Chicago Thrift Store Guide Part 1: Driving

It’s been a wicked summer for garage sales: record low temperatures, fewer serious vintage sellers, and rain, rain, rain. But don’t let the lack of streetside bargains get you down — Chicago has a wealth of thrift stores to hit up on any given day.

I highly recommend making regular thrift store routes a part of your routine. So here’s part one of my guide to the best thrift store tours. Part two focuses on public transportation routes, and part three will be a tour for those on bicycles or on foot.

(By the way — if you like this guide, click the link below to share on the Windy Citizen.)

Far North Side

Start at the Junior League in Evanston (920 N Chicago), then go right across the street to ORT Resale Shop (915 N Chicago).

Then take a quick jaunt down Chicago Ave. to Kedzie to hit up the Salvation Army (528 Kedzie).

From there, drive back into Chicago to visit the Unique Thrift Store at Howard and Western (7530 N Western).

If it’s a Tuesday, Thursday or weekend (and it’s before 3 p.m.), run over to the United Church Thrift Store on Morse (1545 W. Morse). (One of Chicago’s best kept secrets — I’m sharing it here with you today. Read that twice: that’s one of my secret thrift stops — I just told you about it. Because I love you guys.)

Then head down Clark Street toward Devon and check out the newest Salvation Army (2151 W Devon).

Nearer North Side

Start at the first Albany Park Village Discount Outlet (3301 W Lawrence), then head over to the second (4027 W Kedzie).

After that, visit the Albany Park Salvation Army (3301 W Montrose). From here, it’s easy to get to the Irving Park Village Discount (4635 N Elston), which is just a stone’s throw from the Irving Park Unique (3748 N Elston).

If you’re still hungry for more, after you’re done here, check out Hermosa Unique (4441 W Diversey), one of my personal favorites for finding vintage housewares, and used books and clothing.

South Side

Start at the “K-Mart Unique” on Kedzie (5040 S Kedzie) which is a short drive south of the Stevenson Expressway. From there, head south on Kedzie to the Village Discount (6419 S Kedzie), or you can go further East to check out the Back of the Yards Salvation Army (5112 S Ashland).

After this, from either location, take an east-bound street over to the closest Village Discount (7443 S Racine), and from there get back on Ashland to visit the southernmost (non-suburban) Unique Thrift Store (9341 S Ashland).

If you’re feeling adventurous and you’re willing to pony out the gas money, from here you can drive to the suburban Unique Thrift in Dolton (1030 E. Sibley Blvd.) or the Unique in Markham (3041 W. 159th St.). Google Maps is probably your best help here.

Near South Side

Start at the Little Village Village Discount (4020 W 26th St) — and go early. Traffic can be killer in this neighborhood after noon, especially on a weekend. From there, head down to the Brighton Park Village (2514 W 47th St).

If you want to drive further west on 47th, you could go the extra 25 blocks to the Garfield Ridge Salvation Army (5036 W 47th).

From here, use your map skills to get you to the McKinley Park Unique (3542 S Archer), and once you’ve checked that one out, you can either try the Bridgeport Unique (3000 S Halsted) or the Pilsen Salvation Army (2024 S Western) depending on which direction (east or west, respectively), you’d like to end up at the end of your trip.

If you’re feeling adventurous after the Pilsen Salvation Army, check out the St. Pius Parish Store (1701 W 18th Place), if it happens to be open. Call ahead — (312) 226-6234.

Happy thrifting!