The Best Thrift Stores in Major College Towns

These thrift and vintage shops will keep you stylin' and profilin' without denting your wallet.

Aug 18, 2016
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Image via Complex Original
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Image via Complex Original
 

With a full-time roster of classes and part-time jobs on the side, surviving the struggle known as undergrad life in style is quite a feat. Thankfully, whether you’re looking to kit out your new off-campus apartment or get your fall wardrobe up to snuff, vintage shops and thrift stores really allow you to stretch your dollar. Plus, they’ve got some low-key amazing clothing and furniture selections.

To help keep your fashion game on point without putting a massive dent in your wallet, Complex has compiled a list of the best thrift and vintage stores in major college towns across America, and found the coolest items they’re stocking right now

 

Cambridge, MA

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SCHOOLS: Harvard, MIT

Boasting Ivy League heavyweights like Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Mass. is the breeding ground for some of America’s top intelligentsia. It’s a very walkable city—a clutch feature for students who don’t have a ride of their own—which makes it easy to hit the area’s famed cultural sites and high-end restaurants.

STORES: 

Where: Boomerang’s Thrift

Address: 563 Massachusetts Ave.

Popular items: Vintage Tommy Hilfiger tee

Not so popular items: Basic long sleeve tees

Most expensive items: Artisan salt and pepper shakers, $100

Stand out item: Ralph Lauren Polo Bear button down shirts

Where: Oona’s Boston

Address: 1210 Massachusetts Ave.​

Popular items: Vintage LL Bean & Woolrich sweaters

Not so popular items: Tweed blazers

Most expensive items: Vintage fur coats, $186

Stand out items: Vintage Hawaiian shirts 

Gainsville, FL

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SCHOOL: University of Florida

Home of the University of Florida and its Gator Nation fanatics, Gainesville, Fla. offers more than just a thriving sports scene. The city boasts world-class museums, historic architecture, an infamous bat house, and of course, raging parties—​among its many allures. 

STORE:

Where: Flashbacks

Address: 818 W. University Ave.

Popular: ‘90s grunge flannel

Not so popular: Nothing really

Most expensive: Dr. Martens Boots, $100; Harley Davidson leather jackets, $100

Stand out: Native American silver and turquoise paperclip necklace

Durham, NC

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SCHOOL: Duke University

Famous for its men’s and women’s basketball teams, Duke University is the lifeblood of Durham, N.C. Coming in a close second to sports is the city’s burgeoning art scene, which is bolstered by the Bull City Arts Collaborative, Pleiades Gallery, and Museum of Durham History.

STORES:

Where: Plato’s Closet

Address: 8128 Renaissance Parkway​

Popular: North Face jackets

Not so popular: Basic t-shirts

Most expensive: Air Jordans and Nike KDs, $100

Stand out: Brightly colored Polo shirts, $14

Where: Rumors Boutique

Address: 106 C North Graham St.​

Popular: Vintage sports jerseys, crop tops, and high-waist denim shorts

Not so popular: Super outdated vintage

Most expensive:  Dr. Martens boots, $60

Stand out: Adidas sportswear baby pink T-shirt

Berkeley, CA

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SCHOOL: University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, Calif. is famous for its long history of student activism. The University of California, Berkeley specifically has paved the way for forward-thinking academics. Not to mention, the town’s proximity to Silicon Valley makes it ripe with tech manufacturers and startups.

STORES:

Where: Mind’s Eye Vintage

Address: 486 D 49th St.

Popular: Vintage Levi’s 501s

Not so popular: Shoes

Most expensive: Victorian era dress, $200

Stand out: Super washed-out vintage Budweiser t-shirt, $60

Where: Crossroads

Address: 2338 Shattuck Ave.​

Popular: High-end designer denim

Not so popular: Career wear

Most expensive: Balenciaga bag, $800

Stand out: McQueen leather motorcycle jacket 

Where: Mars Mercantile

Address: 2398 Telegraph Ave.

Popular: Vintage ‘90s windbreakers

Not so popular: Western shirts

Most expensive: Vintage furs, $200

Stand out: 1970s deadstock bell-bottom pants, $40

Ann Arbor, MI

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SCHOOLS: University of Michigan, Concordia University

Anchored by powerhouse football and basketball teams, the University of Michigan’s sports programs sit at the center of campus life in Ann Arbor, Mich. The city’s idyllic setting also provides plenty of outdoor activities during the frigid winter months.

STORE:

Where: Ann Arbor PTO Thrift

Address: 2280 S. Industrial Highway

Popular: Sneakers, kitchenware

Not so popular: Home linens

Most expensive: Coach bags, $100

Stand out: Video game selection

Austin, TX

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SCHOOLS: University of Texas at Austin, St. Edward's University, The Art Institute of Austin, Concordia University Texas

With a tagline like, “Keep Austin Weird,” it’s safe to say that Austin is a town where students are encouraged to let their freak flags fly. The bustling 6th Street scene provides a pub-crawl worthy stretch, while the annual SXSW music, film, and tech conferences transform the city into a hub for what’s new and what’s next. It’s more than enough to keep Austin’s numerous universities entertained.

STORES:

Where: Room Service

Address: 107 E. North Loop Blvd.

Popular: Dressers for dorm rooms

Not so popular: 1950s nostalgia tchotchkes

Most expensive: Wooden credenza, $399

Stand out: A massage chair with a built-in cassette player and speakers in the headrest.

Where: Monkies Thrift and Vintage

Address: 1904 Guadalupe St.​

Popular: Vintage sports jerseys

Not so popular: Vintage women’s blouses

Most expensive: David Bowie original tour tee, $200

Stand out: Pants made from vintage rubber tires, $100

College Station, TX

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SCHOOL: Texas A&M

With a name like College Station, it’s not hard to imagine this East-Central Texas city as a great place to live and study. The city, which was built around the already existing school, has 52 parks, more than 60 miles of bike trails, and most importantly, the highest overall percentage of part-time jobs, according to Forbes.com. 

STORES:

Where: Wandering Flamingo

Address: 212 N. Main St.

Popular: Cowboy boots and vintage records

Not so popular: Vintage 1920s dresses, $150

Most expensive: Vintage 1920s dresses, $150

Stand out: 1990s era MC Hammer-style pants, $18 

Where: Plato’s Closet

Address: 1104 Harvey Road​

Popular: Nike and Adidas Sportswear

Not so popular: Business Casual attire

Most expensive: Coach bag, $60 Cowboy boots, $60

Stand out: Air Jordans and Adidas in maroon (Texas A&M’s color)

Tuscaloosa, AL

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SCHOOLS: University of Alabama, Shelton State Community College, Stillman College 

Ranked as one of the “100 Best Communities for Young People” (according to Best College Reviews), Tuscaloosa, Ala. is a college town that looks beyond just undergrad years. The town’s job market features a Mercedes-Benz assembly plant, BF Goodrich Tire manufacturing, and an ever-growing healthcare employment network.

STORE:

Where: Twice As Nice

Address: 2319 University Blvd.

Popular: Formal evening wear

Not so popular: Antique Glass

Most expensive: Vintage fur, $1000; Burberry trench coat, $500

Stand out: A guitar signed by Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, $1000

Boulder, CO

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SCHOOLS: University of Colorado, Naropa University

Situated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder, Colo. offers students the ideal setting to embrace their love of the great outdoors. With a robust roster of hiking, snowboarding, skiing and the picturesque Red Rock amphitheater, there’s truly no need to stay trapped inside your dorm room.

STORES:

Where: Buffalo Exchange Boulder

Address: 1813 Pearl St.​

Popular: Vintage concert tees

Not so popular: Old shoes

Most expensive: Alexander Wang dress, $100

Stand out: 1940s-style Marc Jacobs dress, $55 

Where: Ragstock

Address:​ ​1580 Canyon Blvd.​

Popular Item: Recycled flannel shirts

Not so popular: Kiddie wallets

Most expensive: Free People dress, $24

Stand out: Patched up vintage overalls, $8

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