Founded in 1769, San Diego has over 250 years of rich history. The city started as home to California’s first Catholic mission, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, and has grown and changed over time, serving many purposes like a military hub and a mecca for surfers and beach bums.

To this day it continues to evolve, and remnants of its past lives are sitting on the shelves of consignment shops all over the city.

Whether you’re looking back for pieces from the past or forward to being more eco-friendly and seeking out secondhand items that are less taxing on the planet, San Diego’s many thrift shop-heavy neighborhoods are full of stores with treasures ready to be bought and loved again. 

Hillcrest

Appropriately named, Hillcrest sits perched overlooking Mission Valley and the San Diego River below. It’s often accurately described as hip and forward-thinking with the reputation of being San Diego’s most accepting neighborhood. 

Hillcrest’s main drag, Fifth Avenue, is lined with independent sandwich shops and edgy boutiques, many with rainbow flags hanging in their windows to support the city’s LGBTQ community. At night, Hillcrest takes on a whole new personality as it lights up into a lively night scene just as soon as the sun dips below the horizon. Mixed in between the bars and eateries, you’ll find several fantastic thrift stores. 

Flashbacks Recycled Fashion

Flashbacks Recycled Fashion is the perfect name for this shop. Whether it’s platform shoes, Halloween costumes, crazy costume jewelry, bell-bottoms or something else completely, you’ll find something close to what you’re seeking in this little secondhand clothes shop. 

Lost and Found

Lost and Found is a small but mighty shop with a mix of modern brand names at competitive secondhand prices and quirky older pieces from brands most have never even heard of. 

Luigi Vera

One of Hillcrest’s priciest thrift shops, Luigi Vera is known for having unique pieces you wouldn’t find at any other store, secondhand or otherwise. Everything from the decor, decorated for a holiday or just for fun, to the purchasable items are quirky in a high fashion sort of way. This is the perfect shop for someone looking for something no one else they know could even possibly own.

The Midway District

Squeezed between Point Loma and Old Town, the Midway District is known primarily as a hub of entertainment thanks to two very different music venues: a small personal concert hall, Soma San Diego, which lies somewhat hidden at the back of an unassuming strip mall, and Pechanga Arena, the area’s considerably larger forum.

Beyond numerous music venues, the Midway District is the perfect area for anyone looking for convenience and one-stop shopping due to the large and varied number of shops. Most are nationwide chain stores but woven into the fabric are several really good spots for finding secondhand goods.

Rock Thrift Store

The Rock Thrift Store is what you think of when you picture a thrift store in your head. A popular stop for thrifters who want an eclectic mix of items to search through for gems and a popular stop for inexpensive furniture finds for college apartments. Proceeds go to support The Rock Church’s philanthropic endeavors.

Consignment Classics

Literally a massive warehouse, Consignment Classics is where treasure hunters land when homewares and furniture are on their wishlists. With rows upon rows of beautiful and colorful dishes, chairs from every era, and real wood coffee tables you’d never find in an Ikea, they have something for every home and style of decor.   

American Cancer Society Discovery Shop

American Cancer Society Discovery Shop is far from your run-of-the-mill charity shop. Upon first glance their inventory might seem a little sparse but upon closer inspection, you’ll see each piece is carefully chosen and worthy of a spot on the well-organized shelves and racks—especially when it comes to the large number of women’s clothing items. Profits from this shop are used to support cancer patients and their families by funding research and advocacy events.

University Heights

Between two more boisterous neighborhoods, Hillcrest and North Park, University Heights is just as hipster but a little quieter and more homey. 

The result is a walkable community with late-night taco stops and early morning coffee shops, spiritual centers of all kinds, and lots of little shops selling handmade goods. Strung between all those offerings are a number of consignment shops.  

La Loupe Vintage

La Loupe is a vintage shop focusing mostly on great pieces of clothes from times passed. The collection is well cultivated and fine-tuned so you won’t have to dig through piles of clothes to find the perfect piece.

Since they are so picky and do all the work for you, pieces tend to be a little more pricey than some other local stops. Side note: Don’t forget to flip through the boxes of records. Many report finding hard-to-come-by albums for a steal.

The Cave of Wonders

The Cave of Wonders is something unlike any of the other shops on this list. A strange and wonderful amalgamation of things including a crystal shop selling rocks and crystals from all over the world, wares made by local artisans, and some vintage and antique pieces that fit their vibe.

Goodwill on University Avenue

While some might scoff at shopping for anything unique at one of the country’s most ubiquitous thrift shops, this Goodwill location is frequently noted as the best Goodwill location in all of San Diego. 

Not only are the items here typically more reasonably priced with a good selection of random items as a proper Goodwill shop should be, but this thrift store is clean and well-organized from the shelves through to the dressing rooms.