The Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center

Be prepared for it to be dingy, but there are great finds!\r Wear tights or leggings so you can try pants and skirts on. more

I here there are more underpaid workers in the back room of the second floor of this store. Lots of illegals or workers making under minimum wages between 7hr or 7.50hr and no union. The store rakes in millions and the directors are pocketing under the table moneys. Largely donations from corporate sponsorships are being side track to several pockets. This store is said to make 5-7million a year which is pure profit only to have it run like a third world country. The climate is that the moneys funded rehabilitation efforts from past addicts. Nonetheless, the rehab workers work for room and board and $20 a week. Sounds like the new prison industry or another form of corporate greed by a non for profit. another ponzi scheme in the name of religion. more

On Friday Oct. 14, 2011, between 12pm and 1:30pm, at the Salvation Army Thrift Store 2270 N Clybourn Ave, my Honda Civic was broken into in the parking lot. After leaving the lot I noticed that the coin compartment door was broken off (and taken?) and a shopping bag with with various computer cords, adapters and an Apple mouse was missing. The thief appeared to gain entry to the locked car by ""jimmying"" the driver's side door lock as it was damaged. Fortunately the thief overlooked an IPOD. When I called the SA they informed me that there was another theft in their lot on that day when someone lost their car radio. I like the store, the staff is very friendly and there is nothing like finding a bargain these days. The recession has brought in a lot of customers that you wouldn't expect to see in a thrift store. However... customers should take proper precautions when parking in the lot. more

I am a frequent shopper at Salvation Army Thrift Stores, particularly Clybourn and North Avenue and Karlov. I have witnessed managers and cashiers allow family members to purchase two full carts of clothing and shoes for $25! The managers and cashiers ring a $2 item as $.02! more

I'm a big thrift store shopper. So, while visiting Chicago, I had to check this place out. On the positive side, there is a huge selection - almost too much of one. The clothing racks are so jammed that you can easily miss something great. The prices were great, I didn't pay more than $6.00 for an item. But, this place is not for the weak of heart! It is crowded with racks, and even in the middle of a weekday, enough people were there to make it difficult to negotiate the narrow aisles. It is a great place to work on your upper body strength, because pushing the clothes aside to pull something out or carry your future purchases because it is too hard to negotiate with a shopping cart can be daunting. In addition, there are no dressing rooms, so I couldn't buy any pants, because they are a must try on item. I would suggest wearing skintight clothes so you can try on in the aisles. The lighting is bad, so it is hard to check for stains, tears, pulls, and wear. The checkout counter is a mob scene, with no good place to form a line, so it is a free for all. I ended up buying a few things: Two jackets, three shells, and a bag for sightseeing in Chicago. It helps to be looking for something specific here, or it can be overwelming to even the most hardy thrift store shopper. more

I have a flexible schedule, so do most of my shopping weekdays. I went on Cyber Monday - part of the Thanksgiving day weekend, when it was probably busier than usual, but not terribly crowded. I literally found every specific item I was looking for, and more: long, neutral colored trench coat with a removable liner; zip up lightweight athletic jacket to wear inside other jackets; 4 white salad plates; a lightweight brown suede jacket; 2 sets of excellent rust colored pillow shams to match a sofa cover; an embossed neutral coverlet for a bed or sofa; and a 300 thread count sheet set in a gorgeous chestnut color. All for around $40. The coat alone is one that would probably sell for around $200. And, because it had a green tag which was the color of the day, I got it for 1/2 off at $9! This is my first go-round at a thrift store in Chicago since I relocated back. I can see that it will be tough to beat this one. If you can be open minded, take the time to browse and really look - you can find some awesome stuff here. Patience is what you need when you go thrifting, and you are usually rewarded in the process. more

I love this store! I've been to a lot of thrift stores and this has the best prices and a lot of good clothes/shoes. more

I went to the Clybourn store which stays open until 9-9:30pm. The location is not great for those without a car, unless you live in the area, since at least one CTA transfer is required. It is also tucked away off the street in an odd intersection of Clybourn Fullerton & Ashland. I went with an open mind, so I was neither disappointed nor suprised. The location has two full floors, the first floor is mostly clothing, the second is housewares, furniture, kids clothes and shoes. Despite the location, the place draws a crowd, but it is still comfortable enough to browse. more