got with care. They keep their stock well-organized. If you decide to visit the store, be mindful of their operating hours and the fact that only cash is accepted. In addition, as of writing this review (11 September, 2022), masks are required to enter, though they provide masks at the entrance for no more than a buck.

Are you familiar with the concept of 'found art'? It is when an artist finds something that already…read moreexists and declares it to be art. Found Design on Bank is something along those lines. They find well-designed/beautiful items in yard sales/thrift stores and then sell it/celebrate it in their store. Their store is an eyefull - it is stocked with great looking furniture, lamps, pottery goods and other home decor items. Found Design sure saves you the trouble of scouring yard sales and antique shops for that just-right item. The only trouble is, you are not going to pay the yard sale price you could be paying. That $10 coffee table (that turns out to have been made by some famous Danish craftsperson) will cost you $700. But really, what are the odds of finding it at a yard sale?

Found Design, in the Glebe neighborhood of Ottawa is a Mid century Modern design dream shop…read more Two floors, street level and the basement, contain what is purported to be certainly Ottawa's and perhaps all of Canada's best stocked store of 50's and 60's furniture and design pieces, such as pictures, lighting features and accessories. While most of these items are 50 to 60 years old, the quality appears as if they were just produced yesterday.

My experience has always been that it's like sisters closet getting all fresh brands and great…read morestylish or comfy clothing for great price new and used I appreciate the opportunity to get clothings sold and given to such great staff and store . All best !

So good and open to everyone, their clothes are so pretty. It's very clean and the employees are…read moresuper nice.