This place gets mixed reviews but some people like it VERY much
Housing Works
202 E 77th St
(between 3rd Ave & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10021
Neighborhoods: Yorkville, Upper East Side
(212) 772-8461
(between 3rd Ave & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10021
Neighborhoods: Yorkville, Upper East Side
(212) 772-8461
- Nearest Transit Station:
-
77 St.68 St. - Hunter College86 St.
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 11 am - 7 pmSat 10 am - 6 pmSun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
- $$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for Housing Works
Review Highlights What's this?
28 reviews in English
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Review from Nate S.
Deer Park, NYMy first Thrift Shop experience was..
Really good. I've never thought about thrift store shopping before until my friend told me about this one. I live out in Long Island and their thrift shops are nowhere near as trendy. This place was def a "higher end" looking thrift store that I was shocked when I stepped in and completely forgot that these were all donated items.
The staff were very friendly. The place itself was extremely clean and well-organized. Even my friend, whose a thriftier says this was the cleanest shop he'e ever been to. I was able to find a pair of dark green Uniqlo pant/jeans for $5 and a Banana Republic button down shirt for $15, all with original tags. Items themselves were in excellent condition, and ranged from clothes, books, jewelry, and home decor. This place seems like it can be a hit or miss so I would suggest coming back frequently to check it out. I was very satisfied with this store and will def be back. -
Review from Susan L.
I've donated repeatedly to the Park Slope thrift store & the SoHo bookstore, and also once/each to the SoHo & Hell's Kitchen thrift stores. Without fail, everyone working at those stores has been VERY friendly and helpful. I do realize that most Housing Works employees are volunteers, BUT: if you choose to give your time to this type of endeavor, please at least *pretend* to be pleasant!
Today I donated some very pricey items (which were in "like-new" condition) at this location, and most of them were very heavy & bulky. My husband was parked at a hydrant almost a block away, and there was no way he could get closer to the store because that street is very narrow. He has a sprained ankle, which trumped my current back problems - so I struggled to carry one of the heavy items to the store, but the manager (a VERY unfriendly woman) said she couldn't let anyone help me carry the rest of the stuff (after which I struggled to carry several more heavy items). She also never even thanked me for my donations. Further; when I filled out the receipt, the young woman in that section was VERY unfriendly. What the heck is going on there?!
The only bright spot occurred when I was leaving, as I saw two women around my age exclaiming with delight over some of the things I'd donated. I couldn't resist telling them I'd (just) donated those things and I told them in which countries I'd bought each item (eons ago), which made them *really* excited and they started buying up lots of my stuff. It's great to know those things will be enjoyed by such nice women. -
Review from Phil H.
Dropped in here the other day to check out what they had in stock. It's a step up from the Goodwill store closer to where I live, but both are there for a good cause. Usually carries a nice selection of gently used clothes, jewelry, and furniture among other bric a bracks.
Mostly resembles a higher end thrift store. Sometimes you can catch special sales days, and clearances on summer and winter items.
Designer clothes can be found here, and some that look hardly ever worn. I saw a few with tags still on them! I also saw some quality furniture here, along with books, CD's, dishware, and other household items. Very organized and clean. You don't get that "ick" factor that you sometimes get at Goodwill or other thrift shops. Proceeds go for a good cause and it's always nice to donate gently used merchandise here.
But as with any second hand store it can be hit or miss. Best to drop in for multiple visits to get a feel of what might be in stock. -
Review from Amy A.
While staying at my brother's place just a few blocks from here, I stopped by once because I can't ever pass up a thrift store without peeking in. They had decent stuff at seemingly fair prices (for NYC, that is).
We were there just a day after a 50% off sale, which wouldn't had bothered me if they hadn't had left the signs up and then when it came time to pay I realized that there was no discount. Regardless, I still plopped down $10 for a nice, soft brown H&M corduroy jacket for the boyfriend who wore it to one of my best friend's wedding. He looked sharp, and that's worth more than $10! -
Review from Sara B.
In theory, I really like this place. I walk by everyday and have been inside a few times.
It's so nice and organized it's easy to forget it's a thrift shop. They always have on trend, antique furniture displays in the window, a fair amount of books, and a good clothing selection. I've never actually gotten something there, though....haven't quite found something I loved enough to buy. It's sort of the opposite of my experience with the Goodwill down the street. There, I hate 99% of the stuff, but always seem to find a couple items I really love. At Housing Works, I really like most of the stuff, just haven't found anything special yet.
I'm giving it 4 stars mostly for its potential. -
Review from Angie K.
Brooklyn, NYYou know you're in trouble when you purchase a Groupon ($20 for $40 worth of clothing, furniture, and accessories) and you choose the one Housing Works location that has absolutely nothing that you would be remotely interested in buying... and the Groupon expires that day. That's what happened to me a while back, and as I gaze sadly at the two blazers and book that I had been forced to buy but never wore/read, I remember the first and last time I went to Housing Works before a Saturday morning class. Yet I respect their mission, and don't regret the purchases I made because it's going to an excellent cause.
I've been to a couple of thrift shops in the past, and usually head straight to the stacks of books before I sift through the clothes- if they have books. This Housing Works location did, but to my disappointment, there was only one shelf of books with titles that simply did not catch my eye- maybe all of the best selections are at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe? Abandoning the shelf, I wandered over to the clothes...which simply weren't my style as a woman in my late twenties. There were a lot of blazers, button-down shirts, and granny-style dresses that I would never dream of wearing (no offense to grannys worldwide). In desperation, I bought two blazers and a book on leadership. Why couldn't I have used my Groupon at any other Housing Works? Because it was specific to that location only.
Perhaps I may have gone on an off-day, or off-weekend, based on some of the rave reviews of other Housing Works locations, where I might consider going to in the future.Or maybe it's only this location that's so-so. Or maybe I'm just picky. Either way, I won't find out by going back, but that's just me- I do recommend checking it out if you love thrift stores, and might be able to find a gold mine somewhere in there. This location and I just simply did not connect. -
Review from Mabel W.
Forest Hills, NYI didn't really find anything that I love in here. All their clothes and furniture are in great condition but for a place that has so much space, their wasn't much to look at.
I like that they had a range of clothing sizes, usually you see a lot of small sizes. I'll come back and check out what else they have to offer.
On the plus side, I did pick up a few good reads for the summer. -
Review from Lindsay K.
New York, NYI usually stick to writing food and drink reviews, but I just had to comment on the beast that is Housing Works.
This is the most over priced thrift store I've ever seen. Selling stained, ripped old couches for hundreds of dollars, broken shoes for $20, and used and worn out jeans for $40 is a rip off worthy of Yelping about. The salespeople are all incredibly rude and hate being there. I've never seen so many cocky 20-somethings roll their eyes and complain. If you don't want to work there, I'm sure you can find some other way of fulfilling your hipster life-style goals.
Stay away from Housing Works unless you feel the need to throw away money on over priced used crap. -
Review from Samantha S.
New York, NYThe clothes are in very nice condition, but nothing is cheap and everything's a small size (consider the neighborhood, as with all thrifting).
The housewares all seemed awful, unless you like irony with your clock radios, but the furniture is just excellent--well made and in good shape.
Books are a bright spot. An oversized book in nice condition seemed like a steal at $5, an even better deal when it rang up at $1. Ours is not to wonder why; ours is but to do and buy. -
Review from Rowena Y.
Of all the locations, this place is by far the cleanest and most organized Housing Works location I've visited so far. Donated clothes are neatly hung on the right hand side of the store in open closets. There are 3 or 4 dressing rooms with curtains and mirrors. Shoes are neatly displayed on shoe racks. There are also a lot of random artwork that you can purchase at a steal. Women's clothes are in the front and men's are in the back. Staff is friendly as well. -
Review from Rebecca H.
Providence, RIWhen it comes to thrifting, I have a dangerously addictive personality. And Housing Works is my newest drug of choice. That there are more than a dozen of these glorious stores throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn--and so far, I've explored only two!--offers a veritable cornucopia of places to get my fix.
This particular Housing Works gets my vote for best of the couple that I've seen so far (I've also visited the Hell's Kitchen store, which was not bad - but definitely not the winner). I go mainly for the clothes, though you can find beautiful items for the home or office here as well. The selection is plentiful and there are many exciting designer labels in the racks, just waiting to be unearthed. The space is bright, clean and inviting, with all kinds of unique items on hangers, atop tables and tucked into quaint wooden shelves against the walls--I daresay that it's Anthropologie-esque.
The prices don't rival Salvation Army, but then again, the selection and the surroundings are far more pleasant. There's high thrift and low thrift. Both have their place in my world, and Housing Works qualifies as high thrift. Do keep a watchful eye for imperfections in the pieces that you find, however. While brand name cache exists in spades, you still have to contend with permanent stains, holes and missing bits: a belt here, a button there. I was a bit surprised at the regularity with which I saw problems like these.
Provided you don't mind exercising a little vigilance during your treasure hunt, the undaunted reap some fabulous rewards here. I came away from my Upper East Side adventure with a vintage-inspired LBD; a sheer black button-down blouse; and a stunning winter coat with a seriously dramatic fold-over collar. These three items altogether were less than $150; the coat alone looks like it costs double that amount.
Since returning home, I've had a chance to research some of the other Housing Works locations in Manhattan, and noticed some excellent reviews of the TriBeCa store. It's already bookmarked for my next NYC trip. I may start experiencing signs of withdrawal before then...but there are always live online auctions happening on their web site. Brilliant!
If you're like me and love regular injections of quality beauty in your life (and also, like me, don't want to sell a kidney in order to have it!), you will enjoy seeing what Housing Works has to offer. Dive right in! -
Review from Jess P.
I pass by this store on my walk home from the train every single day, so it's very hard not to stop in. I haven't bought clothing here, but I can say that the furniture selection is pretty great, and pieces never usually stay in the store very long. The books and DVDs are decent (snagged complete Seasons 1 & 2 of "Lost" for $20 total, woo). And I agree that some of the housewares are bizarre, but it really depends on your taste; I personally love that stuff. I've also found neutral, cheap but good quality wine glasses here. Really good deals on everything, and of course being close to home is a plus, for both shopping and donating.
The only negative I've noticed is that the staff is not the friendliest, and I've often been rung up without even a hello (or always initiated by me). But maybe that's just NYC... -
Review from Jess M.
New York, NY
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