Thrifting is such a great way to shop sustainably and give back to your community at the same time. Here are some options for my favorite places to thrift in the area, in no particular order.
Underground Railroad Resale, 5647 State St., Saginaw, MI 48603
Underground Railroad is a great cause, running completely on donations and operating to support survivors of abuse in the Saginaw area. According to their website, an average of $18,000 in free merchandise is distributed directly to survivors each year, while another $50,000 goes to programming. Their stock is also rotated after four weeks, so if an item hasn’t sold in that time, it’s boxed up and offered free to clients in the emergency shelter or transitional housing program.
From a thrifter’s perspective, I feel Underground Railroad is one of the best shops in the area if it’s clothes or shoes you’re hunting for. I recently found two pairs of Nike Air Force 1s for $7.99 each! I also love to search the men’s section for oversized sweaters and button-ups. They do have some furniture and cookware, but it’s not as extensive as some of the other options on this list.
AbleLight Thrift Shop, 5119 Gratiot Rd., Saginaw, MI 48638
AbleLight is another fantastic cause and one of my favorite thrifts in the area. They are a chain with 12 locations, primarily in Wisconsin and Michigan. Their website’s impact report states that in 2025, the organization donated $18.3 million in housing and support to people with developmental disabilities. Their goal is to “create spaces of inclusion, community, and opportunity” for people who otherwise might have a hard time finding them.
I find that the Saginaw store on Gratiot Rd is the perfect size to thrift — there are enough options to choose from without feeling overwhelmed. I also find that the home decor and dish section is very well-balanced with the clothing options. I found my new daily leather purse there for just $5!
Court Street Antiques, 1214 Court St., Saginaw, MI 48602
Court Street Antiques is your usual smaller antique shop with tons of old furniture and trinkets alike. It’s a great place to look if you’re going in hoping for something specific — I found my coffee cart there that now houses my espresso machine and extensive tea collection!
Bay City Antiques Center, 1020 N Water St., Bay City, MI 48708
Bay City Antiques Center is gigantic! It’s the perfect place to go if you’re hoping to spend a day wandering around and seeing what speaks to you. The store is three stories, and takes a full day to get through if you’re looking at every piece. I’m a collector of Pyrex and Corelle dishes, and while sometimes overpriced, this is a great place to find them. They also have loads of war memorabilia, some furniture, tons of dishes, antique toys, and some jewelry.
An Unexpected Treasure Hunt, 12245 S Beyer Rd., Birch Run, MI 48415
An Unexpected Treasure Hunt is more of a drive, being located in Birch Run, but it’s one of my absolute favorite shops! My aunt, grandma, and I stumbled on it by accident while shopping at the outlet malls in 2024.
I started my Corelle and Pyrex collection here when I saw the Crazy Daisy pattern and had to have it! They have a similar type of inventory to Bay City Antique Center, with the building being smaller, but separated into rooms, so walking through the shop feels like it’ll never end. An Unexpected Treasure Hunt is a must-stop when going through Birch Run.
Shelterhouse Resale Shop, 1830 S Saginaw Rd., Midland, MI 48642
Shelterhouse Resale is a hidden gem in Midland. Their cause focuses on donating to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, as said on their website, and the day-to-day operations of the store are almost entirely volunteer-run.
It’s a smaller store than some of the other options on this list, but they have a section of bins, which is unbeatable, in my opinion. Everything in the bins is for a set price, and it’s up to the shopper to dig through and see what’s in there for themselves. They also have racks of clothing to look through, like a normal shopping experience. When I went, they also had a rather extensive book collection, and some shelved dishes and home decor to look through.
Since moving to Saginaw for college in 2023, I’ve been extremely impressed by the thrifting opportunities. All of these stores are absolutely worth a try— though, some are more of a drive than others.
