Nylah Mitchell/Fourth Estate

Uncovering some underrated and beloved thrift spots 

BY NYLAH MITCHELL, COPY EDITOR

When you think of thrift stores in Northern Virginia, you’re potentially thinking about Unique in Falls Church near Mosaic. While Unique is great, there are many more underrated local stores around the DMV. Whether you’re looking to up your thrifting game, or already consider yourself a connoisseur, this guide is for you. 

2nd Avenue 
Location: Alexandria, VA (8750 Richmond Hwy) 

Down on Richmond Highway, 2nd Avenue is a thrift superstore offering a wide selection of tops, bottoms, footwear and household items. The store provides daily discounts on color tags for extra savings. I scored a vintage cream, 100% Irish wool sweater here, which I pull out every winter to pair with baggy jeans and Uggs.  

B-Thrifty
Location: Annandale, VA (4223 John Marr Dr)

Located next to a Goodwill—perfect for a quick two-in-one stop—B-Thrifty is the place to find racks of button-downs and shoulder purses. The gigantic and spacious layout means you’ll likely leave with your arms full of vintage Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein finds.  

Georgetown Flea Market
Location: Washington, D.C. (1819 35th St NW)

*Open Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

While the flea market is in D.C., this spot is great to meander through with a friend and browse trinket-filled tables. You’ll find vendors selling streetwear, and you’ll often see college-aged shoppers roaming about and peering through racks. Alongside the resellers, other vendors sell handmade items such as quilted jackets and jewelry. I purchased a small gold-filled snake chain that hasn’t tarnished, and I’ve worn it every day since then. 

Prime Thrift Georgia Ave
Location: Washington, D.C. (6101 Georgia Ave NW)

If you’re planning a “thrift day” in the District, make your way over to Prime Thrift on Georgia Ave. You’ll find popular and trendy brands like Reformation, Princess Polly and Urban Outfitters as well as an impressive selection of vintage labels at affordable prices. Some shoppers even argue that it’s cheaper than Goodwill. 

Value Village 
Location: Silver Spring, MD (10121 New Hampshire Ave)

While it’s a bit of a hike from campus, Value Village in Silver Spring—connected to Unique Thrift Store—is argued as one of the best thrift shops in the Maryland-Washington area. Because it’s twice the size of the aforementioned recommendations, you’re almost guaranteed to find something. One TikTok creator found a vintage dark brown Hermès cashmere coat and an ivory Burberry trench coat for $8 each. 

Estate Sales 
Location: Across D.C., Maryland and Virginia 

While this  isn’t a specific store, estate sales in the metropolitan area are severely underrated. Frequent neighborhoods that host sales are Chevy Chase (D.C.), Georgetown (D.C.), Alexandria (VA) and McLean (VA). These sales feature everything from political memorabilia (campaign pins, posters, bobbleheads and vintage newspapers) to closets full of business-formal clothing for internships and events. Even if nothing catches your eye, the homes alone—often complete with unique Washington-esque architecture and interior design—are worth the walkthrough. Visit Estatesales.org, Estatesales.net, or Maddy | Estate Sales on TikTok for estate sales happening in the area. 

Tips for Thrifting: 

As you thrift more, you’ll find that there are some ways to maximize your time while finding cool pre-loved items. First, before you plan a day at the thrift store, I suggest creating a list or a Pinterest board to lay out top-priority items to avoid wasting time mindlessly searching. Second, bring reusable bags like totes to avoid paying extra for store-issued ones. The best time to go thrifting is during the week, but if the weekend is best, try to visit early to beat the afternoon rush. Lastly, reserve a couple of hours to spend time browsing through racks to find some hidden gems.