Getting thrifty with it: Here are some great places for bargain shopping in Miami
Your rent’s gone up a whopping 40 percent or more. A dozen eggs cost more than $3. Gas prices are finally falling, but not enough.
Yep, we’re all feeling the pinch in the post-pandemic era.
Because looking good is oh so important when you’re crying on the inside, it’s nice to know that awesome thrift shops exist. We found a handful of places all over Miami-Dade where you can pick up pre-loved outfits that look as if they were snapped up at Nordstrom.
Ahem, OK: Nordstrom Rack.
Take our poll: What’s your favorite thrift shop in the Miami area?
Bargain Box
Talk about your treasure troves. This cluttered, somewhat musty, filled to the brim shop does have some gold in its hills. You’ll feel like you’re shopping at an estate sale. Think collectibles, appliances, stationery, costume jewelry, and even, in these pre-recession times, a $1 bin. Feel-good factor: Proceeds go to cancer research, patient care and education at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and UM Miller School of Medicine.
1350 W. Flagler St., Miami; 305-643-2945
Dragonfly
Vice President Kamala Harris put this Little Havana secondhand shop on the global map when she popped in during her trip to town in early August. Harris bought four floral dessert plates and a white ceramic teapot ($60 for both), we were told. All proceeds go to LEAP, assisting incarcerated women with housing, jobs and support when they are out. Sift through the streamlined, narrow space for a number of gently used pieces by well-known brands including Banana Republic, J. Crew and Kenneth Cole; most everything is priced at $12. At 11 a.m. every Tuesday, Dragonfly holds a “Designer Drop,” five exclusive women’s pieces that stay online until they’re gone. “It’s something to keep our customers engaged,” says manager Cheyanne Guzy, who says a Louis Vuitton checkered hobo bag just went for $1,200 (actually, a steal). Hurry if you want a spanking new Prada push lock purse for $750 (20 percent off when you sign up with email). “There are some beautiful things.”
3141 SW Eighth St., Miami; 833-757-5327, www.dragonflythrift.org
Lotus House
This boho-chic, airy spot doubles as a lounge with sofas and plush seating (there’s also a kitchen for staff). A majority of clothing here has never been worn, with original tags still intact so you feel like the fabulous frugalistista you are. We snatched up a striped Michael Kors bandage dress for $20; a baby blue Venus top for $8; and a gold leather belt that had no price, so they sold it for $5. Proceeds go to a great cause, The Lotus House, the largest shelter for women and children in the country.
2040 NW 7th Ave., Miami; 305-576-4112, www.lotushousethrift.org
Red, White & Blue
The trip here smack dab in the middle of Hialeah’s bustling Flamingo Plaza is a must-stop for anyone feeling the pain of our current economy. This pennypincher’s paradise houses literally thousands of amazingly organized items, from housewares and bedding to accessories and (obvio) duds arranged by color. Grab a cart and scavenge for serious gems (e.g. Jimmy Choo heels for $59, a Glaser Designs custom handbag for $5 and Reiss frilly blouse for $3). This place is cash only but there’s an ATM in house. Bonus: Hit up Thrift City and Community Family Thrift in the same mall if you have any energy (and money in your budget) left.
901 E. 10th Ave., Hialeah; 305-887-5351, www.redwhiteandbluethriftstore.com
North Miami location: 12640 NE Sixth Ave., North Miami; 305-893-1104
Sir Thrifty
Recently relocated to the Citadel food hall from downtown, this vintage boutique is packed to the rafters with not only men’s and women’s clothing, but artwork, toys, games, furniture, instruments and knickknacks galore. If you can’t find your favorite band T-shirt or an over the top Halloween costume here (we have our eye on a sparkly flapper dress for $14), you’re not looking hard enough. The fitting room’s a little tight and dark, so don’t plan on trying too much on. Don’t forget to leave a note in their famed freestanding toilet that collects bad karma. “The shop is organized chaos,” explains owner Nassie Shahoulian. “An eclectic time machine.”
8300 NE Second Ave., Miami Shores; 305-989-0519
This N That
This historic thrift store has been a destination for bargain hunters for 63 years (yes) when it was started by by the Women’s Fellowship of Plymouth Congregational Church. The independent nonprofit distributes proceeds of more than $100,000 in annual sales to roughly two dozen local charities. “We get everyone from the homeless to people who live in the most expensive homes in Coconut Grove,” says manager Edith Georgi, a criminal defense attorney and UM law professor. Pictures and descriptions of many items are posted on the door to ease the browsing process. Recent deals include a scarlet Nicole Miller purse for $7.50 (the original tag reads $88). Cha-ching! “We maintain no set sales goals,” Georgi says. “We keep it simple and do what we can do with whatever donations we get.”
3155 Commodore Plz., Coconut Grove; 305-448-2114, www.coconutgrove.com
