The AUC is a perfect example that style is culture in Atlanta. Students are demonstarting this with fashion inspired and assembled choices from thrifting.
Some may cast thrifting as looking through secondhand clothing, but it has become an art of hunting to find one-of-a-kind clothing pieces to put into personal aesthetics. Today, thrifting has become one of the largest gatherings of the African diaspora in the United States, giving it its own cultural expression with distinct individualism from person-to-person.
Here is a list showcasing and ranking all the different places to stop around the AUC for beginning and experienced thrifters.
2W Thrift
Unless you have been off social media, you may have seen 2W Thrift surfacing on TikTok. It has emerged as one of the more recommended thrifting stores to go to in Atlanta.
From the outside, the store looks like a warehouse which gives it a large selection of clothing items sorted by category and size. They are labeled with colored price codes that could range from $1-20, making it easier to shop with little to no assistance needed.
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What could be found: vintage dresses, jeans, graphic tees, jackets and denim. Also holds footwear and accessories, such as jewelry and vintage watches.
“Fun place with exceptional staff. I was able to buy a Mickey Mouse watch in great shape for 15 bucks,” a customer named David said on Yelp. 2W Thrift has 4.8/5 stars on Yelp with 8 reviews.
The place as a whole is aesthetically pleasing, with the store carrying a classic Mercedes-Benz and multiple colors throughout the warehouse like store. Also recognized for being very clean and tidy.
“What makes it 5 stars ??? Large selection… Clean and no smell… Staff are nice… Several fitting rooms… Decent brands available… Not over priced,” a customer named Kameetrice said on Yelp.
It’s a fairly newer store, compared to others on the list, so it may be crowded. It’s recommended to go during the week.
Location: 300 Wharton Cir SW
Distance From AUC: 18-20 minute Drive
Yelp: Yelp
The Clothing Warehouse
The Clothing Warehouse is a staple to the Atlanta thrifting scene, known for its high end boutique aesthetic. Originally founded in 1992 by Jim Buckley, an export business before evolving into a retail store.
It is a part of Little Five Points, a hub known for its alternative free spirit fashion, shopping, and street art. Located only a couple miles east of downtown
When you walk in you’ll see thousands of vintage t-shirts covering the wall, color coordinated and plenty of racks of unique dresses and skirts.
What separates The Clothing Warehouse from any other store is the representation of many styles. Their styles span the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s with endless collections of cowboy boots, leather jackets, sunglasses, classic Levi’s and Wrangler jeans. Also having tons of accessory brands Fossil, Casio, Baggu, etc.
“Every piece is as original as you – we have something for everyone,” the official website said.
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Their Yelp rating is 3.5/5 with 82 reviews.
The store is almost guaranteed to have something to peak your interest, with the wide unique variety of styles it displays. This may encourage you to pay more than you want at times, when it comes to more exclusive pieces.
“Easily the coolest vintage clothing shop we went to the entire trip, so many options and racks to sort through,” Sarah said on her Yelp review of her trip to the store. “We had a 5 star experience!”
The store serves as a time capsule of self expression and fashion history.
Location: 420 Moreland Ave NE
Distance From AUC: 10-15 minute Drive
Website: The Clothing Warehouse
Yelp: Yelp
2nd Street
2nd Street is nothing short of high end thrifting, blending streetwear with designer fashion. They regularly add inventory from the U.S. and Japan, originally starting there and growing to a global resale chain in the United States, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, etc.
Having well known streetwear brands such as Supreme and Bape are one thing, but having a steady inventory of designer brands like Rich Owens, Balenciaga and Maison Margiela sets them apart from any other store in the area. The store gives consumers opportunities to see exclusive one-of-kind-pieces that you may just have never seen before, such as the shoe by VOGAL, where its signature styled laces are on a high top Jordan one.
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Outside of collections and inventory, there is a real tendency of lowballing for anyone who wants to trade in pieces for profit.
“Offered me 10 cents (not exaggerating) for a pair of street-wear styled sweat pants I love…I was so off-put,” shopper Alli E. said in her review on Yelp.
Their Yelp review is 2.1/5 with 17 reviews.
“They offered me $3.50 for the following items: a vintage leather coach bag, a hand woven and leather bag from Morocco, a pair of high waisted vintage jeans in mint condition, a vintage tie front top, a brand new dress shirt, a button up thermal from Anthropologie,” Mary P. said on their experience on Yelp.
It is highly encouraged if you’d like to trade items in for profit, use it as in store credit to support frequent shopping.
The store is best for anyone who wants to elevate their wardrobe with recognizable brands while still staying in a reasonable budget.
Location: 1057 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
Distance from AUC: 10 -12 minute drive
Website: 2nd Street
Yelp: Yelp
Rag-O-Rama
Going to Rag-O-Rama, you’re met with this feeling of vintage, due to the colorful art and graffiti on the sides of the building.
This place is better equipped for people who enjoy thrifting with the task of searching for pieces. It has a wide variety of clothing items, with a large portion of casual wear, opposed to known name brands.
It operates on a buy-sell-trade model, allowing shoppers to sell their own pieces for cash or store credit. More casual wear in the store makes it easier for customers to get compensated for their sales or trades.
The store located in Little Five Points, near The Clothing Wearhouse.
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Their Yelp is rated 3.1/5 with 196 reviews.
The large amount of casual wear discourages customers from the high prices at times.
“Super cute clothes, but definitely overpriced…great pieces that were decent quality as well, but had to put them back on the rack because they were extremely overpriced,” Mackenzie G. said in her Yelp review.
The store serves as a thrift adventure where bargain hunters can dig through racks to find standout pieces for gems.
Location: 1111 Euclid Ave NE
Distance from AUC: 10-15 minute drive
Website: Rag-O-Rama
Yelp: Yelp
Out of the Closet – Ansley
Out of the Closest is a socially conscious and non-profit store. They support HIV/AIDS services; 96 cents on every dollar generated goes directly towards testing, care and prevention programs worldwide. Each purchase has a deeper purpose beyond style.
Their clothing is sorted by size and gender, making it easy to navigate the store and a contrast from busier and chaotic thrifting environments.
The store relies on donations, so the inventory changes constantly. A rotating selection keeps thrifters coming back and looking forward to seasonal pieces like jackets and other streetwear layers.
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Their Yelp rating is 4.5/5 with 13 reviews.
“Beautiful thrift store with high quality finds! Great place to go to find something unique and special,” Heather said in his Yelp review as she gave the store a five star rating.
It may not be the biggest store, but it supports a mission, proving thrifting can be a form of self expression and a way to give back to the community.
Location: 1512 Piedmont Avenue Northeast
Distance from AUC: 16-18 minute drive
Website: Out of the Closet – Ansley
Yelp: Yelp
