Bargain hunters and thrift aficionados in San Antonio rejoice: A thrift store chain, which self identifies as the “best thrift store in the USA,” is opening its very first San Antonio location in just days. The Alamo City loves a bargain, and a new name has just entered the chat.
You’d be hard pressed to find a local in this city who doesn’t have a gatekept list of favorite thrift stores on far flung edges or tucked away shopping centers in San Antonio. But a lot of those names can start to feel repetitive – if not a little frustrating when trying to remember which Goodwill off U.S. 281 had all the good finds. But Red White & Blue Thrift Stores is joining the herd and may be bringing some special deals.
“Red White & Blue Thrift Stores have been a trusted destination for second-hand shopping for over 60 years, offering high-quality apparel, home furnishings, and more at affordable prices,” a company spokesperson told MySA back in December when confirming construction at the upcoming Walzem Road location was wrapping up.
Now, we have an official grand opening date. At 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, Red White & Blue’s first San Antonio location will open its doors at 5722 Walzem Road.
“We’ve been thrilled by the warm reception to our recent store openings in Houston and Arlington, and we’re excited to bring thousands of fresh items every day to San Antonio with our new store opening in 2026,” the spokesperson said.
It couldn’t be opening at a better time, either. The company just announced its new colored tag system for snatching even bigger deals, discounting items by as much as 75% (peach tag) or as little as 25% (blue tag).
This first foray into San Antonio from Red White & Blue Thrift is a welcome addition to the stretch of Walzem Road east of I-35, near Roosevelt High School, on the Northeast Side of San Antonio. It’s a bit of a new supreme rising situation (if you know you know) as the store is replacing an old Goodwill that shuttered a couple of years ago.
So, we’re nixing one beloved — though sometimes debated — chain for San Antonio’s first endeavor into a different national competitor. This new discount retailer is different from other San Antonio staples, though. Red White & Blue Thrift is openly marketed as for-profit, while many, if not all, of San Antonio’s thrift brands are nonprofits serving the community.
“With locations nationwide, our stores make it easy to shop smart, save money, and support a more sustainable way of living. Every visit brings new finds and helps create a positive impact in the communities we serve,” the company spokesperson said.
The new 45,000 square-foot digs could open up a whole new world of shoportunnities in San Antonio. After all, the company has 29 stores across 11 states from the East Coast down to Florida and over to California.