Thrift Stores near El Cerrito, CA

“I recently visited this delightful thrift shop and was impressed! It's small but filled with unique trinkets and treasures.

What makes it special is its commitment to a noble cause. As a nonprofit, VistAbility supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Knowing my purchases help this mission made my visit even more rewarding.

If you're looking for something unique while making a positive impact, I highly recommend stopping by!”

“I bought a beautiful Jeanette depression glass compote bowl that I'm displaying as a fruit bowl. The store is small, but well organized, beautiful description on price tags, and friendly staff.”

“Here to share another wonderful experience! I truly enjoy artsy activities and Mannequin Madness offers these amazing headdresses workshops. Whether you are getting festive for a holiday or themed party or carnival. Judi will help you build the best head accessory. It’s fun, easy, and a great bonding activity with friends. Can’t wait to participate in a workshop soon ??”

“The staff are friendly and welcoming, and the store feels like the kind of place where you can spend an hour happily browsing. If you love thrift shopping and good deals, this spot is a must-visit.”

“If you are over 50, or a "real senior", the Mastick Senior Center is a great place for a variety of activities. I, personally, love Line Dancing, Zumba and Yoga. Come and make friends while staying healthy.”

“What a wonderful store with a powerful mission! They’ve got a $5 rack of clothing outside and all sorts of lovely things inside like furniture, clothes, jewelry, etc… they’re donation based so your purchase is for a very good cause. And the workers in there are great!”

“A magical thing happened...

I ran here as fast as I could Saturday night before they closed at 6pm. I found it on Google maps and saw from the pictures that they had a much better jewelry selection than most other second hand stores, and I had been looking for a necklace with big black beads for my kpop demon hunters bird costume for weeks. I didn't make it. I was standing outside the closed door at 6:04ish and saw through the glass two necklaces with giant beads. Yay! I thought I'd come back on Sunday but they didn't open again until Thursday, so I mime-begged the owner to open the door (soooo bad, I know, but the necklace was perfect, I had looked in local shops and stores for the last month, and I wasn't gonna be able to make it back on Thursday). She did a VERY kind thing by opening the door and letting me come in and buy the necklace! The price was really reasonable. I was so elated! I still am just thinking about it. It meant a lot to me that she opened the door when she absolutely did not need to. Will try to remember to post a picture of the costume with the necklace here later.”

“I've found some really cool stuff here, including professional blazers, a one-of-a-kind dress, and an REI jacket. No fitting rooms, but that's unfortunately pretty standard for thrift stores these days.”

“(Translated by Google) Very nice place with a good base to help children and adolescents.(Original)Muy bonito lugar a parte buena basa para ayudar a los niños y adolescentes.”

“I love this shop. Great clothes for great prices. The pieces I have gotten from there are high quality, clean, and stylish. Their homewares section is also decent. I try to stop by when I am on Piedmont Ave.”

“Been here 2 times now and it was pretty tidy, better than a lot of retail stores nowadays only issue is some things were packed so tight it was hard to flip through items. The cashier who was working this past Friday and Monday with the cute braids and absolutely sparkling personality needs a raise, she absolutely lights up the checkout counter if not the whole store with her energy! I hope she stays blessed too!”

“This is a very cool place for the community. There is a plethora of random freebies outside, and inside is a curated shop of hidden vintage treasures and beautiful plants for sale. I love the concept of both inside and out! Outside you have to dig and that is so fun, and I especially like finding bits and bobs for my many art projects. Inside I have found beautiful plants and some really nice decor at a reasonable price. I always enjoy chatting with the owner and she will give you good tips on how to care for your plant.”

“First time at this Goodwill location and will definitely be back. Found a couple of AG Jeans and designer wedges and a few books and mugs. Everything was well organized and all the staff, especially Sagee, were so helpful and patient. Bought more things than I planned to but super happy with the prices and brands.”

“My favorite thrift store in the east bay. The selection is truly unbeatable and the volunteer staff are kind and dedicated. However, the new(ish) layout is totally inferior to the way it used to be. I’ve given it some time and an open mind, but I really just hate the way things are laid out now! I loved when the clothing racks and regular/vintage home goods were all on the left hand side and the fancier ceramics and home items were on the right. It’s hard to say why, but the flow of the new space is just really unpleasant. I’ve been back fewer times since the remodel because of the layout, it’s just no longer as relaxing of a shopping experience and is now much more crammed and stressful. I miss the old Bambino. While I’ll remain a loyal customer, I can’t say I’ll be seeking out trips to the shop as regularly. Hopefully they come to their senses and bring back the old layout. ?❤️”

“This is my favorite goodwill in SF. Not only do I always find a treasure the people are amazing humans. Unknowingly I dropped a family heirloom ring while shopping. Terrified when I realized and got home I called , and the women here say it and were holding it for me. Super grateful for their honesty and help.”

“Insiders Local Tip: Make sure to sell on days that either Diana or Flora are working, they are the expert buyers and are super sweet too.The two other ladies big Latina and long curly haired lady are pretty much clueless when it comes to fashion in general, they will barely take anything,I took whatever they didn't take and sold the rest to Buffalo Exchange which has been around longer than F.X..FYI.

I have been a loyal shopper here since they first opened on Polk @ Sutter ( um over 20 years ago) I think? YIKES! I have both sold and bought items here over the years and it never fails that I always find something totally awesome.They pretty much take everything I bring in to sell so that's cool..Some all time fave purchases, black leather jacket,a silver pentagram necklace, large travel tote and most recently retro Christian Dior sunglasses for just $25

Love the 80's or Euro style music usually playing in the background to set the ultimate fun shopping vibe.
Fashion Exchange rocks! ?”

“Donating my clothes is easy, and I always find something to take home with me. Compared to your more typical chain thrift store, I appreciate how well layed-out the store is. Items are organized by size and color, racks aren't overpacked, and backround music is quiet. It makes for a much more pleasant experience. I also enjoy that they always have tag sales on their items that have been around a bit longer, as it ensures you can always find a good deal!”

“Love having this in the neighborhood. I appreciate the extended hours. The staff is always so friendly! We’ve bought many items for Halloween costumes, sun hats for my kids and other items as needed over the years. One star knocked off as some days it’s not very clean/tidy. Generally they do a great job moving high volumes of donations around the store.”

“If you come often, you’ll collect so many second hand gems. Probably 1/4 of the things i own in my apartment are from here! My favorite find is this wooden desk.”

“Be warned before coming here: This place is super small, I wouldn't call it a thrift store but more like a guy who sells used stuff. Don't get me wrong he's quite nice but if you're expecting clothes and vintage stuff don't come. It's mostly used applicances and used electronics. Still worth a visit if you're in the area”

“Dress Best For Less is my favorite place to thrift in the East Bay. Great prices and a really varied selection of designer along with great everyday pieces . A plus is that it is a non Profit benefiting kids in the community. Thank you Dress Best For Less”

“I wasn’t sure where to send this, so I’m submitting it here. I’ve been a regular shopper at your stores for over a decade—first at the Polk Street location, and now more frequently at the Folsom Street location since moving nearby. I know some of the staff by name and they know mine, including Marcy, and have appreciated the consistency and convenience—until recently.

There are two employees at the Folsom location whose behavior has created an increasingly uncomfortable shopping experience: Lorena and a woman I believe is named Tanisha.

Lorena repeatedly approaches me while I’m shopping, asking if I’m okay or if everything is going fine—usually multiple times in one visit. I don’t see her doing this with other customers, and it feels like she’s profiling me. Whether she assumes I’m unhoused or a shoplifter, I don’t know—but it’s uncomfortable, intrusive, and, at this point, feels like harassment. Everytime she asks my response clearly displays irritation I even told her it was annoying, and yet it continues. Sometimes I don’t even go in if I see her working.

That said, my bigger concern is with Tanisha. She has consistently displayed unprofessional behavior—loudly complaining on the floor, using inappropriate language, chatting with the female security guard about personal topics, and creating a chaotic atmosphere. But what happened today was especially upsetting.

An elderly man came in with a concern about his points not transferring. I don’t know the full details, but Tanisha’s response was flat-out disrespectful. She cut him off, refused to listen, and dismissed his concern by saying the manager would tell him the same thing anyway. She was short, condescending, and repeatedly announced—in front of other customers—that she was “done dealing with him” and that her coworkers would have to handle him from now on.

It was humiliating to watch. Everyone in the store was looking over, clearly uncomfortable. The whole atmosphere shifted—it put everyone on edge. Whatever the situation, that man was elderly, and he deserved basic respect.

What made it worse was how she turned on Lorena afterward, who, to her credit, had stepped in and calmly helped the man. Tanisha seemed angry that the issue got resolved and kept loudly insisting she wouldn’t “deal with this anymore.” I commend Lorena for her help—despite my issue with her—because she at least de-escalated the moment.

Even after the customer left, Tanisha continued sarcastically telling people, “I guess we just hand points out now,” mocking the situation loudly in front of everyone. It was petty and unprofessional.

Tanisha has been rude to me before, and I’ve seen her be inappropriate with others—including mocking a transgender friend of mine. This isn’t just a bad day or poor judgment. It’s a pattern. Her behavior brings down the entire environment. Frankly, she should not be working in customer service.

I’m only sharing this because I’ve been loyal to your stores for years and believe in the experience you aim to provide. But this situation needs to be addressed—before more customers are pushed away.

Oh ya also, your prices are getting to a point of ridiculous. This is supposed to be a thrift store for a good cause but I feel like you would make more if you lowered your prices as I frequently see the same things everytime
I go in. There was a pair of sandals that had the tags on them for 12.00 your price 14.00 when bringing it to associates attention. She said she didn’t price things and asked if I still wanted it. Obviously I declined. Makes no sense.”

“My favorite East Bay Goodwill store. They seem to get good stuff more frequently than other stores.

Update: All the Goodwill stores have changed as the market has changed. It's getting harder and harder to find good non-clothing stuff.”

“the staff was totally fine, maybe they changed? But the problem of prices seems to have occurred across all of the stores. $25 for worn out shoes. I thought this store felt less abandoned and more neat than the one in West Berkeley. It’s likely just chance. For the most part though, you might as treat yourself to Daiso for quality new Japanese goods at a cheaper price.”