Where to Take The Excess: Santa Barbara Edition, pt. 1

While New Yorkers shivered under their down comforters this Christmas season, I was applying sunblock to the kids and hanging out on Goleta Beach with my in-laws, wondering why I didn't bring some tank tops with me.

Yes: I hate me, too.

Before giving myself over to the lazy luxury of a winter vacation in Southern California, however, I did my homework and found superb places to dump your excess clothing, housewares, toys, and building materials.

Today's Shop: Alpha Thrift

At least one generation of Goleta and Santa Barbara adolescents remembers when being called an "Alpha" was not a compliment ("Hail, future Fortune 500 CEO!") but a blood-boiling insult. For 60 years, Alpha's mission has been to educate and support the developmentally disabled and their families. (Let's just finish this paragraph by stating the obvious: Mean kids suck.)

For at least a couple decades, Alpha Thrift has held the crown as Best Thrift in Goleta, California. (Doubtful? Google "Best Thrift in Goleta" and see what you get.) Go in to one of their two shops on Hollister Avenue, and you'll be won over, too. Clean, well-organized, with minimal thrift store stinkiness!


To me, it looks like Santa Barbara Paseo Nuevo shoppers have nowhere to wear their fab high-end clothes, so they donate them, with original tags, so that you can get them from Alpha for two bucks. Yep, two bucks: look for happy face stamps on the price tags, and you'll be happy, too.

If you're not careful, Alpha Thrift will not help you clear out your mess, but you can swap your stuff for new--and better--stuff on the cheap, which is also satisfying.

Alpha Thrift sells and accepts donations of the following:
Clothes, Videos/DVDs, Rugs, Tools, Accessories, Books, Jewelry, Albums, Stereos, Furniture, Paintings, Linens, Shoes, Bedding, Electronic Equipment

According to their web site, they don't want the following:
Beds, Built In Cabinets, Text Books, Chemicals, Curtain Rods, Encyclopedias, Exercise Equipment, Ping Pong Tables, Lateral File Cabinets, Car Batteries, Large Desks, Large Outdoor Plastic Toys, Unframed Glass/Mirrors, Magazines, Built-in Appliances, Mattresses, Bed Frames/Headboards, Older CRT Televisions and Computer Monitors

And they pick up! So clean up and call (805) 964-1123

Or drop by one of their 3 Santa Barbara locations:

Alpha Thrift
5624 Hollister Ave and 5949 Hollister Ave.
Goleta, CA 93111

700 N. Milpas
Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Copyright 2014, Tanya Monier