I’m speechless as I walk through an aisle of jeans, sweaters, and handbags — $6, $7, and $8 steals — at the first-ever Arc Thrift Store to open in Texas.
The beloved New Mexico- and Colorado-based retailer officially opened its doors in San Antonio on October 5, with a grand opening celebration on Thursday, October 8. Its first signature Saturday sale (everything will be 50% off) is this weekend.
Arc Thrift is known for its 50% off sales for seniors every Tuesday, weekly color-tag sales on Wednesdays, and, of course, the half-off sale each Saturday, which is open to all shoppers.
MySA got an early look at the store and found plenty of deals, a variety of items and a clean, well-lit, well-organized thrift warehouse. We saw shelves of books and miles of jeans, tops, coats, sweaters, seasonal assortments and men’s fashion. There was also a solid furniture and home decor section that seemed perfect for anyone looking to decorate their house or apartment on a budget.
One of my favorite finds was a vintage-looking Singer sewing machine kit priced at $30.99. Or maybe some of the old dolls and knickknacks near the front of the store.
Not all of the prices were exactly what I expected. A millennial pink sofa chair that caught my eye costs $50, not exactly a thrifty steal, in my book, but certainly less than it would cost first-hand. Some locals echoed those thoughts in posts the store made on Facebook, though most people seem excited for the new thrift store, which will add a fresh mix to the local scene.
“We’re so excited to be here in San Antonio,” said Erick Martinez, Senior Vice President of Store Operations. “We think [it’s] a really good fit for us. We know that it is a thrift-friendly town. But I think, for us, who we are is a natural mesh for San Antonio.”
“One of the things you do learn in thrift is, if you wait long enough, you will find it…” Martinez continued.
The company operates 37 stores in Colorado and two in New Mexico. Martinez said that Arc plans to expand to other Texas cities at some point in the future.
In addition to its thrifty finds, the company says it is one of the largest employers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with Martinez estimating that roughly 20% of its workforce are individuals who live with disabilities. The Texas site is adding 55 new jobs in San Antonio and hosts a donation center.
Find it: 5776 Stemmons Dr, San Antonio, TX 78238