Indianapolis Thrift Stores and Second Hand Shops Guide
If you know me, you know I love thrifting! I think it may be the museum person in me, I love all things old and used and the whole experience feels like a treasure hunt. I’ve highlighted some of my favorite places to go hunting for trendy gems or unique vintage pieces, let me know if I’ve missed any!!
Goodwill - Goodwill is such a classic! Everyone knows the name and it is the best step to take if you’re deciding to delve into thrifting. I also love that you can donate things that you aren’t wanting and write it off as a charitable donation on your taxes. This is especially great if you are trying to practice the ‘one item in, one item out’ method. Check out my Vintage Lookbook Spotlight #2 to see what kinds of items I found there! The Fountain Square location is definitely my favorite, and I need to try my hand at going to the outlets soon!
Vintage Vogue by GW - Vintage Vogue is actually a branch off boutique of Goodwill but is much more created than a traditional Goodwill store. I love coming here for super trendy pieces because only a small number of donations from Goodwill make it over to Vintage Vogue, so it’s best to check out both if you’re out and about thrifting. They are located both in Fountain Square and Glendale and their Instagram account is great since they will tell you what item is at which location if you ask them!
Rebel Vintage - Rebel Vintage is also a more curated vintage and consignment store that also hosts venders like Mama Ochre and Lux & Ivy. I found my favorite, most coveted and treasured PBR t-shirt here that I have hunted for for months now so they definitely have all the gems. The store is super inviting and relaxing, I need to go back and visit soon! Rebel Vintage also hosts lots of fun events, like making vision boards, reading your tarot cards, and meditation hours.
The Toggery - This place is one of the best consignment shops in town. The store is sectioned off by categories and they even have a designer section if you’re looking for luxury pieces for a little less. I think this would be a great place to get a nice dress if you have an event you’re going to! Be sure to follow along with their Instagram because Style Riot puts amazing outfits together and they have the prices listed in the captions. Their set up for consignment is really unique; they go through the clothes you bring and figure out what will sell and those items are put on the floor for 60 days. You get paid after they sell, and any items that don’t sell are donated, or you can get paid outright in cash if you don’t want to wait. Clothing must come to the store clean and on hangers!
Naptown Thrift - This place is great if you’re looking into more casual vintage! Naptown Thrift specializes in 80s and 90s clothing and memorabilia that really hit you in the nostalgic feels. If you aren’t into the graphic tees or puffy jackets, you can be excited about the fact they have a great selection of Levi jeans! I don’t own many jeans in general so I want the ones I do have to be quality. They unfortunately had to close due to a fire recently so keep up with their Instagram to get updates on their re-opening! I featured Naptown Thrift in my Vintage Lookbook Spotlight #1 so check it out to see what kinds of things they have!
Broad Ripple Vintage - Broad Ripple is obviously full of thrifty gems and Broad Ripple Vintage is one of the oldest. I always walk past this on my way to the Monon and I can’t believe I’ve been missing out on this. The store is actually quite small but this makes shopping so easy since you can browse quickly, especially if you are looking for something in particular. They have a wide range of items from the 40s to the 80s so you’ll be sure to find something unique and well loved.
Mission 27 Resale - This place actually just opened up down the street from the Fountain Square Goodwill! I love how many newer items that they have and the store is in a great location. I also love their mission to “do good things for good purpose” and their proceeds go towards people living in poverty within the community. You can head over to my Vintage Lookbook Spotlight #3 to see what kinds of things I bought from Mission 27!
Midland Arts and Antique Market - Midlands is a giant maze of antique homegoods, knick knacks, and odds and ends. I could spend all day wandering this giant building right off I-65 looking at everything! I always tell people to take their time when thrifting and this place is pretty much a great example as to why. Each floor is separated into booths of different vendors that add to the collection in their section so there’s a lot of variety since not everyone collects in the same area. Midland can be a little pricier but their items are usually bigger, like furniture and decor. I did find an adorable vintage coffee grinder to put on my coffee bar so there’s something for everyone here.
Zodiac Vintage - Zodiac feels more like a boutique than a thrift store because they curate only the best for you. The items may be pricier, but the thought that went into picking the pieces to put in the store makes it all worth it. One of my favorite things about the store is that it isn’t really separated into women’s or men’s sections so all the items feel very unisex and like they’ll work for anyone and everyone. Find classic Levis and zany blazers here in Fountain Square.
Queen Bee Vintage - This was the last place on my list to visit, and unfortunately I can’t say much about it because I walked down to the shop and there was a sign on the door saying that Queen Bee would be closed until further notice and it was completely empty! I’m so sad about this, I was looking forward to checking it out since it is so close to my apartment. It seemed to be open not that long ago and I can’t find any news about it, so if anyone knows, leave a comment!
BONUS: Instagram Accounts who Thrift and Sell Vintage
Thrifting has taken over social media also, and things like Poshmark and ThredUp are great ways to find clothes for a better price and shop secondhand. I follow a few accounts that post items on Instagram with sizing and prices and you can comment or DM if you’re interested! Some of my favorites are:
@vtgindy - Ryan runs this account and he’s great! He’s also been to every Goodwill in Indy, so I’m both very jealous and inspired
@sol_thrifts - Their system is super great, you can comment if you want an item, and if you aren’t the first person to comment you can just say ‘next’, inevitably some people back out of sales so this system seems really convenient
@indyvintagethreads - This is a newer account and they have some cute stuff on their page! Most of these kinds of accounts use Venmo so it’s easy to purchase