Thrift Stores & More: Milwaukee Second-Hand Shopping

If you're looking for thrift stores near Milwaukee's North Shore, you're in luck—the greater Milwaukee area offers one of the Midwest's most diverse second-hand shopping scenes, from pay-by-the-pound Goodwill outlets to curated vintage boutiques in Bay View. The St. Vincent de Paul store in Greenfield consistently earns the title of best overall thrift in the metro area for its cleanliness and organization, while the new Goodwill Outlet at 6055 N. 91st Street has become a treasure hunter's paradise since opening in July 2024. Whether you're hunting for designer pieces at Posh Collective in Shorewood or stocking up on kids' clothes at Once Upon A Child in Brookfield, this guide covers every major option within 45 minutes of the North Shore.

Goodwill stores range from boutique to bins

Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago operates more than 20 locations in the metro area, but not all stores are created equal. Local thrifters consistently recommend the Palmer Street location (3900 N. Palmer St.) as the best in Milwaukee proper—it's larger, less cramped, and has the strongest women's clothing selection. The nearby Oakland Avenue store (2830 N. Oakland Ave.) near UWM tends to be more picked-over due to its proximity to students and Riverwest.

For suburban shoppers, the Oak Creek Goodwill (8201 S. Howell Ave.) has earned a cult following for vinyl records at just $0.99 each—the best LP selection in the metro. The Franklin location (6941 S. 27th St.) near retirement communities yields excellent ceramics, collectibles, and CD soundtracks. Other well-regarded suburban stores include Wauwatosa (12121 W. Feerick St.), Brookfield (17325 W. Capitol Dr.), Grafton (1715 Wisconsin Ave.), and Menomonee Falls (W178 N9315 Watertower Place).

Two specialty Goodwill formats deserve special attention. Retique at 190 N. Broadway in the Historic Third Ward operates as Goodwill's upscale boutique, featuring curated department store and designer label apparel in a clean, boutique environment. Milwaukee Magazine named it "Best Vintage Shop," and Yelp Insider called it the "Best Thrift Store in Wisconsin." Prices run higher than standard Goodwill but the experience eliminates the typical thrift store hunt.

The Goodwill Outlet (James O. Wright Center) at 6055 N. 91st Street opened in July 2024, replacing a traditional store with approximately 200 rolling bins of merchandise sold by the pound—roughly $1.50 per pound for clothing. Bins rotate throughout the day with fresh inventory. Unlike notoriously competitive outlets in other cities, Milwaukee's location has a notably laid-back atmosphere. A second outlet operates in Sturtevant (1630 Enterprise Dr.) about 30 minutes south.

Important 2025 change: As of January 1, 2025, Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago discontinued weekly color tag sales, senior discounts, and military discounts. The free Goodwill Perks Plus loyalty program now offers the only regular discounts, including points toward $5 rewards and a 15% birthday month discount.

Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, and Value Village round out the chains

Salvation Army operates four Family Stores in the Milwaukee metro. The Brown Deer Road location (8008 W. Brown Deer Rd.) offers a large clothing section and vintage Pyrex finds. The Franklin store (6341 S. 27th St.) keeps the longest hours (Mon-Sat 9am-9pm), while West Allis (7713 W. Greenfield Ave.) serves committed thrifters with a solid furniture selection. Unlike Goodwill, Salvation Army still offers weekly discounts: 50% off color tag items (new color each Monday), Toddler Tuesday (50% off kids' clothes), Senior Wednesday (50% off clothing for 55+), and student/military discounts on Thursdays.

St. Vincent de Paul operates through two separate organizations in the Milwaukee area. The Milwaukee Archdiocese runs three stores, with the Greenfield location (4476 S. 108th St.) earning consistent praise as "by far my favorite thrift spot in Milwaukee"—exceptionally clean, well-organized, no musty smell, with a popcorn scent greeting shoppers at the door. The newer Bradley store (8010 N. 76th St.) opened January 2024 on Milwaukee's northwest side, while the Lincoln store (2320 W. Lincoln Ave.) serves as the main location with a loading dock for furniture. SVdP Waukesha County operates three additional stores in Waukesha, Pewaukee, and Oconomowoc.

Value Village—not to be confused with the national Savers chain but rather a local Wisconsin operation—represents a hidden gem at 729 S. Layton Blvd. Local thrifters call it the "best thrift store in the entire Milwaukee area" with an enormous clothing selection across all sizes and eras, describing it as "the least picked-over" option. Benefits support the Military Order of the Purple Heart. A second location operates in St. Francis (3100 E. Layton Ave.). Watch for half-off weekend sales on the entire store.

The American Council of the Blind Thrift Store (6731 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis) offers exceptional flat pricing: all clothes $3.49 unless otherwise marked.

Note that Savers has no locations within reasonable driving distance—the nearest is in Eau Claire, over four hours away.

Independent thrift stores support community

SuperThrift (5333 N. 91st St.) stands apart as the only Wisconsin thrift store run entirely by people in recovery, supporting the Great Lakes Adult & Teen Challenge addiction treatment program. The large, well-organized space carries clothing, home décor, appliances, and furniture with daily and end-of-month sales.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore operates multiple locations including Walker's Point (420 S. 1st St.) and Franklin, selling furniture, building materials, appliances, and home accessories at 50-75% below retail. These stores particularly shine for doors, windows, kitchen cabinets from renovations, and the occasional live-edge wood slab.

The Waukesha Service Club Thrift Shop holds historical significance as a volunteer-run shop operating since 1934, offering 25% senior discounts on Wednesdays and 25% veteran discounts daily. All proceeds fund community nonprofits—over $1.8 million distributed since 1989.

Family Sharing of Ozaukee County (1002 Overland Ct., Grafton) operates a resale boutique supporting a food pantry mission, featuring high-end handbags, home décor, and Packers jerseys. The organization has served the community for nearly 50 years.

Consignment shops

North Shore and East Side designer consignment

Posh Collective (1425 E. Capitol Dr., Shorewood) focuses exclusively on luxury women's consignment—current fashion within five years, designer handbags, and high-end accessories. This is definitively not a thrift store; expect carefully curated pieces at designer resale prices with a 20-item maximum per consignment appointment.

Swanky Seconds (2223 E. Capitol Dr.) has operated as a women's designer fashion resale boutique for over 13 years, complementing Posh Collective's offerings nearby on Capitol Drive. Lela Boutique (321 N. Broadway, Third Ward) combines new designer items with consignment and vintage, celebrating over 20 years as one of the Third Ward's first retail establishments.

Clothes Mentor Brookfield offers women's designer and name-brand clothing sizes 0-26 at up to 70% off retail, paying cash on the spot rather than traditional consignment. Brands include Ann Taylor, Anthropologie, Coach, Lululemon, and Louis Vuitton. Plato's Closet operates nearby for teens and young adults seeking trendy styles from H&M, Zara, and similar brands.

Furniture and home consignment

Acquisitions in Fox Point and Legacies, Ltd. (7922 N. Port Washington Rd.) specialize in North Shore estate items—quality furniture, artwork, crystal, silver, and home décor. Legacies has operated as southeastern Wisconsin's premier estate sale establishment for 28 years with over 100 years of combined staff experience.

The Ottoman Society in Elm Grove earns praise for beautifully staged showrooms with quick inventory turnover. Optimist's Bazaar in Wauwatosa and MKE Treasures on the North Shore offer additional furniture consignment options with 50/50 consignor splits.

Generations Consignment Interiors in Mequon balances high-end furniture stock without overwhelming inventory, with items in excellent condition at reasonable prices. designXchange in the Hartland/Pewaukee area adds new items daily from consignors and specialty vendors.

Specialty stores

Children's resale

Once Upon A Child Brookfield (16750 W. Bluemound Rd.) dominates Milwaukee's children's resale market as the area's largest kids' consignment store, owned by local mother Jess McGurn who doubled the store's size to meet demand. Find gently used clothing through size 14, shoes, toys, books, strollers, and car seats at up to 70% off retail with cash paid on the spot. A second Greendale location (5431 S. 76th St.) opened in May 2025.

Nearly New Family Fashions (6803 N. Green Bay Ave., Glendale) offers family consignment including women's, children's, and infant clothing in the heart of the North Shore area.

Sports equipment

Play It Again Sports operates three convenient locations: Greenfield/Milwaukee (7499 W. Layton Ave.), Tosa/Capitol Drive (10111 W. Capitol Dr.), and Brookfield. All carry new and used equipment for baseball, hockey, golf, skiing, lacrosse, fitness, and bicycles. The Greenfield location holds 4.2 stars with 373 reviews and staff known for helpful knowledge. These stores particularly shine for kids' sports equipment—cleats, gloves, and gear they'll outgrow in a season.

Books

Half Price Books operates a Greenfield location (note: the Brown Deer Road store has permanently closed). Renaissance Books at Mitchell International Airport holds the distinction as the world's first used bookstore in an airport, opened in 1979 with approximately 60,000 volumes emphasizing aviation, history, and Wisconsin interest titles. A separate Southridge Mall location operates under different ownership as of September 2024.

Downtown Books Bought & Sold (624 N. Broadway) has served as a family business since 1991 with floor-to-ceiling shelves described as a "Borgesian labyrinth." Voyageur Book Shop (2212 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Bay View) specializes in used and rare books across two floors, complete with resident shop cats. Boswell Book Company on Downer Avenue focuses primarily on new books but warrants mention as Milwaukee's premier independent bookstore with author events.

Musical instruments

Cream City Music in Brookfield has achieved world renown for guitars, maintaining over 1,000 instruments in stock daily across new, used, and vintage categories with authorized dealer status for Gibson, Fender, Martin, and Taylor. Music Go Round in Greenfield offers used guitars, amps, drums, keyboards, and pro sound equipment with same-day cash payment. Record Head in West Allis has operated for over 50 years carrying instruments alongside vintage video games. Wade's Guitar Shop on Milwaukee's East Side maintains 200+ guitars in a "no-pressure" environment.

Electronics and gaming

Game Together MKE in Greenfield combines video game buying, selling, and trading with a free arcade, tournaments, and gaming community events. PayMore Milwaukee pays top dollar for phones, tablets, laptops, and retro gaming systems with secure data wiping and 30-day warranties.

Bridal

Return Engagement (890 Elm Grove Rd., Elm Grove) serves as the area's premier bridal consignment destination with designer gowns—new, gently worn, and samples—plus mother-of-bride dresses, bridesmaid gowns, and an on-staff seamstress for alterations.

Bay View: Milwaukee's vintage destination

BC Modern in Bay View

The Kinnickinnic Avenue corridor in Bay View has developed into the metro's densest concentration of vintage shops. BC Modern (3116 S. Chase Ave.) operates as Milwaukee's largest vintage shop specializing in mid-century modern furniture across 5,000 square feet on two floors, with every piece professionally refinished. Voted Best Vintage Shop and Best Furniture-Restored by Shepherd Express 2022-2024, this Black-owned business opens only the last full weekend of each month.

Plume (3001 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.) offers carefully curated vintage and modern goods with recent expansion into plus-size, masculine, and special-occasion options. Alive and Fine (2652 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.) carries true vintage from the 1940s through 1990s for men, women, kids, and home, opened by the co-founder of Girls Rock Milwaukee.

Sardines Vintage Collective (2925 S. Delaware Ave.) opened in 2024 featuring eight different vintage sellers under one roof, plus books from Mushroom Books and vinyl from Lilliput Records. Tip Top Atomic Shop specializes in 1950s-themed gifts, Tiki items, and mid-century finds, open weekends only.

Bandit MKE (1224 E. Brady St.) on the East Side brings boutique vintage to Brady Street with vibrant displays, inclusive sizing, and cash paid for donations. Dandy (5020 W. Vliet St.) near Wauwatosa occupies a renovated 1921 garage filled with pre-1980s vintage furnishings and an Airstream trailer, doubling as an event venue.

Ozaukee and Waukesha counties

Cedarburg: Wisconsin's antique capital

Cedarburg's charming downtown and Cedar Creek Settlement make it worth the 25-minute drive from the North Shore. Creekside Antiques in the historic Wittenberg Woolen Mill complex anchors the antique scene alongside 20+ specialty shops. Nouveau Antique Jewelry (W63 N672 Washington Ave.) houses the area's largest collection of true antique and vintage jewelry in an iconic purple building, family-owned since 1983.

Ivana's Trunk (W63N127 Washington Ave.) offers high-end home décor, furniture, and antiques while also conducting estate sales and senior moving management. A second location operates in Thiensville (217 N. Main St.). Glad Rags Resale Shoppe covers clothing consignment nearby.

Waukesha antique malls

Waukesha Antique Mall (1427 Racine Ave.) spreads over 8,000 square feet with 75+ dealers, representing the largest antique and collectibles selection in Waukesha County. Specialties include jewelry, primitives, coins, military items, toys, and vinyl records. Antiques & Uniques on Main (250 W. Main St.) houses 65-85+ dealers in historic downtown Waukesha.

Antiques on Pierce (1512 W. Pierce St., Milwaukee) claims the title of largest antique mall in southeastern Wisconsin with 30,000-40,000 square feet across 3-4 floors featuring 200+ dealers. Plan several hours for this one.

Suburban thrift chains

Beyond antiques, the suburbs offer numerous chain locations. Notable suburban Goodwills include Waukesha, Pewaukee, Oconomowoc, New Berlin, and West Bend. St. Vincent de Paul of Port Washington (2673 Hwy C) operates a large, well-organized Ozaukee County facility.

Thriftopia (N89W16744 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls) opened in 2022 as a unique thrift featuring vintage t-shirts, sports memorabilia, and Packers gear organized by "rooms." Elite Repeat Consignment Shop (2205 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield) has offered upscale women's consignment for 35+ years with brands including Theory, Coach, Gucci, and Elie Tahari.

Shopping tips

Best days and times

Tuesday ranks as the optimal thrift shopping day—weekend donations have been processed and stores are freshly stocked without Saturday crowds. Monday offers similar fresh inventory. Early morning visits catch overnight restocks first, while evening shopping near closing avoids the morning reseller crowd.

Avoid weekends when possible—stores are most crowded and picked-over. End-of-month timing also tends to yield less fresh inventory.

What to buy (and skip) secondhand

Thrift stores excel for solid wood furniture (refinishable, unlike veneer), cast iron cookware, books and media, kids' clothes they'll outgrow, kitchen utensils, picture frames, vintage glassware, and quality tools (older often means better construction).

Be selective with electronics (test first) and upholstered furniture (smell for smoke or mildew). Never buy used: car seats (safety compromised after accidents), cribs (standards change frequently), bike helmets, or mattresses.

Quality evaluation shortcuts

For clothing, feel for natural fibers—wool, silk, cotton, linen, and leather indicate quality construction. Check for even, tight stitching. Union labels or "Made in USA" tags on pre-1980s clothing often signal superior quality.

For furniture, the weight test distinguishes solid wood (heavy) from particleboard (light). The shake test reveals wobbling. Look inside drawers for dovetail joints—they indicate quality craftsmanship, while nails and glue suggest lesser construction. Use Google Lens to research unfamiliar brands or makers' marks.

Family-friendly thrifting

Plan trips around energy levels—morning works best for returning home before lunch and naps. Set clear expectations about what you're looking for, budget limits, and duration. Turn shopping into a treasure hunt: challenge kids to find specific items, colors, or categories. Give older children a small budget ($1-5) for independent decision-making.

Best kids' categories to thrift include clothing (especially sizes 2+), books, toys and games, sports equipment, craft supplies, and winter gear. Check recalled items against CPSC.gov before purchasing.

Estate sales and garage sales

Peak garage sale season runs April through June and September. Sign up for alerts at EstateSales.org and EstateSales.net for Milwaukee-area estate sales. Arrive early on first days for best selection; visit last days for 50% discounts and negotiation opportunities. Bring cash—many sales don't accept cards.

Top Milwaukee estate sale companies include Brew City Antique Auctions & Estate Sales, Cream City Estate Sales, and Edie B Estate Sales. RummageWisconsin.com aggregates city-wide sales.

Conclusion

Greater Milwaukee's second-hand shopping landscape rewards both casual browsers and dedicated treasure hunters. The St. Vincent de Paul in Greenfield and Value Village on South Layton Boulevard consistently deliver the best overall thrift experiences, while Bay View's vintage corridor offers curated finds for those willing to pay boutique prices. Families with young children should prioritize Once Upon A Child in Brookfield and Play It Again Sports for seasonal gear. The Goodwill Outlet on 91st Street has democratized treasure hunting for those willing to dig through bins, and Cedarburg's antique shops justify a pleasant day trip. Most importantly, shop Tuesdays for the freshest inventory, sign up for the free Goodwill Perks Plus program since color tag sales have ended, and remember that the best thrift finds reward patience and regular visits over single-trip expectations.