Catch the Drift about Thrifting

Flagstaff's Top Thrift Shop

Recycling spreads its wings across generations and communities like Flagstaff, Arizona, with a thriving array of thrift stores. Ranked at the top of any list for class and quality, the non-profit Cedar Closet Thrift Shop is a great option. So, is thrifting worth the effort? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Ruth Loomis, a longtime Flagstaff resident and frequent shopper, said, “I have been going to the Cedar Closet since it first opened on Cedar Ave. The quality and pricing of the merchandise are consistently excellent; no clothing tears, stains, or missing buttons to look out for. Several of my friends also happily shop there. And talk about friendly, you can hardly count the smiles of the all-volunteer staff.” 

Every week, the Cedar Closet has a new boutique-like arrangement of its furniture and décor, thanks to member Jayne Clark and her talented team, who come in every Sunday to redesign the store. I asked her if she was a retired interior designer, and she replied, “No, dental hygienist! When I was little, my mother had us reorganize the furniture every time we cleaned the house, so I grew up doing this.” You’ll often find a specialty section for Holidays, Seasons, Western, or Back-to-School wear, including NAU apparel.

Located at 2919 North West Street and open three days a week from Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the shop is operated by the volunteer members of the Assistance League of Flagstaff.

The Assistance League of Flagstaff operates nine philanthropic programs that serve women, children, veterans, the elderly, and the homeless. They donate over $200,000 annually to the greater Flagstaff community, most of which comes from Cedar Closet proceeds.

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More Flagstaff Thrift Shops

Several other non-profit thrift stores exist in Flagstaff that serve to help the community.

Sharon’s Attic
1926 N. Fourth Street
Sharon's Attic uses its proceeds to fund Sharon’s Manor, a transitional housing community for victims of domestic violence and their children. It also provides clothing and essentials to its clients. Sharon's Attic is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Wednesdays, when it closes at 3 p.m.

The Society of St. Vincent DePaul
2113 N. East Street
Proceeds fund families in need on a case-by-case basis, working in partnership with the local Roman Catholic Church, San Francisco de Asis. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hodgepodge Thrift Store
52 N. Switzer Canyon
Hodgepodge is run by Northland Hospice and Palliative Care, a non-profit organization. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thrift for Goodness Sake
2 South Beaver
Proceeds from this shop benefit the Sunshine Rescue Mission and Hope Cottage, which help fight homelessness in Flagstaff. The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Habitat Restore
2016 N. 4th Street
Run by Habitat for Humanity, this shop may be the best place to donate and purchase used furniture and appliances. The proceeds help build affordable housing in Flagstaff. The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Goodwill Industries
1416 East Route 66, 4308 E. Route 66, 701 South Milton Avenue
Their stores are part of a national network supporting Goodwill Industries, a not-for-profit agency dedicated to helping people end poverty through education, training, and employment.

Faithworks
2707 N. 4th Street, #E3
Faithworks is Flagstaff’s newest addition to local Thrifting. They are open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Why You Should Choose to Thrift

One may think of the typical thrift store customer as someone down on their luck or unable to afford to shop in full retail establishments. That image is changing with more middle and upper-class people making the choice to thrift. What is going on? Everyone likes the thrill of the hunt and finding a treasure for a tenth of its original cost. But, it’s also a conscious choice to become a part of the solution to help the environment. 

According to a 2019 article by McKinsey Sustainability, “for every five garments produced, the equivalent of three end up in a landfill or incinerated each year. On average, consumers wear clothes 36% fewer times than they did 15 years ago. If the number of times a garment is worn were doubled on average, greenhouse gas emissions would be 44% lower. Globally, customers miss out on up to $460 billion each year by throwing away clothes they could continue to wear.” Their research goes on to articulate, “The process of producing clothing uses a high amount of energy. Every piece of clothing you’re wearing has gone through a complex manufacturing process that uses a high amount of electricity, water, and other energy sources. Recycling clothes saves energy by reducing or eliminating the need to make materials from scratch. Similarly, when you purchase recycled clothes, you’re playing a role in reducing the volume of ‘fast fashion’.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics considers clerks in thrift stores to have “green jobs.” It takes at least 400 gallons of water to grow enough cotton to make one T-shirt and 800 gallons to make one pair of jeans.

Thrifting is also a growing form of tourism. Search YouTube and you will find videos of family thrift trips alongside vacations to the beach. It has become a thing for girlfriends to pick a city like Flagstaff with an array of thrift stores and good restaurants, and plan a trip to shop for bargains by day and spend their money on fine dining at night. 

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Find Your New Fave in Flagstaff

At the Cedar Closet, we see younger shoppers having fun as they put together their own fashion statements. We have so many high-quality donations that year-round sales often offer clothing for fifty cents a garment. And when you’re tired of that look, donate it back and pick out something new! There is also a boutique of designer label garments and handbags for a fraction of their cost on eBay or other resale sites.

Thrifting includes much more than clothing. You can find linens, housewares, artwork, craft materials, baskets, plenty of furniture, and small appliances to set up a student apartment. One cannot forget kids’ toys and clothes, and there are plenty to keep grandma popular without breaking the bank.

Flagstaff is also home to many antique and vintage stores. Not only can you find beautiful mountain scenery, cool temperatures, and great restaurants, but Flagstaff is now the place to “thrift” if you get my drift.

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