Thrifty Thursdays: Review of The Housing Works Thrift Store, SOHO.

It is Thursday and you know what that means...thrift shopping at the House of Ndubuisi!

This week, I'll be reviewing The Housing Works Thrift Store in Soho, Manhattan.

This store is near and dear to my heart because they have one of the few "not for profit" thrift stores. They're donation-based and their slew of volunteers and dedicated staff really helps the Housing Works work towards their mission of ending the dual crisis of homelessness and AIDS in New York City. Also, I was a past volunteer there when I was about 16 years old and it was a very fun experience for me, meeting and working with all kinds of people. So, overall this store is wonderful but of course, I am a bit biased. I will rating the Housing Works Thrift Store, SOHO based upon 5 categories with two stars for each; Staff/Atmosphere, Variety, Uniqueness, Prices and Quality.

Staff/Atmosphere: 

This store is small,  but with plenty to show and it can often look a bit packed because of that. For those that love a massive store, like Unique and Urban Jungle. this is not the place for you. But for those that like the look of Monk Vintage, this thrift shop is right up your alley. The staff is wonderful and they're always quick cheery, friendly and always, always willing to help. Once again, I am a bit biased because of my past experiences BUT, they have a lovely staff and team in this store.



Variety: .5

Housing Works has a lot of variety but there are a few things that they don't carry at all or they don't carry it often. They do not carry children's clothing, socks and underwear. The last two for  me are thrifting no no's anyway, but I do think children's clothing is necessary based on who you ask. They also don't carry a lot of furniture mainly, I believe, to the size of the store. So, if you're having a baby and need furniture, skip this store! Other than that, they carry a full range of women's and men's clothing, shoes and accessories. They also carry plenty of quirky housewares and home accessories.

Uniqueness:  .5

One of my favorite things about this store is the uniqueness, especially with their vintage clothing. Housing works is based on donations and I've across so, so many cool pieces over here. The staff also curates what is put on the store-floor according to seasons, events etc. They also carry a lot of high end designers and very often, you can get your favorite brands for a helluva steal!

The only issue with this store, is that some of their sections can be quite lacking at certain times of the season, especially the jewelry section which can be very hit or miss.



Prices: .5

If you're coming here, prepare to spend approximately $10 to $20 for a single item. Since they do carry a lot of designers, the prices can be a bit higher than some other thrift stores, but you're buying quality stuff. With that being said, some of the prices can be lower for a lot of the non-designer pieces and the jewelry.

If you're going there, I'd suggest going with more than enough money just in-case you run into something you must have and can't live without.

Quality: .5

The quality in this store, tend to vary a bit. That's just the consequence of being a donation only store. Most of their pieces are of very high quality, but the shoe and jewelry section can seem lacking in comparison to the clothing.

Overall, Housing Works Thrift Store in SOHO comes out strong with 7 stars! I'd definitely recommend this spot for new and old thrifters alike because there is always something fun and unique to buy.

Pay them a visit and make a donation to help with AIDS research today! They're open for 11am to 7pm.

Tell them Rachel sent you!

130 Crosby St
Ground Fl
New York, NY 10012

b/t Houston St & Jersey St
SoHo