Alright friends, let’s talk Value Village. It’s not my top choice for thrifting from an ethical, values and pricing standpoint but sometimes you just gotta focus on other priorities. The bang for your buck when it comes to variety and stock turnover, as well as the flexibility of hours is what prevents me from swearing off Value Village entirely. Plus if you shop the system strategically (ie only shopping when you have a coupon, subscribe to their Club emails so you know when there are sales) then you can bring the cost back down to something somewhat reasonable for a thrift store. Plus honestly, so many people donate to Value Village. You might miss out on a lot of good finds!
For more wholesome thrifting: The best thrift stores in Calgary that aren’t Value Village
There are a total of 6 Value Villages in Calgary! 6!! Typically they say that the wealthier areas produce the best second-hand goods and well… they aren’t wrong. Without further ado, here are the best Value Villages in Calgary (**always with the caveat that we are overlooking the downfalls of Value Village as an institution**).
First, the TLDR. Don’t say I wasted your time.
For more tips (and quite frankly, to help increase my website’s engagement rate) – please, keep scrolling!
Related: A complete list of online thrift stores in Canada
Value Village (Southland Crossing Center)
Address: 9737 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary
Congrats to the Southlands Value Village for making top of the list! It’s one of the newer Value Village locations in Calgary, which means it often gets some of the coolest items first. The store is really big, so it doesn’t feel too crowded when you’re looking around. Even though its big they do a decent job keeping everything organized. Because this location is a bit out of the way, it seems to be a bit less busy than the other locations.
Value Village (Chinook)
Address: 104 58 Ave SE, Calgary
The Value Village near Chinook is *almost* at the top of the list for the best Value Village in Calgary. It’s a crowd-favourite and can get pretty busy. But there’s a pretty high turnover of product. Parking sometimes takes a bit of extra effort but if you park at the back it’s easier to get in and out.
Tip: WorldServe Thrift and Goodwill are just across the street making this a good one if you are hitting up multiple thrift stores in one day
Value Village (Shawnessy Shopping Center)
Address: 305 Shawville Blvd SE Unit #D305, Calgary
The Value Village at Shawnessy stands out for being really organized and clean. It’s a big store, but everything is laid out well, making it easy to find what you need. There’s usually a pretty good selection of kids’ clothes. The staff do a good job keeping everything nice, and even though prices might be a bit higher here (as with all Value Villages) it’s worth it for the quality and the shopping experience. Definitely a place to visit again.
Value Village (Silver Springs)
Address: 5720 Silver Springs Blvd NW Suite #28, Calgary
The Value Village on Silver Springs might not top the list for the best Value Village in Calgary, but it’s….not bad. Especially if you’re looking for toys. It’s a bit smaller than other stores, making it less crowded and easier to look around. Finding parking can be tricky. I’ve found some good scores here, perhaps because of the neighbourhoods that donate here. It’s worth checking if you are in the area.
Value Village (Northeast Calgary)
Address: 3405 34 St NE, Calgary
The Value Village in Northeast Calgary is a little rough around the edges. The store itself tends to be messier and not as organized as other places, especially where the toys are. I think people might use the toy aisle as free babysitting while they shop. It’s not really the best spot compared to other Value Village locations in Calgary.
Tip: If you’re looking for a neater and cleaner shopping experience, you might want to try MCC Thrift or Salvation Army nearby instead.
Value Village (Sage Hill Plaza)
Address: 50 Sage Hill Plaza NW, Calgary
The Value Village in Sage Hill Plaza is at the bottom of this list for the best Value Village in Calgary, buuuut it’s still pretty new, so it’s hard to judge it completely. Pros so far: it’s clean, not too crowded, and the store isn’t too big, which makes shopping there pretty easy and not overwhelming. It’s definitely worth checking out, especially if you prefer a more laid-back thrifting experience.
Bonus: Head to the Airdrie Value Village
Even though it’s not exactly in Calgary, the Value Village in Airdrie is worth the 30-minute trip. Though it’s a bit smaller compared to the ones in town, it has brightly-lit and well-stocked. Definitely a gem where you can hunt for some great thrifted finds.
Value Village Tips
- Sign up for the Super Savers Club. Seriously, these are the only marketing emails that I don’t instantly archive because it has deals that I actually care about #sponsored (haha, just kidding)
- Tuesday is Senior’s Day. So if you are a senior, congrats! If you aren’t, I would pick another day to go as it can get quite busy. Or do what I do and go in the evenings. This competitive crowd isn’t staying out past 7pm.
- Inspect every item carefully for stains and breaks because the employees surely haven’t before placing them on the floor.
- Keep a small bag of donateables in your car so if there’s no Super Savers Club promotion running you can donate and get a 20% off coupon before shopping.
- Dress in layers with your base layer being exceptionally minimal. This helps with quick shopping aisle try-ons because there are no change rooms anymore (RIP).
- Keep your receipts for clothing items and be diligent about exchanges! You have 14 days to bring things back that don’t work in exchange for something else.
Final thoughts
After the Tour de Value Villages of Calgary, we’ve seen the good, the not-so-great, and the average. While Value Village is not our most favourite place to thrift, we wouldn’t judge anyone for shopping there. Remember to use your coupons wisely and always, always return clothes that don’t fit. Happy thrifting!
