Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store and Donation Center

This is my favorite thrift store in the Twin Cities! It’s so organized, clean, and there are lots of dressing rooms. They also have very good deals (half off color tags and $.99 that same color tag on sundays) and the card program is great!
Now that I’ve moved to another state, I can’t find anything comparable. The prices are fair, cheaper than Goodwill and Unique Thrift, and they have lots of designer things (they can be overpriced though! They know their brands). I don’t go there for the designer clothing though. I love finding unique shirts and I have found tons of great vintage home goods. My favorite thrift shop!

The space is quite large, but the selection is kind of hit and miss and a little disorganized, but the staff is lovely and helpful.
I will never buy a retail basket for gifts again. Chances are the basket for the gift is going to end right back at the thrift store. Found a practically new basket here to use for a gift. I know the recipient will donate it back.
An interesting selection of things. Also found a rare VHS title for super cheap.
Prices are decent.

I was looking for my first suit as a starter and I was incredibly pleased that I got an Ann Taylor suit in near perfect condition with the tags still on it. Much to my surprise, it was even half off the sale price! I’m definitely going back for more.

This place definitely isn’t fabulous in my book, but it could’ve been a whole lot worse at the same time.
The store is clean and the selection is good in some cases, but so-​so in many. They have a TON of clothes, but much of it isn’t quite worth while.
I did spot two HUGE mirrors, both with very heavy wooden frames. One was 7.99 and the other was 15.99. Both of the mirrors were aged and rusted to some extent, but both could have made fun room accents. I almost picked up the 15.99 one because the mirror wasn’t as bad on it, but then decided against it.
My husband thought about picking up a few old-​screen print tee’s here, but ended up not.
So there are a few treasures. .. if you have the time and patience to dig, which I struggle with.

I love love love this place. It is clean, the staff are helpful and they always have specials!
I have really lucked out on clothes here. I always find Banana, JCrew and BCBG clothes in great shape with low prices.
My favorite part is the dressing rooms! They are huge and there is no limit to the amount of clothes you can try on at a time. I can move through clothes so much faster when I am not limited to three items at a time.

A shiny, new Arc’s Value Village!
The newness makes this Arc’s quite clean and moderately well organized.
There are a few baffling things, however. The slush pile of «newly arrived» is a mix of all-​genders, all-​sizes clothing. If you feel like searching, you go right ahead. I personally find it too frustrating to bother.
Also, the baffling inclusion of a «unisex shirts» section where there are clearly men’s and women’s cuts of shirts, but they’re all mixed up. This only serves to reinforce the boxy, tomboyish, non-​caring stereotype look of «I shop at a thrift store» for people who don’t know any better! Nothing wrong with crossing the gender lines in your clothing (to be sure), but one should do it with full knowledge and choice. It’s your right to choose to dress like whichever gender you want! Seek it out! Don’t be fooled into an ambiguous «unisex» section that’s an excuse for poor organization! ;)
Donation-​based thrift stores like Arc’s can vary widely based on the neighborhood. This one is certainly no Edina. No high-​end merchandise sneaking through here! There’s a lack of general selection in men’s clothing, and the women’s clothing is spotty (especially in the smaller sizes and dresses right now).
I have yet to find anything here, but I’m sure to do so eventually. For now it’s a bit discouraging, but it feels like a thrift store still finding its groove – indeed, it’s changed in layout a few times in the short time it’s been open – so I’ll give it more chances.