Value Village

I was trying to find me a vest/​shirt/​tie for my halloween costume, so I decided to go here, First time inside a thrift store and the last one for sure, lasted a total of 58 seconds in there, don’t get me wrong the store was pretty well stocked, the shirts/​tops were fixed by color, it was easy to find what I needed.
Now it had that distinctive «old» smell and obviously the clothing was used so TO ME was a bad experience I imagined a store like that being different (dunno where I got the idea from), I couldn’t even touch anything, It was a little bit of a cultural shock.
For what I can judge it might an above average store, just not my thing at all.

This is probably the dirtiest location I have been to in Houston; and not dirty as in unorganized, just dirty like there feels like there is a thick layer of grime on everything you touch in the place. It’s odd. BUT its Value Village, so if you weren’t prepared to get dirty and dig, then you already came to the wrong store. Staff is nice enough, it never seems too busy, and there are gems to be found for the patient. Get some caffeine, bring your headphones and bottle of antibac and dig, and you will find some great vintage stuff in the racks.

This place was not very clean when I came in. I remember finding some interesting lingerie. The clothes here are very big as well so it would be hard for someone small like me to find anything that fits. You would have to get it altered I suppose. I think most normal people would pass up this place.
I would still go back and just to see if I am lucky enough to find any vintage dresses.
They don’t have fitting rooms here, sadly.):

This is not a place I frequent any longer. This was at one time a great place but I stopped going for many reasons.
1. The bathroom reeks
2. Everyone talks in Spanish and no one no knows English
3. The manager is rude and a thief
4. I cut my finger and all they gave me was a band-​aid
5. Broken glass everywhere in housewares
6. Items get sold even if they look like they belong in a dumpster
7. Store itself smells of feces
8. They sell FAKE Louis Vuitton and COACH handbags and pass them as real/​genuine ones
9. They go up on prices after you ask them how much something is
10. They are thieves, not worth your time
This is not a place of all the VV’s that you want to stop in. Stear clear. You’re asking for trouble when you set foot in this store. You will always need hand sanitize gel and or gloves after dealing with the dusty items.
This is not somewhere I frequent any longer for the top ten reasons. Need I say more?

I am not a stranger to thrift stores nor have any problem purchasing items from one either. But this place? It is NASTY.
I remember shopping here in high school (12 years ago) and it was actually decent. Now it is messy, dirty and just plain GROSS. Stuff that should honestly be in the trash line the shelves here. I am not really sure who owns these stores or where the money goes but I would much rather go to Goodwill or MAM. They at least take pride in reselling used items.
My friend and I went in a few weeks ago and I swear to you I left itching all over and wheezing. I felt like I had whooping cough. (whatever that feels like).
If you do manage to brave the dust mites and all the other creepy crawlies that are lurking around here do so with caution and LOTS of hand sanitizer.

from what i remember:
— average prices [for a thrift store] and lots of stuff to look through.
— very dusty and hands were sticky afterwards [take claritin and bring antibacterial!]
— no fitting rooms! they only had 2 thin mirrors that were warped.
— different specials each day
— they take cash only
— korean grocery store next door that i always visited afterwards bc i was always so thirsty after thrifting for some reason!
i haven’t been there in a few years because i don’t have the patience to look through every single item to find something i like and i’m also very picky with the clothing i wear so i hardly find anything.
HOWEVER, i’ve had a couple very good experiences there including finding a pair of leopard pony hair MANOLO BLAHNIK heels priced at $ 3!!! and it was half off shoes that day so i paid $ 1.50. i was very proud that day haha
i would probably go again only when i need something for a costume.

Ugh. No. Don’t bother.
I’ve been to many Value Villages in my life and this is by far in the bottom quartile. There is a big selection here, and you may be able to find something wonderful if you really try. But in my experience at this VV, you’ll find items that are good from afar, but far from good. Every clothing item I thought was kickass had a hole. There was a used breast pump. Need I say more?

— cheap (average price for any article of clothing is around 3 dollars)
— pretty big selection
–great selection of men’s sweaters (the colors are fun and unique, super good quality)
I’m giving it a high rating because the prices are so cheap and they have a lot of 80’s retro-​y clothing.

The Value Village on Gessner and I have known each other since high school. Back then it proved to be a treasure trove of the pearl snap shirts I was always after. It was also pretty reliable for vintage or tacky clothes I needed for costume parties and what not. Through college and beyond I can remember picking up a three-​piece brown polyester suit and going as Brick Tamland for Halloween. The best part was that it was always so cheap: shirts for a couple bucks, suits maybe $ 5. You can try trendy vintage shops, but if they’re billed as such, you could wind up breaking the bank. Go to the source, the dusty thrift stores, for the cheap stuff.
The place is rather expansive, with large men’s, women’s, and children’s sections. Boots and shoes, books, kitchen gadgets, even some old jewelry and watches. I’ve never understood buying underwear second-​hand at a thrift shop, but they have that too. These days I try to stop by from time to time, to see if they have any vintage sport coats with elbow patches, and especially in December to see if they have any gloriously tacky Christmas sweaters. The fine specimen you see in my profile was obtained last year for $ 2. Amazing. How does one rate a thrift shop? I don’t know, but I’m certainly a fan of Value Village — it’s been there for me as long as I’ve been dressing myself, obnoxiously or otherwise.