Victoria West - VIew Royal and Esquimalt

Some of our better finds have been west of Victoria Harbour, a seemingly-richer place with lots of stock.

Immediately across the harbour in the mall encompassed by Bay, Wilson and Tyee is a small WIN.  It has mainly clothes but some housewares and collectibles.  Free lot parking.

WIN Westside

Heading west on Craigflower just west of Tillicum (NW side) is a Saint Vincent de Paul.  This one seems to have better a selection of housewares and collectibles.  Decent prices.  Free lot parking.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Esquimalt

Continuing onto Island Highway just west of Helmcken is the View Royal Salvation Army which may be the best for collectibles and housewares in Victoria.  It has a lot of stock.  Lot parking.

Salvation Army - View Royal

Also out in View Royal in the mall off Admirals Road and Aldersmith Place (SW corner) is an SPCA though prices are pretty high.  Free lot parking.

Vancouver Island thrft store listings
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/listing-of.html

Victoria

Probably the best place to thrift shop in B.C. as it seems to have the largest number of thrift shops for a given municipality, though greater Vancouver has more.

There seem to be only a few "chains", namely the Salvation Army, WINs (Women in Need), Saint Vincent de Paul and Beacon Community Services.  There's also a good number of United Church thrift shops though we haven't visited any yet (very limited opening days).

The Salvation Army probably has the most thrift shops in Victoria though they do tend to be a bit expensive (bargains still to be had).

The big one is at the west end of Johnson Street.  Quite a large selection but it is also fairly picked over. Very limited paid street parking and some free parkade parking but that's also limited.

On Hillside at Quadra (NW side) is one of the "suburban" stores.  Usual SA. Free but somewhat-limited lot and street parking.

Salvation Army in Hillside/Quadra

To the north and northwest, in what may be considered South Saanich are the stores at Quadra @ Hulford (NW corner) and Shelbourne and Cedar Hill Cross (SW corner, street access from Ophir).   The Shelbourne store is bigger and has more selection but both are still interesting.  Almost no street for the Quadra Street store and extremely limited lot parking.  Decent amount of lot parking for Shelbourne. 

Salvation Army on Quadra Street

Beacon Community Services has 2 stores in Victoria.  On Pandora @ Douglas (SE corner) is a small store with mainly clothes but some housewares.  Limited street parking.  Opposite the Hillside Salvation Army (access from Quadra) is another small store.  Small amount of everything.  A little bit haphazard organisation.  Limited free street parking.  Only place where I've seen a tip jar for the volunteers.

Beacon thrift shop on Hillside/Quadra

The two Victoria WINs are at Pandora at Blanshard (SW side) and Cook Street at Park (NE side).  They're mainly clothes-oriented but also have some housewares.  Limited paid street parking.  Paid for Pandora, free for Cook.

WIN on Cook Street

On Yates (south side) between Blanshard and Quadra is a Saint Vincent de Paul.  As with other downtown Victoria stores, it seems to be picked over (busy, poorer pool of donours).  Limited paid street parking.

Bibles for Missions on Government Street

One of the "chains" in the province that only has a single store in Victori is Bibles for Missions.  The store, on Government Street just north of Bay, is smaller than most of the other BFMs and a bit more expensive but they do have interesting items.  Free street parking.







Nested in the "U" around Blanshard, Cloverdale and Oak is the sole Habitat for Humanity ReStore.  It's a small store with mainly home reno wares.

ReStore Victoria

Vancouver Island thrift store listings
http://bcthriftshop.blogspot.ca/p/listing-of.html

Kamloops

A large but less affluent than Kelowna, Kamloops supports a far number of thrift stores.

Starting up far north in the Westsyde (Westsyde Road at Mayne) is the Westsyde Fellowship Church shop, only open on a Friday 9-13h.  It's a small shop on the top floor of the church complex with mainly clothes but some housewares, games and hardware.  Reasonable prices but we've seen nothing of interest. Lots of free lot parking.

In the shopping mall complex on Tranquille Road and Desmond is Flutter Buys of the local Hospice.  It has moved to the central building in the complex (facing Tranquille).  Lots of the usual items.  Free lot parking.

Back along Tranquille towards the bridge at Yew is the local Salvation Army.  A medium-sized shop, it has the usual assortment except furniture.  Quite a large housewares section.  Free street parking.

A bit further down on a side street, Briar Avenue between Palm and Wilson is the local Saint Vincent de Paul.  It is a smaller shop with the usual assortment at good prices.  Free lot parking.

Downtown Kamloops has at least 3 thrift shops.

On Victoria between 1st and 2nd avenues is the Thrift Seller shop of the local Hospital Auxilliary.  This medium-sized sho is well-organised and has everything except furniture.  Good prices.  Paid street parking.

On Seymour between 3rd and 4th avenues is Thrift City of New Life Mission.  This larger medium-sized shop has something of everything.  Good prices.  Paid street parking.

On Saint Paul between 4th and 5th avenues is the United Church's thrift shop which has moved into new premises around the corner from the old one on 4th Avenue. This small shop has the usual except furniture.  Paid street parking.

Reports of a Big Brothers Big Sisters on Seymour between 8th and 9th.

Up the hill on Cariboo Place between Hillside Drive and Laval Crescent is the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. In addition to home reno wares, this outlet has a lot of housewares and collectibles.  Free lot and street parking.

The SPCA is supposed to have one but I haven't been able to locate it.