Calgary’s Fun 58th Ave SW Thrifting Corridor
Do you know that 58th Ave SW is Calgary’s “Thrifting Corridor?” And that it is located within walking distance of Chinook Centre (the City’s largest indoor shopping mall) and the Chinook LRT station. And bonus all the stores have lots of free parking.
Yep, just a 5-minute walk north from the Chinook LRT Station at 61st Ave, along 1a St SW to 58th Ave is where you will find three large thrift stores – Salvation Army, World of Thrift, and Value Village. There is also a Goodwill store at Macleod Trail and 57th Ave SW (just 5 minutes away) and an outlier store – THRIFTOPIA (214 - 62 Ave SE just southeast of the Chinook Station.)
The Salvation Army, one of its largest in the city offers a wide array of items from fashions to artwork. It has a large book section and near the checkout is a large area with display cases full of higher end items. The artworks wrap around almost the entire store at the top of the display shelves.
Next door is the World of Thrift, more “boutique-like” with curated items nicely displayed. I am always impressed by the wall of framed artworks and the quality of the housewares and furniture. It too has good book section and the prices for the clothing are sone of the best in the city. I have stocked up on golf shirts this winter for the summer. They also have a great online shopping website https://worldservethriftstore.ca/calgary-store/
Across the street is a huge Value Village (VV) store, with its entrance on the side of warehouse complex facing the LRT tracks. It is your typical VV, with prices higher than the other stores. It also doesn’t have the “giving profits from sales” to charity that you expect with thrift stores, but it is the department store of thrifting, with huge furniture, books, clothing, household goods and children’s toy areas.
Nearby Stores
Walk east along 58th Ave on the west side of Mcleod Trail between 56th and 57th Ave SW and hidden behind the Goodwill Donation Centre that faces Macleod Trail is their retail store. It is a good size and well curated, when I was last there the art section had lots of interesting artworks, some very large. Its focus is clothing with probably 60% of the store devoted to clothing.
THRIFTOPIA on 62 Ave SE, between Centre and 2nd St SE (there is no 1st ST SE) is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Chinook LRT station depending on if you have to wait for a train.
Places To Eat & Drink
Of course, you will work up a thirst and likely want to grab a bite to eat at some point on your thrifting adventure. I recommend Prairie Dog Brewing (58th Ave and Centre Street), just across the street from Value Village.
Ask to see “Clifford” the big red BBQ pit. Clifford is a 6700lb smoker/BBQ pit constructed in Mesquite, Texas and is Canada’s largest BBQ pit. It has the capacity to smoke 1,800 lbs of meat using BC Birchwood.
This place is serious about its BBQ meat! And its beer!
If you love diners, you will love REDS located on 58th Ave and 2nd Street SE, just a 7 minute walk from Value Village or World of Thrift. You could even start your thrifting adventure at REDS and end it at Prairie Dog.
Last Word
Depending on how much you are into thrifting, Calgary’s 58th Ave experience could last a few hours – or an entire day. Note: Hours vary from store to store, with the World of Thrift closed on Sundays so best to check before you go.
If you like this blog, you might like these also:
London Ontario: The Goodwill City!
7 days of thrifting in Vancouver
Berlin: Humana Thrift Store Gone Wild?