The Ultimate Kingston Thrift Store Guide: 12 Best Places for Secondhand Deals in 2026

One person's junk is another person's exactly-what-I-needed-for-my-apartment

Let's be honest: shopping at Value Village in 2026 means paying $15 for a stained t-shirt that was donated for free. The thrift game has changed.

But Kingston? Kingston still has the good stuff. The real deals. The places where students furnish entire apartments for $200 and vintage hunters find gold.

I've hit every thrift store, reuse centre, and consignment shop in this city. I've dug through bins, haggled with cashiers, and learned which stores actually have furniture versus which ones are just someone's basement full of broken lamps.

Here's your complete guide to thrifting in Kingston in 2026.

First: The 2026 Thrifting Reality

What's changed:

• Value Village prices are approaching retail on some items
• Facebook Marketplace ate the low-end market
• Vintage is trendy = higher prices for anything old
• Students figured out thrifting (competition is fierce in September)

But Kingston still has gems. You just need to know where to look and when to show up.

The King of Deals: Re-Use Centre

Address: 196 Lappan's Lane, Kingston, ON K7K 6X2

Website: City of Kingston - Re-Use Centre

Hours:

• April-November: Wed-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm
• December-March: Reduced hours (check website)

What it is: City-run facility connected to the dump. People drop off stuff they don't want. You pay basically nothing.

The 2026 reality: This is still the cheapest place in Kingston. Nothing else comes close.

Pricing:

• Furniture: $5-20
• Electronics: $5-15
• Books: $1-3
• Housewares: $0.50-5
• Bikes: $20-40

Payment: CASH ONLY. They do not take cards. There's an ATM inside but it charges fees.

What's good here:

• Furniture (students, this is your spot)
• Bikes (needs work but cheap)
• Building materials (doors, windows, hardware)
• Kitchen stuff (pots, pans, dishes for pennies)

What's not:

• Electronics (test before buying, no returns)
• Upholstered furniture (check for bed bugs - seriously)
• Mattresses (just don't)

Pro tips:

• Go on Saturday mornings after Friday's drop-offs
• Bring cash and a truck
• Inspect everything carefully
• Know that "as-is" means "as-is"

Best for: Students furnishing first apartments, DIY people, anyone who needs a $5 table

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The Clothing King: Talize

Address: 1953 Division Street, Kingston, ON K7M 9H1

Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-6pm

Website: talize.com

What it is: Large-format thrift store, cleaner than Value Village, better organized, slightly higher prices but better quality.

The 2026 reality: Talize is consistently better than Value Village for clothing. Better brands, better condition, better pricing.

What's good here:

• Clothing (especially women's)
• Shoes (organized by size)
• Books (decent selection)
• Housewares (clean, organized)

Discount days:

• Senior's Day: 20% off for seniors 55+ (call to confirm current day)
• Student Discount: 10% off with student ID (always)
• Colour tag sales: Check website for weekly 50% off certain colours

Pro tips:

• Check the "boutique" section for designer stuff
• Try everything on (no returns on clothing)
• Go on Tuesday mornings after Monday markdowns

Best for: Clothing, shoes, anyone who wants organized thrifting

The Local Hero: Mission Thrift Store

Address: 816 Division Street, Kingston, ON K7K 6Y2

Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Closed Sunday

Website: kingstonmission.com

What it is: Run by Kingston Mission, proceeds support local programs. Smaller than the big boxes but curated better.

The 2026 reality: This is where locals go. The staff actually cares. The prices are fair. The money stays in Kingston.

What's good here:

• Housewares (kitchen stuff, decor)
• Small furniture (nightstands, side tables)
• Books (well organized)
• Art and frames (surprisingly good)

What's not:

• Limited electronics
• Smaller clothing section

Pro tips:

• Talk to staff - they'll tell you what came in recently
• Check the back room for furniture waiting to be priced
• Support local while thrifting

Best for: Housewares, decor, supporting Kingston charities

The International Chain: Value Village

Address: 1075 Wellington Street, Kingston, ON K7K 4X8

Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm

Website: valuevillage.com

What it is: You know it. You either love it or hate it. The prices have gone crazy but the selection is massive.

The 2026 reality: Value Village is overpriced but unavoidable. They get huge volume. You can still find deals if you're patient.

What's good here:

• Selection (everything, always)
• Electronics bin (cables, random tech)
• Seasonal stuff (Christmas decor, summer gear)
• Books (massive selection)

What's not:

• Pricing (some items are wild)
• Furniture (overpriced for used)
• Quality control (check everything)

Discount days:

• Seniors Day: Tuesday (30% off for seniors 50+)
• Student Day: Wednesday (30% off with student ID)
• Colour tag: 50% off certain colours weekly

Pro tips:

• Shop on colour tag days for actual deals
• Check the "as-is" section for bigger discounts
• Inspect electronics before buying (no returns)

Best for: Volume shopping, hunting for hidden gems, students on discount days

The Furniture Specialist: Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Address: 2455 Princess Street, Kingston, ON K7M 3G1

Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Closed Sunday

Website: habitatrestore.ca

What it is: Building supplies, furniture, appliances, and home goods. Proceeds fund Habitat for Humanity homes.

The 2026 reality: This is the best place in Kingston for furniture and building materials. Period.

What's good here:

• Furniture (sofas, tables, dressers, bed frames)
• Appliances (washers, dryers, fridges - often work)
• Building supplies (doors, windows, lumber, hardware)
• Lighting (lamps, fixtures)
• Cabinets and vanities

What's not:

• Clothing (they don't take it)
• Small items (less selection)

Pro tips:

• Furniture sells fast - go often
• Appliances come with testing (ask staff)
• Building materials are 50-75% off retail
• They offer delivery for large items (fee applies)

Best for: Furniture, appliances, renovation projects, students with empty apartments

The Classic: Salvation Army Thrift Store

Address: 279 Douglas Avenue, Kingston, ON K7K 3K9

Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Closed Sunday

What it is: Small, old-school, slightly chaotic. Not fancy. Not organized. But sometimes magic happens.

The 2026 reality: The Salvation Army is hit or miss. When it's a hit, it's a HOME RUN. When it's a miss, you walk out empty-handed.

What's good here:

• Vintage stuff (older donations)
• Kitchenware (cheap)
• Books (disorganized but cheap)
• Random weirdness (this is where you find the $500 vase for $5)

What's not:

• Organization (digging required)
• Electronics (test carefully)
• Furniture (limited)

Pro tips:

• Dig. This is not a "grab and go" store.
• Go early Saturday after Friday donations
• Check for antique/hidden valuables

Best for: Vintage hunters, patient thrifters, people who love the hunt

The Vintage Vibe: YGK Thrift & Vintage

Address: 284 Princess Street, Kingston, ON K7L 1B5

Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm

Instagram: @ygkthrift

What it is: Curated vintage and secondhand. Higher prices, but everything is cool.

The 2026 reality: This is for when you want the thrift aesthetic without the digging. It's edited. It's trendy. It costs more.

What's good here:

• Vintage clothing (curated, clean)
• Retro decor (lamps, art, accessories)
• Local vibes (supports local sellers)

What's not:

• Deals (you pay for the curation)
• Furniture (limited)

Pro tips:

• Follow their Instagram for drops
• Great for gifts
• Better for style than price

Best for: Vintage lovers, Instagram thrifters, people who hate digging

The Book Nerd's Paradise: Berry & Peterson

Address: 348 Princess Street, Kingston, ON K7L 1B7

Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm, Sun 11am-4pm

Website: berryandpeterson.ca

What it is: Used bookstore with serious inventory. Two floors of books. Organized. Dangerous for your wallet.

The 2026 reality: This is not a thrift store. It's a used bookstore. But if you need books, this is better than thrift stores.

Pricing:

• Paperbacks: $4-8
• Hardcovers: $6-12
• Rare/collectible: priced accordingly

What's good here:

• Everything book-related
• Local history section
• Rare finds
• Trade-in credit (bring your old books)

Pro tips:

• Trade for credit
• Check the bargain bins outside
• Ask staff for recommendations (they read everything)

Best for: Book lovers, students buying textbooks, anyone with too many books to trade

The Record Shop: Brian's Record Option

Address: 284 Princess Street, Kingston, ON K7L 1B5 (upstairs)

Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm

Website: briansrecordoption.com

What it is: Legendary Kingston record store. Used vinyl, CDs, stereo equipment.

The 2026 reality: Vinyl is expensive everywhere. Brian's is fair, knowledgeable, and worth every penny.

What's good here:

• Used vinyl (massive selection)
• Turntables and stereo gear
• CDs (if you're still into that)
• Knowledge (Brian knows everything)

Pro tips:

• Bring your want list
• Trade in records for credit
• Ask about new arrivals

Best for: Vinyl collectors, music lovers, gift shopping

The Consignment Option: Platinum Lane

Address: 797 Development Drive, Kingston, ON K7M 5V9

Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Closed Sunday

Website: platinumlane.com

What it is: Higher-end consignment. Designer clothing, luxury goods, better furniture.

The 2026 reality: This is not "thrift" pricing. This is "I want designer for less than retail" pricing.

What's good here:

• Designer clothing and handbags
• Quality furniture
• Jewelry
• Items authenticated

What's not:

• Deals under $20
• Student budget stuff

Pro tips:

• Consign your nice stuff here (better return than thrift)
• Check for authentication guarantees
• Great for special occasion wear

Best for: Designer hunters, consignors, quality over quantity

The Community Hub: Kingston Community Fridges

Locations:

• 617 Princess Street (behind the building)
• 155 Bagot Street (Skeleton Park)

What it is: Not a thrift store, but community mutual aid. Take what you need, leave what you can.

The 2026 reality: These fridges accept non-perishable food, personal care items, and sometimes small household goods.

Best for: Free food, toiletries, community connection

The Online Alternative: Fliku Local

Platform: Fliku.com

What it is: Kingston's local marketplace with verified users and safe meetup integration.

The 2026 reality: Sometimes the best thrift is online. Fliku keeps it local, verified, and safer than Facebook.

Why it's in a thrift guide:

• People list furniture for pennies when moving
• Students sell everything in April
• Free stuff sections exist
• Verified users = less scam risk

[Browse Fliku Kingston - local deals, verified sellers]

Thrifting by Category: Where to Go

Best for Furniture:

1. Habitat for Humanity ReStore (2455 Princess)
2. Re-Use Centre (196 Lappan's)
3. Mission Thrift (816 Division)

Best for Clothing:

1. Talize (1953 Division)
2. Value Village (1075 Wellington)
3. YGK Thrift (284 Princess) - vintage/curated
4. Platinum Lane (797 Development) - designer

Best for Housewares:

1. Mission Thrift (816 Division)
2. Re-Use Centre (196 Lappan's)
3. Salvation Army (279 Douglas)

Best for Books:

1. Berry & Peterson (348 Princess)
2. Talize (1953 Division)
3. Value Village (1075 Wellington)

Best for Records:

1. Brian's Record Option (284 Princess upstairs)
2. Value Village (hit or miss)
3. Talize (occasional finds)

Best for Building Materials:

1. Habitat for Humanity ReStore (2455 Princess)
2. Re-Use Centre (196 Lappan's)

Best for Electronics:

1. Value Village (test everything)
2. Re-Use Centre (cheap, no returns)
3. Fliku (verified sellers)

Best for Students:

1. Re-Use Centre (cheapest)
2. Habitat ReStore (furniture)
3. Mission Thrift (housewares)
4. Fliku (moving sales)

When to Shop: The Thrifting Calendar

January:

• Post-holiday donations peak
• People cleaning out = good inventory
• Cold = fewer shoppers

February-March:

• Slow season
• Good for digging
• Winter blues = thrift therapy

April:

• STUDENT MOVE-OUT GOLD
• Students leaving = dumping everything
• Check curbs, Re-Use Centre, Fliku

May-August:

• Garage sale season
• Thrift stores get summer donations
• Tourist season = busier downtown stores

September:

• Students arrive = competition
• Stores cleaned out by students
• Bad time to find furniture

October-December:

• Holiday donations
• Winter gear appears
• Christmas decor thrifting

The Thrifter's Toolkit

Always bring:

• Cash (some places are cash only)
• Hand sanitizer
• Measuring tape (for furniture)
• Phone charger (to test electronics)
• Wipes (to clean finds)
• A friend (second opinion)

On your phone:

• Flashlight app (check for damage)
• Google Lens (identify unknown items)
• Fliku app (compare prices)

What to Check Before Buying

Furniture:

• Bed bugs (tiny dark spots, musty smell) - RUN if you see signs
• Structural damage (wiggle test)
• Drawers (do they slide?)
• Smells (cigarette, cat, musty)

Electronics:

• Power on (test before buying)
• Charging ports (are they damaged?)
• Screen (cracks, dead pixels)
• Battery health (if applicable)

Clothing:

• Stains (hold up to light)
• Holes (check seams)
• Fabric feel (some things pill after washing)
• Fit (try on if possible)

Books:

• Moisture damage (wavy pages)
• Mold (smell test)
• Missing pages (flip through)

The Unwritten Rules of Kingston Thrifting

Rule #1: Re-Use Centre is cash only. They mean it. No card. No exception. There's an ATM but it charges.

Rule #2: Talize has the best dressing rooms. Use them. Don't be the person returning stained clothes.

Rule #3: Habitat ReStore furniture goes fast. If you see it and want it, buy it. It won't be there tomorrow.

Rule #4: Value Village pricing is negotiable? Sometimes. If something is damaged, ask. The worst they say is no.

Rule #5: Don't block the aisles with carts. Kingston thrift stores are small. Be aware.

Rule #6: Senior's Day at Value Village (Tuesday) is chaos. Go early or avoid.

Rule #7: Mission Thrift has the nicest staff. Be nice back. They're helping the community.

Why Fliku Belongs in Your Thrifting Strategy

Thrift stores are great. But the absolute best deals in Kingston happen when people just want stuff gone.

On Fliku, you'll find:

• Students selling entire apartments for $200 (April/May)
• People moving and pricing to sell (anytime)
• Free stuff from people who just want it gone
• Verified sellers (less scam risk than Marketplace)

The move: Check Fliku daily. Set alerts for keywords. Be ready to pickup immediately. The best deals go fast.

[Join Fliku Kingston - local deals, verified sellers]

Your 2026 Kingston Thrifting Checklist

• Re-Use Centre (bring cash, go Saturday)
• Talize (check colour tag sales)
• Mission Thrift (support local)
• Habitat ReStore (furniture first)
• Value Village (discount days only)
• Salvation Army (dig deep)
• YGK Thrift (vintage vibes)
• Berry & Peterson (books)
• Brian's (records)
• Fliku app (daily scroll)

FAQ: Kingston Thrifting

Q: What's the absolute cheapest store?

A: Re-Use Centre. Nothing else comes close. Bring cash.

Q: Where do I find furniture?

A: Habitat ReStore first, then Re-Use Centre, then Mission Thrift.

Q: What about bed bugs?

A: Check everything. Don't bring upholstered furniture inside your home immediately. Garage first, inspect, then bring in.

Q: Do any stores offer student discounts?

A: Talize: 10% with ID. Value Village: 30% on Wednesdays with ID.

Q: When do new items come out?

A: Most stores restock daily. Go Saturday mornings for best selection.

Q: Can I donate to these places?

A: Yes. Call ahead for large items. Habitat takes building supplies. Re-Use Centre takes almost anything (fees apply for some items).

Q: What's the best thrift store in Kingston?

A: Depends what you want. Furniture: Habitat. Clothing: Talize. Deals: Re-Use Centre. Vintage: YGK Thrift.

The Bottom Line

Kingston in 2026 still has incredible thrifting. The big chains got expensive, but the local spots - Re-Use Centre, Mission Thrift, Habitat ReStore - are still serving up deals.

Mix in some online scrolling on Fliku, hit the right stores on the right days, and you can furnish your whole life for pocket change.

Happy hunting.

Found a gem at a Kingston thrift store? Drop it in the comments. We love a good brag.