Did you know Reno, the “Biggest Little City in the World,” is also the birthplace of blue jeans? It’s just the right fit, then, that Reno is a thrifting and slow fashion hub.

In spite of Burning Man being the world’s single largest Leave No Trace event, locals often complain about the amount of trash heaped upon Lake Tahoe and Reno after the desert Playa festivities when upwards of 100,000 dreamers descend upon the nearby desert to temporarily create Black Rock City for a weeklong festival of expression, camping, creativity… and waste.

While the world-renowned festival of imagination intends to be carbon-neutral by 2023, currently it remains a carbon spewing event despite its best efforts to be environmentally conscious.

For now, Reno residents are left yearly with mountains of furniture, clothing, and oddities from Burners. While it’s an environmental issue, on the positive side it’s what produces plenty of pre-loved items ripe for the thrifting at the best thrift stores Reno offers.

Tree City’s second hand stores are working hard to provide a second life for much of the festival’s leftovers, helping ensure the trees stay green-o in beautiful Reno.

Whether you’re looking to refurbish your home, find quirky cool vintage, support local charities, or pick up some lightly used pre-loved ski gear for your next short trip up to Tahoe, brush up on your thrift shopping tips and let’s set out to explore our favorite Reno thrift stores.

Exploring The Best Thrift Stores, Reno, NV

  1. The Nest Jump to store
  2. Junkee Clothing Exchange Jump to store
  3. The Melting Pot World Emporium Jump to store
  4. Grassroots Books Jump to store
  5. Gear Hut Jump to store
  6. Interior Consign Jump to store
  7. Assistance League Thrift Store Reno Jump to store

The Nest

Image by The Nest (thrift-stores-reno)

For the last decade, The Nest has held its own amidst the plethora of Reno vintage stores as Reno—and Burning Man’s—most meticulously curated destination for everything upcycled, vintage, and pre-loved. Local, sustainable, and iconic are the three words used to describe the incredible inventory found at this gem.

From your grandmother’s heirloom Victorian couch to one of a kind jewelry, accessories, and more, The Nest is impeccably organized, clean, fun, whimsical, and diverse in its approach to selling secondhand. Snag a southwestern poncho and kick pack to relax on the sands of Black Rock City in your new-to-you paisley papasan chair, all thanks to their kaleidoscopic variety of vintage.

A mention of The Nest Reno is incomplete without acknowledging its powerhouse founder and owner, Tessa, who newcomers and regulars alike celebrate for her awesome taste, good vibes, compassionate care, and dedication to sustainable living.

Price Range: $–$$$

Junkee Clothing Exchange

Image by Junkee Clothing Exchange & Antique Store (thrift-stores-reno)

Not to be confused with nearby Truckee, CA, Junkee is eclectic and sprawling but well-organized and run by friendly and helpful staff. Prices are a bargain, and they’re known to offer you free beer while you shop. What’s not to love?

One of the best thrift stores in Reno, we recommend you carve out an entire day to explore this behemoth vintage depot specializing in vintage, costumes, Burner Playa wear, antiques, oddities, home goods, handmade goods, and more. You might not make off with anything you came looking for, but you’ll find that cool thing you never knew you needed your whole life.

Burners especially love this store for filling up on unique costume gear—with the option of selling it back once their Burn is done and quite literally dusted.

Not only is Junkee branching out by opening called Uncle Junkee, complete with records and rare furniture, but Junkee is also set to move into a new and improved location at the Reno Public Market.

Price Range: $–$$$

The Melting Pot World Emporium

Image by The Melting Pot World Emporium (thrift-stores-reno)

A family-owned hub of counterculture, The Melting Pot World Emporium has proudly served their community for twenty-five years with unique goods found during travels to Nepal, India, Thailand, and Bali.

Living up to their name, they offer women’s & men’s clothing from around the world with styles ranging from cutting edge couture to totally tribal to comfy clothes and anything in-between. If you’re participating in the Reno Onesie Crawl, you might just get to go in a bright blue octopus onesie, courtesy of The Melting Pot.

Their specialty is unique items from fair trade manufacturers and small-batch indie designers, along with jewelry, art, novelties, accessories, home goods, and more… like their “secret” smoke shop.

They’ve also been at the forefront of the Burning Man movement, as the original ticket hub for the world-famous festival and the OG pioneers of the city’s hip midtown thrift stores. Voted best clothing boutique and best place to shop for Burning Man by the Reno News & Review readers poll every year, the shop honors its strong ties to the community and local performing arts.

Price Range: $–$$$

Grassroots Books

Image by Grassroots Books (thrift-stores-reno)

Amazing secondhand shops aren’t only limited to clothing and furniture in Reno. Stores like Grassroots Books prove that the city also has an excellent circulation of used books at affordable prices. This local independent used bookstore offers a whopping selection of 40,000+ books with a constantly-changing inventory of both used and new books of all genres that are priced so low, it’s regular for customers to ask how they stay in business.

Their Outside Sale has 10,000+ books for $1 or less and their Bag Sale Sundays allow customers to fill a grocery-size bag for $5.

If their huge hearts and passion for reading wasn’t enough, Grassroots Books also gives back to their community through involvement and donations, like usually offering $20 for at-risk and low-income kids to pick out whatever books they want from the store. That’s in addition to other past kid’s book giveaway events they’ve hosted.

If you can’t find the specific book you need in their cast used selection (say, a local hiking guidebook), they also offer a selection of new books.

Price Range: $–$$

Gear Hut

Image by Gear Hut (thrift-stores-reno)

Used camping is the most eco-friendly camping gear, and the Biggest Little City’s biggest little gear store operates “because everyone should be able to afford getting outside”.

Gear Hut believes in #RecycledAdventures and are dedicated to finding a new home for your old outdoor gear and apparel—from Patagonia puffy coats to coveted, discontinued Dana Designs backpacking packs.

If last camping season’s eco-friendly tent or hiking pack is still in decent condition, there’s no need to throw it away. Bring it to Gear Hut, where they’ll help you get the most for your item and keep it out of the landfill. They operate like a consignment store, so you’re paid once your item sells.

Truly a haven for outdoor enthusiasts in need of affordable and gently used outdoor goods, this local family-run outpost has also helped raise more than $65,000 for local nonprofits that do things like improve trails or help kids get outside to explore.

Price Range: $–$$$$

Interior Consign

Image by Interior Consign (thrift-stores-reno)

High-end furniture at low prices… who could say no to that?

Interior Consign is one of Reno’s premium furniture consignment destinations because of its constantly changing unique selection, amazing prices, and the expertise of its caring staff.

Everything from artwork to lighting to carpets to furniture can be found here in all interior design styles—from elegant white marble-topped dining room tables to coffee tables that double as the face of a giant clock.

Price Range: $$–$$$$

Assistance League Thrift Store Reno

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Reno is RENOwned for its incredible thrift stores, and Assistance League is another one not to be missed. Whether you’re a thrift addict or not, the community feeling, bargain deals, amazing selection, and quality of secondhand goods here keeps shoppers returning for more.

From crafts to clothes to housewares, glassware (both ordinary and unusually handcrafted), books, bags and more, the inventory is always changing but consistently impeccable here.

Shoppers also celebrate how sweet and helpful the staff here are, and the store supports and runs ten different philanthropic programs with all proceeds staying right there within the local Reno community.

Price Range: $–$$