Visiting Local Thrift Stores, Part One
Trinity Larsen | October 7, 2025
Why buy something that's used…
It’s at a Goodwill for a reason, not the mall…
Digging through all this junk isn’t worth it, I’m not going to find anything of value…
Are all thoughts I used to have when I started thrifting back home in South Carolina. While thrift store shopping can be overwhelming sometimes, there's always something a seemingly discarded item that shoppers might find useful. A good thrifting trip hinges on the mindset that shoppers step into stores with, and it wasn't until I changed how I viewed an “ugly” sequined dress or faded flannel that I started seeing the potential they had.
Below, I review three thrift stores I visited and the unique elements about each that were either appealing or less appealing for students looking to shop local for second hand pieces.
Goodwill Store and Donation Center- Black Mountain
This Goodwill is approximately a 10-minute drive from Warren Wilson College (WWC), making it the closest thrift store to campus. The price of each clothing item ranges from shirts costing $4.99 to jeans for $6.99.
If shoppers are looking to gear up for the colder months, this Goodwill has an array of flannels and sweaters that would be perfect along with jeans from three stacked racks. While students may not want to add more clutter to cramped dorm rooms, there were a couple of dressers and cabinets that were in good condition.
Conveniently, there were two dressing rooms in the store, but be warned- they do get hot, and there are weird holes at the bottom of the doors that were a bit too large for my liking.
I always check the skirts at Goodwill, and while these were also in great supply, most were made out of cheap fabric and only great for one night out. Their selection of tops appealed more towards a Y2K fashion-leaning grandma. Unless you enjoy the challenge of styling these tops, I would skip the shirt section at this Goodwill. As I was leaving, I noticed the employees were doing a good job restocking and unloading cars that were there for drop off.
My one tip for shoppers who might visit is to check their put-back rack.
Asheville Humane Thrift Store
Roughly an 11-minute drive, and located off of I-40, thrift store enthusiasts will find this quaint store exciting to explore. Everything looked to be priced $3 and below, with proceeds going to the Asheville Humane Society.
This thrift had a little bit of everything, from potted plants to fitness equipment. There was even a parrot, though not for sale, just there for the vibes.
The jewelry section seemed to be a mix of chunky grandma necklaces and small pendant necklaces. The clothes section was a bit harder to find a hidden gem in, with a lot of pieces made out of cheap fabric and worn down from too many washes. I wouldn’t 100% recommend the clothing at this location.
There was a big selection of home decor to browse, making it seem like a treasure hunt. I spotted handmade mugs, Halloween trinkets and even office supplies. I recommend checking out the back room of this thrift store; I was surprised by the amount of vintage books, vinyls and DVDs I found in there. I almost fell into the common thrift store trap of purchasing a trinket I wasn’t completely sold on, but feeling the itch to get it anyway because it didn’t cost a lot. With items priced cheaply, I advise shoppers who visit this location not to feel pressured to buy something, despite its affordable cost.
Goodwill Outlet
Usually, at Goodwill Outlets, it is common to find people with masks and gloves fighting over a rare high-end clothing item. While that is not the case at the Asheville Outlet, shoppers can expect to find good pieces if they are willing to dig.
Approximately a 20-minute drive from WWC, this Goodwill Outlet may look like multiple stories; however, that is not the case.
Inside, there is a floor filled front to back with clothing and household appliance bins.
The Goodwill Outlet is pay-by-the-pound, making it the cheapest local Goodwill and ideal for students who are on a budget but still want to hunt for their next go-to fashion piece.
I visited on a Saturday afternoon, but most of the bins looked picked over. I could tell by the long check-out line that most of the good clothes had probably already been taken. I would recommend shopping on a weekday or early Saturday morning to have the best thrift success.
The clothes were made out of good-quality fabrics, aside from the occasional SHEIN label. The condition of each of the items of clothing varied, with most sporting permanent stains. I sighed at the numerous times I found baby clothes I wished I could fit in that were in better condition and had adorable patterns.
My one tip for shoppers who plan on scavenging in the bins is to bring gloves, even if they aren’t disposable. I lost count of the number of times I mindlessly tossed aside underwear.
Shopping at thrift stores is a small but sustainable action college students can take to curate more personal outfits and a dorm space they love while also not draining their wallets. There will be a second part of this piece featuring the vintage stores I visited in Asheville. Leave your recommendations for your favorite local thrift stores below!