Exactly eight years ago today, Sherry and I packed up our things and left New York City to move to Richmond, Virginia together. Other than the small towns where we grew up, neither of us has lived anywhere longer, and it’s the only hometown Clara has ever known. To celebrate, we wanted to mark the date and share some of the reasons we love this city — especially since readers often ask “when in Richmond, what thrift and discount stores should I visit?”
Three years ago we marked our fifth Richmond anniversary with a short post that included a “Five Richmond Top Fives,” but that piece only mentioned two thrift shops. Over the years we’ve discovered many more favorite spots for thrifting, upcycled furniture, and discount home goods, so we felt it was time to put together a more thorough, easy-to-follow guide — complete with an interactive map and a practical itinerary for a day of treasure hunting.
Richmond has been getting noticed in travel and lifestyle roundups recently, which made our eighth anniversary the perfect moment to share a detailed look at our local thrifting scene and the best places to eat, hunt for bargains, and soak up the city’s creative vibe.
We’ve plotted a dozen of our favorite thrift and discount stores across Richmond on an interactive map. The green dots mark thrift and discount shops, blue dots show recommended places to eat, and red dots highlight other attractions and activities to round out your visit. Each marker includes a short description, opening hours where applicable, and tips about what you can expect to find. If you can’t access the map for any reason, the itinerary below will still guide you through a great route.
(Interactive map embedded on the original page)
Here’s a sample itinerary you can follow. It focuses on the thrift and discount stops while suggesting a few dining options along the way. If you’re starting near downtown, you can follow the route clockwise or counter-clockwise; we’ll describe it counter-clockwise here. A common first stop is a local donut shop to fuel up — most thrift stores don’t open until mid-morning, and several are closed on Sundays, Mondays, or Tuesdays, so plan accordingly to maximize your shopping time.
One of our reliable first stops is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore — a great place to donate and often a solid source for building materials, fixtures, and sometimes unexpected hardware gems. If you prefer furniture and decorative accessories, make a stop at Diversity Thrift, where we’ve picked up many pieces over the years, from tables to unique tabletop finds.
Heading north toward Lakeside Avenue, check out the local consignment and antique shops. Consignment Connection, for example, is a maze of rooms packed with interesting items — think of it as part thrift store, part antique mall. It’s the kind of place where you can lose time browsing and sometimes come away with a meaningful find, like Sherry’s whale globe.
If you want inspiration for upcycling thrifted pieces or prefer to buy furniture that’s already been refreshed, make the short drive to Ashland and visit Thrill of the Hunt for beautifully upcycled furniture and curated vintage pieces. It’s a great spot to see transformative work and to pick up items that are ready to go into your home.
On the return trip, stop by Class and Trash for vintage and shabby-chic finds — lots of metal signs, letters, and small furniture pieces rotate through the shop seasonally. If you need lunch, the Short Pump area has several solid casual and gastropub options for a substantial burger and a quick break before you resume the hunt.
From there, head south toward the river and slip through Hope Thrift, one of the newer stores on our radar. When you hit Midlothian Turnpike, you’ll arrive at our main corridor for thrift shopping in Richmond: start at RAL Reuse — a shop that supports the local animal league — and pop into Urban Farmhouse for coffee, design inspiration, and a pleasant mid-shopping rest stop.
Further along Midlothian, you’ll find a Salvation Army Family Center that tends to carry larger furniture pieces. Nearby is The Decorating Outlet, not a thrift shop per se but packed with deeply discounted lighting, rugs, and furnishings — we’ve scored dramatic deals there on lights and tables over the years.
Our top pick for thrifted furniture is the Love of Jesus Thrift Store on Midlothian. They typically have a large selection of furniture, and we’ve found several pieces for projects and our own home there, including a dresser we refinished and still use today. Across the street, Family Thrift Center is another solid stop for surprise finds; it’s the sort of place where a bargain headboard or a unique side table can appear unexpectedly.
If you have time for one more detour, visit Caravati’s for architectural salvage — prices are higher than at typical thrift stores, but the selection of reclaimed doors, hardware, and fixtures is inspirational for anyone restoring a home. When the shops close, wrap up the day with dinner and dessert at a local pie shop that serves both savory and sweet pies — a satisfying finish to a long day of exploring.
Trying to fit every stop into a single day is ambitious — especially if you enjoy browsing slowly or plan to linger over lunch. If you’re serious about thrifting, consider extending your stay for a weekend or more. Or, as we sometimes joke, move here — either option works.
What about your town? Where are the best thrift and vintage shops near you? Wouldn’t it be useful to have a city-by-city directory of thrift stores with user ratings, reviews, and printable maps for easy planning? If such a resource doesn’t exist yet, it seems like a natural next step for anyone who loves hunting for bargains and vintage finds.