American Thrift

CLOSED FOR GOOD!
R.I.P. 11/​22/​2014
No fanfare. No closing sign. just walked in yesterday and the stock was way down. When I asked about it, I was told today is the last day. Everyone was sad. I hear its been there 35 years. It will be missed.

This is a nice thrift store– they have a nice variety of reasonably priced items. The cashier was really nice today too-​one thing to note– they ONLY TAKE CASH!!!

The clothes here are fab. I bought a silky blue vintage wrap dress and a pair of Kate Spade white satin heels for $ 5. Lots of really good suits and skirts. I just wish my foot was smaller, because they had a ton of really nice size 6 shoes. They has a great selection of vintage ties, purses, and designer shoes.

Amazingggg! 40+ items for $ 120. They have a generous selection of clothing for women of all sizes and retro styles.

This is my favorite thrift store in the city. I always find something good. I love their selection of women’s skirts, shirts, and shorts.

In todays times with ultra high cost this place is a Diamond in South Philly. I would suggest if you live close try them every few days or get to know someone there and tell them what you want.

It’s no Village Thrift, but it is serviceable for a city that doesn’t have a lot of good thrift options.
It’s really hit and miss. The staff can range from very friendly and helpful to downright surly. But, I’ve gotten some incredible buys there. .. and some not so incredible buys. A brand new Cuisinart double ice cream machine for nearly nothing was awesome, a wonderful new-​looking toaster that only heated, but never popped up the toast, was not. I bought three large pieces of original art here that everyone loves. .. and, I’ve even grabbed a suit or two.
Pricing is haphazard. Some things are incredibly low priced, while you can occasionally find some Ikea item priced at twice the original…
I think I can understand some of the surliness of the staff because some of the patrons show little to no respect for the fact that they’re in a place of business.
A little organization, a few shopping baskets, it could be much better.

This is a serviceable neighborhood thrift store, with some flaws. The lack of shopping carts or baskets is a big one. You have to put your items in bins behind the counters. This is an inefficient system and it did disincentivize me somewhat to continue browsing after I found a few things and made my first trip up to the front to place my items in a bin.
The furniture offerings are very sparse, as are housewares. However, I did find two nice vintage milk glass mixing bowls priced at $ 2.95/piece, which is very fair. There seemed to be quite a bit of clothing so you may have better luck with that.
I could see this place being worth a look-​see if you live nearby or happen to be in the neighborhood, but I wouldn’t recommend making a special trip to come here.

I’ve found some really great items here. I’m not one to look in thrift stores for clothing or shoes but they have a lot of it. I tend to just walk in and look through the housewares wall. I found some cute salt and pepper shakers, vintage dishes, and handmade blankets here and their prices are pretty great. I don’t buy something every time, but when I do find something, it’s always something awesome.

This place is cool for their thrifty prices and being able to get a few summer clothes that I desperately needed. Once in awhile you can find cool treasures here. Biggest regret was not buying that Magnavox Odyssey 2 for 50 bucks with a bunch of games.

Great news! I just got back from the most satisfying trip I’ve taken to this place in months. I don’t know if they just suddenly learned to price again or hired a new person or the clothing pricer got better at what she was doing, or what, but the random $ 8-​$ 9 dress-​wrecks are gone. I spent $ 18 and got a suit, a jacket and two dresses. Not too shabby! The most expensive purchase was the suit, $ 12.99, but I can’t really complain about that price for a suit.
Unfortunately, they also finally figured out that not all short skirts are for girls… now I have to fight for cute ones with the rest of the adult patrons.
I know you were all waiting to hear when it was OK to go back here. It is OK, it is all OK again.

I totally understand what people are talking when they said the prices went up. I SERIOUSLY go to this place every week! Sometimes 2 – 3 times within a week. I really do love this place. I’ve dragged almost all of my family
Members here! Omg! Their bags are the best! What’s the sucky part about this store is that it’s a good size store but they usually don’t keep winter stuff there mixed in with there stuff that is already out. I was really looking for a cardigan. Also! I would go there around noon. And most of the good stuff are taken by other thrifters. I just want to tackle them and take their stuff.

I like 8^th & Wolf because it is CHEAP.
The selection for men is not bad. You can definitely find a lot of great jackets and sports stuff. I got a crewneck sweater and a tie for $ 1.10.
You really can’t beat that in this economy. I will go back in a couple months because they really do have crazy vintage stuff.

STOP WRITING ON YOUR RECORD SLEEVES AND BOOKS! I can’t tell you how many times I have turned down a book or record because it was ruined by the 1.95 written on it. Just use a sticker.
Aside from that, this place isn’t too bad. Tons of clothes and what not. I primarily go to thrift shops for the books and music though, and since this place destroys theirs, I’m not a big fan of this place.

One of my all time faves, this is the first thrift store to hit in South Philly! Racks and bins of clothing always stuffed to the gills. Their selection of 80s prom dresses and wedding gowns is usually jaw dropping. And, the prices are really quite decent in comparison to other Philadelphia area shops. I have noticed a recent raise in prices. However, as thrifting becomes an accepted and often profitable hobby, that seems to be the nationwide trend.
There are always a fair amount of hipster types at this establishment. But, oddly enough, this thrift store hardly ever seems picked over.
Best thing: An often large selection of boots in the fall/​winter — from Frye cowboy boots, to 80s slouchies, and über glam heeled «hooker boots» — I’ve found it all. And, they stock a large amount of mens clothing and ties. I find some of my best guy’s stuff here. Note: If you’re a guy, always check the women’s section for jeans. Whenever I come across 70’s bell bottoms and 80’s skinny jeans in that section, they are usually for men.
Worst thing: There are no carts. You have to keep making trips to the front to dump your finds in their reserved bins. I find that incredibly annoying, as I love to get lost in the shopping experience.

i’ve thrifted with the best of them, man… but this place? eh. not so great.
it’s messy as hell, the other patrons are pushy, and the prices aren’t exactly always what you’d call «thrifty».
since i live down the street, i do go back from time to time. why? i just don’t even know.

I have been shopping at what I call «8^th & Wolf» for about nine years. I have gotten many a gem at this store. It used to be a well-​kept secret, but like all the best thrift stores, it got blown up. I go bi-​monthly because the prices are unbeatable. You can still find great stuff for sixty-​five cents! Amazing!
The people who work there are nice. I like thrift stores with carts, but here they have bins behind the counter you can put your clothes in if you ask. Don’t leave your stuff sitting in a pile somewhere– they will put it back fast and you will be sorry.

it smells like an attic — maybe due to the thousands of items in this store, ranging from grandma’s old porcelain collectibles to vintage halloween costumes and go go boots. i’ve even found a pair of unironic and vintage skinny jeans for $ 3.
it’s a treasure hunt — take an afternoon to navigate through this place for the good stuff.

If you look hard enough you will find
a.) this place
b.) something special
Tucked away below Snyder in s.phila. I probably won’t make the effort to go back. the prices aren’t bad. you don’t feel like you’re in the city when you’re inside, more of a suburban thrift store. the book selection isn’t great, but it is cheap 50 cent paperbacks. furniture, not much. clothing, didn’t see too much either. the knick-​knack (i hate to use the word, but what else) shelves my only salvation. a hand carved and painted piñata beater (i’m guessing) for 3.95. Old, too. basically a fat mini 12 inch baseball bat. extravagent.

A friend took me to this place in search of pieces for a costume, and I was in awe of the selection. Personally, I think this place is untapped by most of Philly’s hipsters (due to being so far out of the way on Wolf street), and thank god for that. Like the second mile in West Philly, which I reviewed earlier, you’ve got to DIG, but the finds are well worth the effort.
They also have some really wacky housewares and toys. It’s definitely worth the trek for those in search of oddities. In fact, that whole neighborhood is quite odd, so it’s an interesting trip down there overall.