Thrift stores in Courtenay
Thrift stores reward the patient. In Courtenay, BC that patience currently stretches across 14 mapped shops — 3 of them are charity shops and 11 are independent second-hand stores, so Courtenay gives you both flavours of thrifting in one trip.
This guide covers every thrift store we could verify in and around Courtenay (within about 40 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include Family and Friends Thrift Store and Island Traders, plus The Salvation Army Thrift Shop — each with its own personality, which is half the fun. If a shop's missing from Courtenay's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet — the scene is bigger than any single dataset.
The Courtenay thrift lineup
14 mapped within about 40 km:
Family and Friends Thrift Store
Second-hand store
Family and Friends Thrift Store is an independent second-hand store. Family and Friends Thrift Store also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Phone: +1-250-871-7765
Island Traders
Second-hand store
Island Traders is an independent second-hand store. Island Traders also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Phone: +1-250-338-2942
The Salvation Army Thrift Shop
Second-hand store
The Salvation Army Thrift Shop — an independent second-hand store on 1785 Comox Avenue. Also worth knowing about The Salvation Army Thrift Shop: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
1785 Comox Avenue
Phone: +1-250-339-7522
The Salvation Army
Charity shop
The Salvation Army — a charity shop. Also worth knowing about The Salvation Army: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Phone: +1-250-338-8151
This 'n' That
Second-hand store
This 'n' That is an independent second-hand store. This 'n' That also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
Phone: +1-250-871-8682
Isla Consignment
Second-hand store
Isla Consignment is an independent second-hand store. Isla Consignment also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Sa 10:00-16:30, Su 10:00-15:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-16:30, Su 10:00-15:00
Phone: +1 250 898-1333
Too Good To Be Threw
Second-hand storeRun by Comox Valley Transition Society
Too Good To Be Threw is an independent second-hand store run by Comox Valley Transition Society on 367 6th Street. Too Good To Be Threw also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
367 6th Street
Phone: +1-250-338-0601
Sweet Salvage Consignment
Second-hand store
Sweet Salvage Consignment — an independent second-hand store. Also worth knowing about Sweet Salvage Consignment: the map lists its hours as Mo,Su 11:00-15:00; Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00; it has a website with more detail.
Hours: Mo,Su 11:00-15:00; Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00
Free to Grow Thrifting
Second-hand store
Free to Grow Thrifting is an independent second-hand store.
Value Village
Second-hand store
Value Village is an independent second-hand store on 350 Old Island Highway. Value Village also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
350 Old Island Highway
Phone: +1-250-334-3085
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Charity shop
Habitat for Humanity ReStore — a charity shop on 1755 13th Street. Also worth knowing about Habitat for Humanity ReStore: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
1755 13th Street
Phone: +1-250-334-3784
The Salvation Army Thrift Store
Second-hand store
The Salvation Army Thrift Store is an independent second-hand store on 1671 Ryan Road East. The Salvation Army Thrift Store also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
1671 Ryan Road East
Phone: +1-250-941-7715
Cottage Thrift Shop
Second-hand store
Cottage Thrift Shop — an independent second-hand store.
MCC Thrift Shop
Charity shopRun by Mennonite Central Committee
Run by Mennonite Central Committee, MCC Thrift Shop is a charity shop on 7050 Field Street. Also worth knowing about MCC Thrift Shop: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
7050 Field Street
Phone: +1-604-485-3962
What the map tells us about thrifting in Courtenay
2 of the 14 shops list their opening hours, which is unusually helpful for Courtenay — thrift stores are notorious for surprise closures. Still, call ahead if you're making a special trip to Courtenay; volunteer-run shops sometimes close early on quiet days.
4 shops have websites listed, worth a look before you go — some post new arrivals or sale days online.
Most shops in Courtenay list a phone number. Use it — a thirty-second call beats a wasted drive, especially for furniture or anything you can't carry home on the bus.
The Courtenay thrift circuit
Plot these 14 on a map and the day plans itself: Family and Friends Thrift Store, Island Traders, The Salvation Army Thrift Shop on 1785 Comox Avenue, The Salvation Army, This 'n' That, Isla Consignment, Too Good To Be Threw on 367 6th Street, and Sweet Salvage Consignment. That's the full Courtenay circuit in one sensible order. 6 more are listed below.
Thrifting tips for Courtenay
Thrifting in Courtenay goes better with a little prep:
- Check the furniture first at Family and Friends Thrift Store. Solid wood furniture is the thrift store's greatest bargain — it was built to last and priced to move. Measure your space before you go.
- Look behind the front row at Island Traders. The good stuff migrates to the back of the rack. Push through; that's where the interesting things hide.
- Go often, buy rarely. The regulars' secret: short frequent visits beat rare long ones. Ten minutes twice a week outperforms a monthly expedition.
- Learn the colour-tag system. Many charity shops tag items with coloured stickers and discount one colour each week. Ask at the till; it's rarely advertised.
Good to know
We searched about 40 km around Courtenay — that covers the town itself plus the surrounding communities you'd reasonably drive to for a thrifting run. Listings come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by local volunteers, so a brand-new shop in Courtenay can take a while to appear. If you spot one of the 14 that's closed, or a great shop we missed, the fix is to update the map itself — that's where this guide reads from.
Prices at Courtenay's thrift stores are set by each shop and change constantly, so we don't list them. As a rough rule, charity shops are the cheapest, independents sit in the middle, and anything labelled vintage costs more everywhere — Courtenay included.
Thrift store listings for Courtenay: 14 mapped from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos from Wikimedia Commons contributors; individual photo credits appear in captions. Listing data was last refreshed automatically — verify hours before visiting.