Why thrift? Perhaps you are a storyteller, a collector of unique items with mystical origins. Maybe you’re environmentally-oriented and constantly on the lookout for ways to reduce your personal waste footprint. Or you just might be a college student in need of a wardrobe and dorm decor that won’t obliterate your budget. Regardless of your reasoning, thrifting is a great way to shop, and there are several ways to dig into it in Macon.
Wear
Behold: Macon’s lauded holy grail of thrift shops, and with good reason. Conveniently located on First Street downtown, Wear is clean, well-organized and staffed with friendly, fashion-minded people. The initial floor boasts designer clothes and jewelry at bargain prices; below holds a vast collection of unique shoes, casualwear and accessories. Though the pieces tend to be a little pricier than the average thrift shop, the quality is well worth it.
JC Thrift
Don’t be fooled—although the building is on the small side, JC Thrift is stocked to the brim with an assortment of odds and ends, ranging from clothes and shoes to household goods and knickknacks. You might need to inspect your items to ensure that they’re not damaged, but you’re guaranteed to find something one-of-a-kind. My favorite part? The section devoted to fruit-printed vests!
Plato’s Closet
Plato’s Closet is more accurately a consignment shop rather than a thrift store, but it’s still an affordable option if you are searching for brand name pieces. Plus, you can sign up with their rewards program to receive alerts about sales and deals they’re having to save even more.
Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia Bargain Center
Not only have I shopped for furniture and clothing at the Rescue Mission Bargain Center, but I have also volunteered here because I value its mission. While you are saving money shopping, you will also be giving money back to help Maconites overcome addiction and escape domestic violence, as well as raise community awareness about the social issues Macon faces.
Goodwill Outlet
For $1.59 per pound, you can dig through dozens of Goodwill Outlet’s bins and thrift to your heart’s content! Such organization is not the ideal method of shopping—especially if you’re new to the world of thrifting—but such a price is impossible to beat. Moreover, Goodwill gives back to the community by connecting local citizens with skills and jobs.
Goodwill on Forsyth
The Goodwill on Forsyth is my personal favorite Goodwill location in Macon, as, despite its lackluster selection of home goods, it is clearly organized and often carries both simple and statement clothing pieces. The sheer amount of clothing can be daunting to sort through, so I recommend going in with a few concrete items in mind to search for!
I began thrifting as a young teenager to construct my uber-specific Halloween costumes. As a woman now, I continue to do it as a conscious decision to eliminate my contribution to the fast fashion industry. I wish good findings to all interested in beginning thrifting!
Ivy Marie Clarke ‘22 is an English literature and creative writing double major, double minoring in art and women’s and gender studies. She has served as editor of the Arts & Culture section of The Cluster for the last two years. She also interns with Macon Magazine and Mercer University Press and edits for The Dulcimer. She also enjoys drinking coffee and writing poetry.
