“Empty the Nest is an occasional secondhand store with lots of unique finds, tucked in an office strip off the beaten path. They are typically open weekends but you'll want to join the 45k other facebook followers and keep an eye out for their hours and sales. There will likely be a line waiting for the doors to open on the first day of the sale. The second day they may discount everything 50%, sometimes more. Be sure to grab some green sold stickers near the entrance to claim your find in case another shopper is interested.
The reason they aren't open during the week is because the are busy emptying out houses as a part of their business model.
We enjoy bringing the kids and finding fun vintage toys and decor.
You'll definitely want to check it out of you love the thrill of the treasure hunt aspect!”
“I was in the area and happened upon this GEM! Truly a wonderful experience shopping here. The owners are so friendly and helpful. They opened 4 months ago. They are focused on sustainability and affordability, and their deal of 15% off if you bring items in to donate is amazing. The size range is XS to XXL or larger on most racks. The owners want to continue expanding their size range too, which I really appreciate! The selection of items was really well-curated. I picked out 7 items and spent $39. I also appreciated how they had seating around the store and every rack was very well-organized. I will be back soon!”
“Definitely a place you can loose hours in looking around. The random and useful things all over the store. You will find something that you didn't even know you wanted or needed every time”
“I ordered a Black Friday mystery bag, and they honestly slayed. I've already worn 2 of the items and gotten major compliments on them. The quality and styles are excellent!!”
“Perfect place to shop for the unusual. Whenever I'm in the area I hit all three stores. I've bought gear motors, relays, switches, capacitors, and lots of other parts for my projects. Thomas Edison would have loved this place.
I even bought a 50 pound bale of shredded money to use as packing for my pen business. You never know what you're going to find there. Need a drop tank for a fighter jet? They had one many years ago.”
“I’m addicted… to shopping here. Ya’ll pray for me! If I come home with another stack of records I won’t listen to, another vintage type writer, or more plates i don’t need, my wife gonna chop me up with one of the three sets of knives I bought here.
i have an unhealthy relationship with this store. don’t start because you won’t be able to stop coming here.
imma see you in the sports equipment section. i need football pads for protection when drop kick me.”
“I love close by and wish I could go here more! The sweetest staff you’ll ever meet, very helpful with questions I had and just general conversation. I felt so welcomed here and love that I can support so many local sellers just by stopping at one shop! Very good selection of vintage kitchen and wall art pieces, as well as a great deal of vintage collectibles. Love love love!”
10AM - 6PM
2700 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis
Thrift Stores
“Great place if you are looking for supplies for house or construction-type projects. Had no idea what to expect but was pleasantly surprised with their quite large selection (and prices!!) of lights/lighting, used tools, nails/screws, yard tools, paint and paint supplies, and a lot more! I will definitely be back when I have more projects. Friendly staff, too!”
“My experience here was absolutely great! Thank you very much to all the staff, especially to Mr. Aaron and another guy who answered all my questions. They were all so friendly and accommodating to my questions/requests. I will return here because my husband liked the chair I got. He might get the same thing.”
10AM - 7PM
New Hope
Thrift Stores
“Tis a dandy place. Cvs always has awesome Halloween specials where you can buy the candy at a good sale price after Halloween. The Family Dollar store is there which generally has a lot of merchandise at a slightly cheaper price, but doesn't have a bathroom. The thrift store is there and has a wonderful vibe to it plus a bathroom with nice manual sinks and paper towels. I never used to shop in thrift stores but now I find myself sometimes doing so. The bar there also has tasty cheese curds. There is also a verizon phone store, a smoke shop, and more stores. I wouldn't recommend the laundry place since the guy was rather peculiar & didn't provide the best customer service.”
“Always caring staff, the Church staff from St.Olaf downtown and the Badilica of St.Mary also downtown inform about their services too, besides these churches own community outreach.”
“Majority of offerings are true thrift prices. Be prepared to go on offense like a receiver trying to get to the end zone if your are cartless while navigating the aisles. Hard working volunteers.”
“Love this spot! I usually purchase things off of their Instagram for pick up. The staff are so kind and are always cheerful when I stop in. The selection is definitely well thought-out and well-priced. You're able to get great clothes at fabulous prices.”
10AM - 7PM
2751 Winnetka Ave N, New Hope
Thrift Stores
“New and gently used at garge sale prices Arc's Value Village Thirft store has something for everyone and for all occasions. A fun shopping experience and knowing every purchase benefits the community.”
“Flamingos is an absolutely magical place! I love taking out-of-town visitors there to introduce them to the quirky, silly, fun side of Minneapolis. They are consistently blown away by both the vibes and the excellent selection of vintage wares. It’s always a joy to peruse each room, and I often do multiple laps per visit. There’s so much to see, and I’ve found some incredible pieces here. My favorite finds are a glass butterfly lamp, a handmade teapot, two vintage teal wooden chairs, and a lovely original painting. My partner has found some incredible vintage men’s clothes too, especially flannels.”
“Old School is a great asset to the Stevens Square-Loring Heights neighborhood. I stop in regularly to peruse the clothing and have found several pieces from basics to statement pieces that receive lots of compliments.”
“These volunteers do an incredible job with collaborating and displaying donated items for sale. It’s come a long way. Nice large open space,
Dressing rooms, artwork for sale, lots of nice clean clothing. Great selection of basic dishes and other donated items. Good shop!”
“A little on the pricier side as far as thrift stores go, but it’s for a good cause. There isn’t a huge selection of clothes over a women’s dress size 10, but I know they don’t really have control over that. The jewelry selection was much nicer than most thrift stores. Very clean. Best find was a Calvin Klein raincoat for $35.”
“The staff that work at the front counters are always so friendly and I am so thankful they volunteer to keep this wonderful treasure in Minnetonka going. I never donate to Goodwill always to AbleLight (Bethesda as I still call it).”
“Absolutely amazing service, was greeted right away and the man working (I didn’t catch his name) was very helpful and kind. Amazing discounts too, my mom and I talked about coming back with a pickup once she moves to her new place just to get things from here. Would very much recommend.”
“Great selection! Some of the reviewers here clearly don’t know the effort that goes into not just being a shop, but also PRIMARILY a safe space for many women to gather. Me being a customer comes secondarily to me financially supporting this space.”
“I went to many different shops and tried on many different dresses, but Andrea's was far and away the best experience I had. All five of my top choices were from this shop, and Nikolina is incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and helpful. Beyond the sustainability and nostalgia of a vintage dress, their gowns are stunning. I promise that they have something for everyone. I tried on many dresses I never would have considered and I'm so glad I did. I still get so many compliments on my dress, and it's unlike anything I'd ever seen before. I couldn't even find a picture of it online (believe me, I tried). The collection of unique, beautiful, and vintage gowns blew me away. It was so fun to try on dresses from so many different decades. They are also really good about working within your budget. I can't recommend Andrea's enough!”
9AM - 9PM
3740 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis
Thrift Stores
“Venilla was kind, patient, and insightful while helping me with items behind the counter. My visit was a very pleasant experience, thanks to your kind staff! I can’t wait to stop back here.”
“This place is a dream!!! There are bins in the basement level that will consistently be worth the price. And the upper level is new target stuff with tags still on it but marked down! You’re also in a prime area to go get a coffee before or after this thrift!”
“Went during their tent sale and got some clothes at an extremely good price. A couple of the things I got still had tags with the original prices on it. Items were in pristine condition and getting these $58 retail value shorts for under $5 is a steal. Will definitely be coming back.”
10AM - 7PM
6528 Penn Ave S, Richfield
Thrift Stores
“I went there with a friend, I found a nearly new mattress pad for $5.00 it was red tagged the color of the week so it was 1/2 off yay. My friend found work shoes for $6.99. Many many jackets & t shirts. Housewares galore. Many items priced well below retail. Very clean and well organized.”
9AM - 9PM
1000 E Moore Lake Dr, Fridley
Thrift Stores
“I really enjoy shopping at the Salvation Army Thrift Store! They have some great vintage finds if you take the time to look. I also love their weekly discounts—children's clothing is half off on Tuesdays, and students get 25% off on Thursdays. Plus, they have a good selection of household items at reasonable prices. Always worth a visit if you're hunting for unique treasures or shopping on a budget.”
“I had such a great time here! I got so much stuff! I was talking to this one employee once I think her name was Tina she said she liked my shirt she's so sweet, another time she said there was a mug she just put out that reminded her of me and my shirt ? she told me she was new but I think she's doing fantastic ?”
9AM - 9PM
900 N 4th St, Minneapolis
Thrift Stores
“This place saves lives! It saved my life over 20 years ago, the Salvation Army Adult Rehab Center in Va. Beach, Va.. Today I brought a younger family member that he may go through the program!! This place SAVES LIVES!!”
“Very good food shelf. They have gluten free food too. Anyone in MN can go there. I got tons of produce. I just didn’t like how people were pushing me away from food I was looking at and budging in front of me. My IHS worker also said someone interrupted when we were trying to talk to someone at the desk.”