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Whether it’s the economy threatening the cost of new clothing or the realization that fast fashion has dire environmental impacts (we’re looking at you, Shein), Americans are increasingly turning to thrift stores to score their newest closet staple. In fact, the secondhand market in the United States is worth around $50 billion (an increase of 30 percent since 2023), according to research from Capital One.
“[The thrifting lifestyle] is about sharing exposure to sustainability in whatever way [we can],” says Tristan Bego, co-founder of Capitol Hill secondhand shop the Common Collective. Bego and her partner Jenny Neal started the storefront in 2021 after seeing overwhelming interest in social media posts where Bego showed how to style upcycled pieces. She hopes to teach Coloradans just how easy it is to shift their consumer habits to create a ripple effect. “If you take 10 people who you can influence—from Instagram or whatever—about sustainability, how many other people can they affect with the same mindset?”
And it’s not just eco euphoria that we’re chasing—there’s a real thrill to finding that perfect pair of vintage jeans. And let’s be honest: You can’t find that feeling at Target. In an effort to help you on your hunt for your next secondhand treasure, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite thrift shops and vintage boutiques in Denver.
Jump Ahead:
- Tips for Being a Better Thrifter
- Best Thrift Stores for Clothing and Accessories
- Best Thrift Stores for Outdoor Gear
- Best Thrift Stores for Furniture and Home Goods
- Denver’s Best Thrifting Events
Tips for Being a Better Thrifter
- Be consistent and patient. Bego says you’ll want to commit to shopping at secondhand stores as often as you’d shop at the mall—or, OK, online. You’re not going to find a gem every time you browse. It’ll be piece by piece, which can seem slow, but it’s the only way to start building a sustainable (and supercool) closet.
- Follow local Instagram-based shops, and turn on notifications for when they post. The one-of-a-kind nature of thrifting can sometimes make snagging that iconic piece—or winning the occasional bidding war—feel like a competitive sport. Turning on story and post notifications for your favorite accounts will put you one step ahead of the competition when new items drop.
- Be kind. For some sellers, scouting and delivering upcycled goods is their full-time job. For others, it’s just a passion project. Either way, thrifting is essentially running a small business—even if you’re just doing it part time—so respect each individual seller’s bidding rules, community guidelines, and time. (And be kind to your fellow thrifters, too.)
- Share your favorite finds loud and proud. Post that killer new blazer or pair of oval shades on social media. There’s no need to gatekeep your sweet, sustainable finds.
- Don’t miss the large-scale pop-up markets happening around the metro area every month. The below list of shops encompasses just a mere fraction of the Coloradans selling unique thrifted wares, so hitting the racks at the city’s frequent line-up of collaborative thrift events is the easiest way to discover new finds. (More on this below.)
Best Thrift Shops for Clothing and Accessories
Boss Vintage
- Where: 10 S. Broadway, Denver (Speer)
- Hours: Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.–6 p.m.
Denver’s oldest vintage store, Boss Vintage is somewhat of a local staple. Founded in 1989 by Cynthia and Ron Wright, the shop has sourced costumes for many popular films, including Titanic and Forrest Gump. Today, the inventory includes everything from vintage Levi’s (iykyk) to 1950s swimsuits to band T-shirts. You’ll even find an impressive wig collection in the back for your next costume party or music festival.
Garage Sale Vintage
- Where: 1445 Larimer St., Denver (Union Station) & 1701 Pearl St., Boulder
- Hours: Sunday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–12 a.m.
Sustainable shopping becomes an entire experience at this vintage retail concept, where you can sip margaritas from the full-service bar (don’t miss happy hour, Monday through Friday, 3 to 7 p.m.) and listen to live music, all while browsing the vinyl collection and buzzing around a sea of ’70s-patterned silk blouses, retro Nuggets jerseys, nostalgic enamel pins, and other statement jewelry from dozens of local vendors. (Keep in mind that Garage Sale is a vintage shop, not a thrift, so price tags can be steeper.)
Garage Sale, which opened its flagship in Larimer Square five years ago, has since expanded to Boulder and even gone nationwide with one location in New York City and two in Nashville.
Show Pony Vintage
- Where: 1338 15th St., Denver (Union Station) & 2025 S. University Blvd., Denver (University)
- Hours: Vary by location. Check Show Pony’s Instagram page.
Welcome to Y2K heaven. Stocked with all the kitschy hair clips and graphic tees of your favorite childhood cartoons, Show Pony is the thrift destination for stylish Gen Xers and millennials. The shop opened its first storefront near University of Denver in early 2022 and another, in LoDo, last year. Both are home to a rotating community of secondhand vendors and their curated throwbacks from the ’80s, ’90s, and early aughts. Spin through Show Pony’s racks to cop your next band tee, Denver Broncos letterman jacket, neon matching set, or a Carrie Bradshaw–inspired slip dress.
Strawberry Mountain
- Where: 825 Santa Fe Drive, Denver (Lincoln Park)
- Hours: Daily, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Channel your main-character energy at Strawberry Mountain in the Santa Fe Arts District, where you can buy, sell, and trade your way to a sustainable wardrobe that feels aligned with your individual vibe. Snag everyday classics like Wrangler jeans and leather moto jackets or maxi skirts and cottagecore babydoll blouses; then build on your capsule collection with a pastel mini shoulder bag, a pair of platform Oxfords, some checkered pants, or other playful pieces fit for your personal mood board. Keep an eye on the shop’s Instagram for monthly event calendars, like First Friday Art Walks (featuring work-for-sale from local artists) or donation-based yoga classes.
The Common Collective
- Where: 613 E. 13th Ave., Denver (Capitol Hill)
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
This two-year-old Capitol Hill space, founded by Tristan Bego and Jenny Neal, is your one-stop hub for Black-owned and women-owned small businesses. Find everything from gender-neutral, sustainable clothing to hand-crafted candles, ceramics, and other artisan goods. Neal creates custom, recycled pieces for the store, such as pink pants made from lace curtains or colorful shorts made from fluffy towels. Don’t miss TCC After Dark, an after-hours event on the third Saturday of each month, to score 20 to 50 percent off the whole store.
Secondlove
- Where: 4325 W. 41st Ave., Denver (Berkeley)
- Hours: Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Finding high quality can be challenging when you’re thrifting, but not at Berkeley’s Secondlove. While all of the clothes in this women-owned shop are secondhand, you won’t find junk; it’s stocked with quality, barely worn items from brands like Zara and Free People. And if you’ve got a wedding, prom, or gala coming up, Secondlove often consigns formal dresses, including from popular California-based brand V. Chapman. But whichever occasion you’re shopping for, we recommend following the shop’s Instagram, where you can find regular stock updates and outfit inspo.
Fever Dream Vintage and Modern
- Where: 2903 E. Colfax Ave., Denver (City Park)
- Hours: Sunday, 12 p.m.–5 p.m.; Monday–Friday 12 p.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Colfax’s Fever Dream Vintage and Modern is, well, aptly named. Stepping into this secondhand shop—where clothing racks form mazes and quirky decor covers every surface—feels like entering a vintage hallucination. And the fever’s spreading: This month, the shop expands to include the retail space next door, doubling your chances of scoring your very own Edwardian dress or ’70s colorblock jeans. But the chaos is intentional—the clothing isn’t organized by gender specifically to promote inclusivity and encourage customers to find their own style. In other words, this isn’t meant to be a straightforward shopping experience, but rather a celebration of style.
Regal Vintage
- Where: 1866 S. Broadway, Denver (Platt Park)
- Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 12 p.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m.–4 p.m.
If you don’t know what you’re looking for but you’re in the mood to add something quirky to your closet, Regal Vintage serves as one of Denver’s best purveyors of oddities. This 18-year-old Broadway staple is where you can find a cassette-shaped purse, a hamburger stuffed animal, or a Care Bears lunch box. But we’re drawn to Regal’s selection of clothes and accessories, which changes constantly and includes pieces from every decade of the 20th century—including neon swimsuits from the ’80s and leopard print skirts.
Best Thrift Stores for Outdoor Gear
Feral
- Where: 3936 Tennyson St., Denver (Berkeley)
- Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Outdoor goods are notoriously pricey, which is why Berkeley-based Feral is on a mission to make adventure more accessible by distributing gear and garb at a fraction of retail cost. About half of the store’s footprint is dedicated to a bounty of gently used performance apparel and equipment, so you can add essentials like snow pants, daypacks, sleeping bags, and base layers to your stash—or hunt for that prized Patagonia fleece and North Face puffer—without breaking your budget (the other half of the inventory is new). Even better, the Tennyson Street store offers in-house repairs, as well as seasonal gear rentals like snowshoes, trekking poles, bear-proof containers, and more.
Second Wind Sports
- Where: 1901 S. Broadway, Denver (Overland)
- Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Originally opened in Montana in 1988, Second Wind Sports came to Denver in 2023. In that 3,100-square-foot space, you’ll find owner Charlie Fay and his family consigning all kinds of outdoor gear, from Black Diamond puffers to mountain bikes. The layout and stock change seasonally (for the warmer months, you’ll find disc golf equipment, camping gear, and life jackets), and the shop even carries tot-size gear, meaning you can count on Second Wind being your family’s base camp this summer.
Read More: Our 5 Favorite Local Outdoor Stores In and Around Denver
Best Thrift Stores for Furniture and Home Goods
Here in Heaven
- Where: 17 E. 11th Ave., Denver (Capitol Hill)
- Hours: Daily, 1 p.m.–7 p.m.; closed Monday and Wednesday
Close that tab with the online Pottery Barn cart worth one month’s mortgage, and head to Nicole Balgley’s posh, shoppable Cap Hill showroom instead. There, decorative disco balls and house plants galore provide inspiration for how to style the refurbished mid-century modern furniture and décor in your own space. Think: coveted Wassily chair reproductions, Art Deco glassware and mirrors, and sleek antique brass étagères.
Soul Dog Thrift Store
- Where: 4725 S. Broadway, Englewood
- Hours: Vary based on volunteer availability (check Facebook for updates)
Scoring a thrifted gem is always a thrill—but it’s even better when the proceeds go to a good cause. This pint-size Englewood shop benefits Fort Lupton’s Soul Dog Rescue Shelter, but don’t worry, the prices are as friendly as its mission. Here, all clothing items are only $4 each (nope, not a typo) and you’ll also find household items like strollers, candles, furniture, and, of course, pet supplies like crates and cat trees. At only 700 square feet, the space is snug, but that means the volunteers who run the store swap inventory often, so there’s always something new to sniff out.
The Good Couch
- Where: 8475 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
A whole thrift store specializing in couches seems oddly specific, but hear us out. Unlike trying your luck on Facebook Marketplace, the Good Couch professionally cleans, inspects, and details all of the sofas that come through its doors, so you know your loveseat won’t be hiding some nail clippings or mysterious stains. And, the Good Couch gives back: In 2018, staffers carried a couch all the way to the top of Mt. Elbert in an effort to raise money for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. We guess you can say this shop goes the extra mile.
The Other Side Furniture Boutique
- Where: 3125 Federal Blvd., Denver (West Highland)
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Participants and graduates of Denver’s the Other Side Academy, a 30-month residential and transitional living program for those facing incarceration, run this upscale West Highland boutique. Inside, you’ll find pre-loved goods from brands like Williams-Sonoma and Sleep Number. The store also carries furniture in a variety of styles, like a mid-century modern armchair or a rustic armoire. The Other Side also carries original art, such as a $6,500 original oil painting from realist artist Brent Godfrey. And if you want to make sure you find what you’re looking for before heading over, the Other Side maintains an up-to-date inventory online.
Denver’s Best Thrifting Events
Larimer Vintage Market
- Where: 2631 Larimer St., Denver (RiNo)
- When: Every last Saturday of the month, March through September
Every month, the Lot on Larimer in RiNo turns into a vintage oasis featuring small, local purveyors like So Good Resale and Fever Dream Vintage and Market. Find everything from cocktail dresses to quirky keychains—all with free entry.
ThriftCon
- Where: 4655 N. Humboldt St., Denver (Elyria-Swansea)
- When: August 9 and 10, 2025
Founded in Denver in 2019, this annual convention—which now has events in seven other cities, including Philadelphia, Atlanta, and even London—draws more than 140 vendors to the National Western Complex each year for a full day of thrifty hauls. Find everything from rare, vintage furniture to $3 racks of secondhand clothing.
Old School Cool
- Locations and hours vary
Denver’s vintage scene isn’t just made up of brick-and-mortar storefronts, but also individuals passionate about secondhand goods who sell their finds on social media or at larger stores. That’s why Old School Cool hosts regular events to shine a light on vintage micro-businesses selling clothes, vinyl records, and furniture in a farmer’s market setting. Keep an eye on Old School Cool’s Instagram page for market updates—the next one is scheduled for May 31 at Stanley Marketplace.
