Here’s your ultimate list of thrift stores in and around Charlotte

Looking for a place to pop some tags thrifting in the Charlotte region?

The Charlotte Observer’s 2022 Reader’s Choice contest for best thrift shop contest started with readers choosing their favorite stores to hunt for bargains. And the majority of the stores are nonprofits so money spent and donations go toward helping support our neighbors.

“Our stores make up about 34% of our organization’s operating revenue, so they are a very important part of our work,” said Jessie Lindberg, executive director of Second Chance Boutique by Turning Point in Monroe.

Here are the top 16 thrift stores and brief information about each one:

▪ Assistance League of Charlotte: moving from 3405 S. Tryon St. to 5426 Old Pineville Road, Charlotte; assistanceleague.org/charlotte/

The 30-year-old chapter has over 160 volunteers. The thrift shop opened 21 years ago, according to the group. The new store location is expected to open in the fall.

Proceeds provide food and school uniforms to students in need in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the organization’s program Mecklenburg County Teen Court, as well as college scholarships, said Kathleen Reardon, vice president of education.

▪ Church Mouse Kit-N-Kaboodle Resale Store: 9010-D Monroe Road, Charlotte; church-mouse-kit-n-kaboodle-resale-store.business.site

The nonprofit is a ministry of St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church. The store, which opened in January 2019, has six board members. Proceeds go to local organizations such as Loaves & Fishes, Salvation Army and Women’s Shelter, Monroe Road Advocates, Holy Unmercenaries Medical Society and international ministries such as Child of God - Children’s school ministry in Kenya.

“We have been able to help the local community shop and keep their expenses low for clothing, shoes, housewares, jewelry, books ...,” said Dee Drobonick, board president of the thrift store.

▪ Community Thrift Store: 3016 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, facebook.com/pages/Community-Thrift-Store

The for-profit private thrift store opened at its current location in 1990.

▪ CVAN’s Cool Used Stuff: 543 Concord Pkwy. N., Concord; cvan.org

CVAN (Cabarrus Victims Assistance Network) provides safety, shelter and support for battered women and their children in Cabarrus County since 1982.

The store accepts men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories, household items, linens, books, DVDs and CDs.

▪ East Lincoln Christian Ministry: 4278 Catawba Burris Road; elcmdenver.com

East Lincoln has four primary ministries: financial assistance, pantry, home meals and the closet, which is the primary funding for East Lincoln Christian Ministry. Items sold include clothing, furniture, appliances, household goods and toys.

▪ Goodwill - Weddington: 2515 Plantation Center Drive, Matthews; goodwillsp.org

One of nearly 30 Goodwill stores in the Charlotte region. All Goodwill stores fund career training courses, job search support and family stability services for thousands of people in the local community, according to Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont.

▪ GW Boutique: A Goodwill store, 3609 South Blvd., Charlotte; goodwillsp.org

A Goodwill Boutique offers designer and name-brand women’s and men’s apparel, jewelry, shoes, accessories and home décor. Pricing at GW is determined by trends, typically ranging from $3.99 to$24.99. All Goodwill stores proceeds go to career and job training support and family stability services.

▪ Matthews HELP Center & Backporch Treasures Thrift Shop: 119 N. Ames St., Matthews; matthewshelpcenter.org/backporch-treasures/

The Backporch Treasures Thrift Boutique’s proceeds support the Matthews HELP Center’s financial assistance programs. The nearly 43-year-old nonprofit provides short-term crisis assistance to residents in the Matthews area. Assistance includes financial support with rent and utilities, as well as providing food, clothing and household items. During its last fiscal year, the center served more than 4,800 people by providing over $782,000 in support, said Susan Ross, director of development for the center.

▪ Pawsibilities Humane Society of York County: 2144 Carolina Place, Fort Mill, S.C.; humanesocietyofyorkcounty.org

Every purchase at the more than 3,000-square-foot store is a donation to homeless animals for safe housing, veterinary care, adoptions and other humane society efforts. The Fort Mill-based humane society is a nonprofit staffed primarily by volunteers. It’s a no-kill rescue organization with a dozen workers, The Herald previously reported. The store sells home goods, clothing and accessories, toys and games, small appliance, crafts and more.

▪ The Salvation Army Thrift Store & Donation Center: 2145 Central Ave., Charlotte; satruck.org

Proceeds from the local family stores, including the Central Avenue store, fund the Adult Rehabilitation Center on Central Avenue, spokesman Brent Rinehart said. The residential program is for men battling substance abuse.

▪ Second Chance Boutique by Turning Point: 2447 Old Charlotte Hwy., Monroe; turningpointnc.org

One of four stores, proceeds from Turning Point’s thrift stores provide essential items such as clothing, household goods and furniture to local families. Turning Point is the only victim services agency in Union County, Executive Director Jessie Lindberg said. Programs include domestic violence shelter, sexual assault resource center and Tree House Children’s Advocacy Center.

The Monroe store opened in 2009, followed by Waxhaw in 2011 and Indian Trail in 2021. The stores are open to the public, and Turning Point’s clients also shop for what they need.

▪ Servant’s Heart of Mint Hill: N 9229, Lawyers Road, Mint Hill; servantsheart.org

Servant’s Heart started in 2016 by founder and director Kim Rhodarmer. All items in the store are donated by individuals, churches and businesses, with proceeds helping local families who are struggling financially.

▪ Sweet Repeat Thrift Store: 4082 Charlotte Hwy., Lake Wylie, S.C.; sweet-repeat-thrift-store.business.site

Each year, Sweet Repeat awards three $5,000 scholarships and as well as grants to local charities in and around the York County, S.C., area, including Gaston and Mecklenburg counties. For 2021-22, the store’s total profits were $215,000, treasurer Cathy Mann said. The scholarships were presented in May and the balance of $200,000 will be presented to 31 charities at an Oct. 13 event.

▪ Value Village: 6300 South Blvd., Charlotte, 4451 Central Ave., Charlotte, 912 S Cannon Blvd., Kannapolis; valuevillage.com

Carolina Value Village has six North Carolina and 13 Ohio locations. Carolina Value Village is a for-profit organization that has been in the Carolinas since the 1990s. Carolina Value Village gets its merchandise from nonprofit organizations, brokers, liquidations and buy-outs, according to the website.

▪ The WearHouse: 127 Stetson Drive, Charlotte; caminohealthcenter.com

The WearHouse thrift store is part of Camino, a bilingual and multicultural nonprofit that offers holistic care to the underinsured and uninsured. It also helps families and individuals in crisis, according to The WearHouse.

▪ ZABS Place: 100 N. Trade St., Matthews; zabsplace.org

The store, named in honor of Zecharya Avraham Boruch Shporer, was opened by Friendship Circle in 2014 to provide individualized training, employment and placement for young adults with special needs talents. “The goal is to help special talent achieve their dreams of employment in their area of interest and help the community see potential in everyone and everything,” ZABS Place director Rachel Groner said.

This story was originally published September 14, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Here’s your ultimate list of thrift stores in and around Charlotte."