Thrift stores in San Diego
San Diego, CA has 57 thrift and charity shops on the map right now. 37 of them are charity shops and 20 are independent second-hand stores, so San Diego gives you both flavours of thrifting in one trip. Stock turns over fast in all of them, so the shop that had nothing last month might have your thing this week.
This guide covers every thrift store we could verify in and around San Diego (within about 40 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include DAV Veterans Thrift Store and Goodwill, plus Goodwill Pacific Beach Retail Store — each with its own personality, which is half the fun. If a shop's missing from San Diego's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet — the scene is bigger than any single dataset.
The San Diego thrift lineup
57 mapped within about 40 km:
DAV Veterans Thrift Store
Second-hand store
DAV Veterans Thrift Store is an independent second-hand store on 1049 Elkelton Boulevard, Spring Valley. DAV Veterans Thrift Store also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 08:00-18:30, Su 09:30-17:00; it has a website with more detail.
1049 Elkelton Boulevard, Spring Valley, 91977
Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-18:30, Su 09:30-17:00
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill
Run by Goodwill, Goodwill is a charity shop, found on 8145 Mira Mesa Boulevard in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
8145 Mira Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, 92126
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-19:00
Phone: +1-858-831-9040
Goodwill Pacific Beach Retail Store
Charity shopRun by Goodwill
Goodwill Pacific Beach Retail Store is a charity shop run by Goodwill on 1430 Garnet Avenue, San Diego. Goodwill Pacific Beach Retail Store also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
1430 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, 92109
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-18:00
Phone: +1-858-274-4960
Mission Outreach Thrift Store
Charity shop
Mission Outreach Thrift Store — a charity shop, found on 3186 Adams Avenue in San Diego.
3186 Adams Avenue, San Diego, 92116
Humble Heart
Second-hand store
Humble Heart — an independent second-hand store, found on 4873 Newport Avenue in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Humble Heart: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 10:30-17:30; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
4873 Newport Avenue, San Diego, 92107
Hours: Mo-Su 10:30-17:30
Phone: +1-619-222-1911
Goodwill
Charity shop
Goodwill — a charity shop, found on 4359 Home Avenue in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
4359 Home Avenue, San Diego, 92105
Phone: +1-619-262-6596
Goodwill Retail, Employment & Donation Center
Charity shopRun by Goodwill Industries International Inc
Run by Goodwill Industries International Inc, Goodwill Retail, Employment & Donation Center is a charity shop, found on 3663 Rosecrans Street in San Diego.
3663 Rosecrans Street, San Diego, 92110
Thrift Trader
Second-hand store
Thrift Trader — an independent second-hand store, found on 3939 Iowa Street in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Thrift Trader: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
3939 Iowa Street, San Diego, 92104
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
Phone: +1-619-282-7283
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill
Run by Goodwill, Goodwill is a charity shop, found on 4220 Balboa Avenue in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 10:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
4220 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, 92117
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 10:00-18:00
Phone: +1-858-836-7949
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill
Run by Goodwill, Goodwill is a charity shop, found on 15703 Bernardo Heights Parkway in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
15703 Bernardo Heights Parkway, San Diego, 92128
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
Phone: +1-858-798-9600
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Run by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, Goodwill is a charity shop, found on 7631 Girard Avenue in La Jolla. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
7631 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, 92307
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-18:00
Phone: +1-858-752-6181
Father Joe's Villages Thrift Store
Charity shop
Father Joe's Villages Thrift Store — a charity shop, found on 1457 University Avenue in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Father Joe's Villages Thrift Store: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
1457 University Avenue, San Diego, 92103
Phone: +1-619-255-1255
Father Joe’s Villages Thrift Store
Second-hand store
Father Joe’s Villages Thrift Store — an independent second-hand store, found on 1555 Palm Avenue in Imperial Beach.
1555 Palm Avenue, Imperial Beach
Thrift Cottage
Second-hand store
Thrift Cottage is an independent second-hand store.
Goodwill
Charity shop
Goodwill — a charity shop, found on 10601 Tierrasanta Boulevard in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
10601 Tierrasanta Boulevard, San Diego, 92124
Phone: +1-858-832-8184
Dina's Trifty Store
Second-hand store
Dina's Trifty Store — an independent second-hand store, found on 132 West San Ysidro Boulevard in San Ysidro.
132 West San Ysidro Boulevard, San Ysidro, 92173
Consignment Classics
Second-hand store
Consignment Classics is an independent second-hand store.
Karen's Consignment Gallery
Second-hand store
Karen's Consignment Gallery is an independent second-hand store. Karen's Consignment Gallery also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Phone: +1-619-225-8585
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Run by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, Goodwill is a charity shop, found on 1219 University Avenue in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
1219 University Avenue, San Diego, 92103
Phone: +1-619-795-6630
Assistance League Greater San Diego
Charity shop
Assistance League Greater San Diego is a charity shop.
The Salvation Army
Charity shop
The Salvation Army — a charity shop, found on 3240 Sports Arena Boulevard in San Diego. Also worth knowing about The Salvation Army: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
3240 Sports Arena Boulevard, San Diego, 92110
Phone: +1-619-758-1716
Goodwill
Charity shop
Goodwill — a charity shop, found on 3715 Avocado Boulevard in La Mesa. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
3715 Avocado Boulevard, La Mesa, 91941
Phone: +1-619-741-2739
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Run by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, Goodwill is a charity shop, found on 343 16th Street in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: it has a website with more detail.
343 16th Street, San Diego, 92101
Twice Treasured Thrift Store
Second-hand store
Twice Treasured Thrift Store is an independent second-hand store on 8363 Center Drive, La Mesa.
8363 Center Drive, La Mesa, 91942
Goodwill
Charity shop
Goodwill is a charity shop on 2522 Jamacha Road, El Cajon.
2522 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, 92019
Converse Family Quality Thrift
Second-hand store
Converse Family Quality Thrift — an independent second-hand store, found on 1047 Elkelton Boulevard in Spring Valley. Also worth knowing about Converse Family Quality Thrift: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
1047 Elkelton Boulevard, Spring Valley, 91977
Phone: +1-619-303-2410
Goodwill
Charity shop
Goodwill — a charity shop, found on 6655 Heritage Road in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
6655 Heritage Road, San Diego, 92154
Phone: +1-619-428-7776
The Salvation Army
Charity shop
The Salvation Army — a charity shop, found on 7425 Otay Mesa Road in San Diego. Also worth knowing about The Salvation Army: it has a website with more detail.
7425 Otay Mesa Road, San Diego, 92154
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill Central Coast
Run by Goodwill Central Coast, Goodwill is a charity shop.
Goodwill
Charity shop
Goodwill is a charity shop.
Goodwill
Second-hand store
Goodwill — an independent second-hand store on 6127 Lake Murray Boulevard. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 10:00-18:00; it has a website with more detail.
6127 Lake Murray Boulevard, 91942
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 10:00-18:00
Alliance for African Assistance: Safari Seconds Thrift Store
Second-hand store
Alliance for African Assistance: Safari Seconds Thrift Store — an independent second-hand store on 6533 El Cajon Boulevard. Also worth knowing about Alliance for African Assistance: Safari Seconds Thrift Store: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 10:00-18:00; it has a website with more detail.
6533 El Cajon Boulevard, 92115
Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-18:00
Computers 2 Kids
Charity shop
Computers 2 Kids is a charity shop on 8324 Miramar Mall, San Diego. Computers 2 Kids also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
8324 Miramar Mall, San Diego, 92121
Phone: +1 858-200-9787
AMVETS Thrift Stores Donation Center
Charity shop
AMVETS Thrift Stores Donation Center is a charity shop on 1761 Greenfield Drive. AMVETS Thrift Stores Donation Center also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
1761 Greenfield Drive
Phone: +1-714-761-5811
CSU Thrift
Second-hand store
CSU Thrift is an independent second-hand store on 9460 Mira Mesa Boulevard, San Diego. CSU Thrift also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 12:00-19:00; Su 12:00-18:00; it has a website with more detail.
9460 Mira Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, 92126
Hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-19:00; Su 12:00-18:00
AMVETS Thrift Store
Charity shop
AMVETS Thrift Store — a charity shop, found on 999 Cardiff Street in San Diego. Also worth knowing about AMVETS Thrift Store: the map lists its hours as Mo 09:00-18:00; Tu-Su 09:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
999 Cardiff Street, San Diego, 92114
Hours: Mo 09:00-18:00; Tu-Su 09:00-19:00
Phone: +1-619-697-9796
Mayah's Thrift Store
Second-hand store
Mayah's Thrift Store is an independent second-hand store.
Amvets
Charity shop
Amvets is a charity shop on 3441 Sutherland Street, San Diego.
3441 Sutherland Street, San Diego, 92110
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Run by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, Goodwill is a charity shop, found on 630 Front Street in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
630 Front Street, San Diego, 92173
Phone: +1 619-651-1650
Safari Seconds Thrift Store
Second-hand storeRun by Alliance for African Assistance
Run by Alliance for African Assistance, Safari Seconds Thrift Store is an independent second-hand store, found on 2875 El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego. Also worth knowing about Safari Seconds Thrift Store: the map lists its hours as Mo-Su 10:00-18:00; it has a website with more detail.
2875 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego, 92104
Hours: Mo-Su 10:00-18:00
Goodwill
Charity shop
Goodwill — a charity shop.
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Run by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, Goodwill is a charity shop, found on 9575 Mission Gorge Road in Santee.
9575 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, 92071
The Salvation Army
Charity shop
The Salvation Army is a charity shop on 8828 Cuyamaca Street, Santee.
8828 Cuyamaca Street, Santee, 92071
The Salvation Army
Charity shop
The Salvation Army — a charity shop, found on 13020 Poway Road in Poway.
13020 Poway Road, Poway, 92064
Deseret Industries Thrift Store & Donation Center
Second-hand store
Deseret Industries Thrift Store & Donation Center — an independent second-hand store, found on 1773 Broadway in Chula Vista. Also worth knowing about Deseret Industries Thrift Store & Donation Center: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00.
1773 Broadway, Chula Vista, 91911
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-18:00
DAV Veterans Thrift Store
Second-hand store
DAV Veterans Thrift Store — an independent second-hand store, found on 881 Broadway in Chula Vista. Also worth knowing about DAV Veterans Thrift Store: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 08:00-18:30, Su 09:30-17:00; it has a website with more detail.
881 Broadway, Chula Vista, 91911
Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-18:30, Su 09:30-17:00
Goodwill
Charity shop
Goodwill is a charity shop on 706 Broadway, Chula Vista.
706 Broadway, Chula Vista, 91910
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Run by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, Goodwill is a charity shop, found on 865 East H Street in Chula Vista. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
865 East H Street, Chula Vista, 91910
Phone: +1-619-796-7135
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Run by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, Goodwill is a charity shop, found on 880 Palm Avenue in Imperial Beach. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: it has a website with more detail.
880 Palm Avenue, Imperial Beach, 91932
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Goodwill is a charity shop run by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County on 9949 Vista Sorrento Parkway, San Diego.
9949 Vista Sorrento Parkway, San Diego, 92121
DAV Veterans Thrift Store
Charity shop
DAV Veterans Thrift Store — a charity shop, found on 1130 East Main Street in El Cajon. Also worth knowing about DAV Veterans Thrift Store: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 08:00-18:30, Su 09:30-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
1130 East Main Street, El Cajon, 92021
Hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-18:30, Su 09:30-17:00
Phone: +1-619-588-2075
Empire Thrift Store
Second-hand store
Empire Thrift Store is an independent second-hand store on 1090 East Main Street, El Cajon. Empire Thrift Store also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
1090 East Main Street, El Cajon, 92020
Phone: +1-619-938-4233
McAlister Institute- Thrift Store
Charity shop
McAlister Institute- Thrift Store is a charity shop on 993 East Main Street, El Cajon. McAlister Institute- Thrift Store also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
993 East Main Street, El Cajon, 92020
Phone: +1-619-442-0212
Quality Thrift
Second-hand store
Quality Thrift — an independent second-hand store, found on 841 East Main Street in El Cajon. Also worth knowing about Quality Thrift: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
841 East Main Street, El Cajon, 92020
Phone: +1-619-588-9191
Goodwill
Charity shop
Goodwill is a charity shop on 420 North 2nd Street, El Cajon. Goodwill also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
420 North 2nd Street, El Cajon, 92021
Phone: +1-619-328-6807
La Mesa Thrift Store
Second-hand store
La Mesa Thrift Store is an independent second-hand store.
Goodwill
Charity shopRun by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Run by Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, Goodwill is a charity shop, found on 8250 La Mesa Boulevard in La Mesa. Also worth knowing about Goodwill: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
8250 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa, 91942
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-20:00; Su 09:00-19:00
Phone: +1-619-713-2380
What the map tells us about thrifting in San Diego
17 of the 57 shops list their opening hours, which is unusually helpful for San Diego — thrift stores are notorious for surprise closures. Still, call ahead if you're making a special trip to San Diego; volunteer-run shops sometimes close early on quiet days.
27 shops have websites listed, worth a look before you go — some post new arrivals or sale days online.
The San Diego thrift circuit
The efficient San Diego thrifting route strings these together: DAV Veterans Thrift Store on 1049 Elkelton Boulevard, Goodwill on 8145 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Goodwill Pacific Beach Retail Store on 1430 Garnet Avenue, Mission Outreach Thrift Store on 3186 Adams Avenue, Humble Heart on 4873 Newport Avenue, Goodwill on 4359 Home Avenue, Goodwill Retail, Employment & Donation Center on 3663 Rosecrans Street, and Thrift Trader on 3939 Iowa Street — 57 shops, one logical loop, no backtracking. 49 more are listed below.
Thrifting tips for San Diego
A few things worth knowing before you work through San Diego's thrift stores:
- Inspect electronics in the store at DAV Veterans Thrift Store. Plug it in before you pay. Most thrift shops sell electronics as-is, and a cheap record player can be an expensive paperweight.
- Learn the colour-tag system at Goodwill. Many charity shops tag items with coloured stickers and discount one colour each week. Ask at the till; it's rarely advertised.
- Learn the colour-tag system. Many charity shops discount by tag colour on rotation. Ask which colour is half price this week — it changes regularly.
- Check the furniture first. 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.
Good to know
We searched about 40 km around San Diego — 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 San Diego can take a while to appear. The 57 above are only as current as the community map. A shop that's shut, or a new one nobody's added yet, gets fixed with a single OpenStreetMap edit.
Prices at San Diego'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 — San Diego included.
Thrift store listings for San Diego: 57 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.