Teen Challenge Thrift Store

I read one review which was pretty condescending, that had a comment more or less like this: «all the high ratings are from women who buy clothes here».
I’m a woman and I didn’t buy clothes here. I bought a gorgeous couch for my new apartment. I’m a transplant from Southern California and I needed a decent kitchen table or a futon. One of the staff saw my friend and I looking at a futon which looked ok but a little on the worn side; the guy was a sweetheart and told me that any delivery fee can be worked out should I buy the couch. He had been in the process of decorating a kitchen table that had us pretty much in awe of and the guy was like «thanks I only worked with what I had!» And trust me, this guy must have taken a leaf out of Scarlett O’Hara’s book because what he had was enough.
Then I found my future couch. Forest green and beyond comfortable! Clean and well kept and at a price that I knew if I didn’t buy it then I’ll never find it’s equal. Delivery guy popped out of nowhere, we agreed on a reasonable price and bam! My living room feels like a home.
This place seems to be like any thrift store: if you find something amazing then take it. I had no idea that the Teen Challenge was for rehabilitation and it made me feel good to have spent my money here than anywhere else. I don’t know of anyone else’s experience but the fact that some make it more personal by taking shots at their choice of radio station seems to be pretty petty. I particularly didn’t care for the station either but it didn’t detract from my goal.
Thank you to this store for helping me out big time! I hope I can help you all again in the near future!!!

This is a great organization supporting those suffering in addiction, and transforming lives in the name of Jesus! Though not convenient, I like to donate my stuff there to support their ministry.

Squeezed into several storefronts in Midtown San Jose is this little shop. The Teen Challenge Thrift Store falls into the category that most do: good prices, but may not have what you need, so come look anyway.
Being a Teen Challenge supporter, and having been to their store in Concord many times, I wanted to visit this one. It’s much smaller, and therefore has fewer items for sale. Roughly ¹⁄₃ of it is clothing, another ¹⁄₃ is furniture. Prices are quite low. They had a few shelves of records for sale, and I picked up several LPs and 45s ($ 1 for all; the checkout girl said that «they don’t move too fast.») Lots of VHS; hmmmmmm. .. On the one hand they can’t sell what’s not donated to them. On the other hand, there’s not much square footage to put much more, and they’re paying Silicon Valley rents (high).
For many people, including me, one question is where the profits go. I have somewhat in-​depth knowledge of this non-​profit. Teen Challenge started with helping teens from the street gangs of Brooklyn NY get off drugs and get their lives straight, and spread from there. Most people in the program are over 21. I have not only read the books about the program, including the «how it all began» book («The Cross And The Switchblade», D. Wilkerson), but I know people who graduated from the program, clean and sober and enjoying life, and they are living proof that it WORKS. The customer service people here are part of the program, talk to them if you need more info.
If you’re into recycling, in this case using what others have cast off, then the Teen Challenge store could have the gems you’re looking for.

I was in this store yesterday. Everyone was nice and said hello. Everything is well organized. Some items are very nice. They clearly need more donations. This nonprofit organization is very helpful for the kids they work with. As a shopper, a positive approach, kind word goes a long way. I bought some cute stationery. Encourage your friends to donate items in good shape or cash.

I give to this thrift store because they do ‘God’s work’ in helping young people with drug and drinking issues.
Not sure why they accept and put out VERY worn (and sometimes dirty with BO, ripped/​stained) clothing. I guess they are desperate for things to sell, as a lot of the stuff is in pretty bad shape to be truthful.
I’d say 90% of their stuff is in pretty rough condition-​and like 20 years old (really dated, unfashionable stuff and not ‘vintage’). But the neighborhood is poor and for $ 1, old jeans or shoes is a bargain on a limited income.
They do not advertise or use social media of any kind (and they should) to get the word out about what they do and who it is for.
Many of the workers (volunteers?) sit around and talk, or fold and arrange the contents of the store. It IS very neat for the most part and organized.
TC should advertise to ‘ask’ for clothing and donations-​and use social media (like Craigslist) to reach out for more and better donations. But it is probably manged and run by addicts with limited resources and money.
Some of the prices are stupid-​high for ‘old stuff’ and they use their computer (ie: Ebay) to ‘price’ higher end items-​recently a RADO watch for $ 149???
Now, WHO is going to come into that store with that kind of money?
I’ve seen older GShock and Swatch watches in their case for $ 49.99-a JOKE! The watches don’t run and they unfortunately use the prices from Ebay like a bible. Weeks later, the watches are STILL in the case-​and not worth what they are asking.
The neighborhood is quite poor-​Burbank-​which is why much of the stuff has seen better days.
Their prices are not too consistent, depending on who is pricing and who is at the register at the time. They have ‘specials’ (2 for 1, ½ price days) on a white board.
Yes, they do play Christian music, which helps these recovering addicts get back on track and have something positive in their lives. Many ‘work’ at the store to ‘recover’ and use the hours and experience to step up in the world.
I have found some nice items here, but you need to come in on a regular basis.
Note: CASH ONLY!!! And credit cards ONLY if items are over $ 100-​and that is a huge hassle. The cashier has to ‘call’ someone at the main area while they complete the transaction.
They recently opened a new ’boutique’ down on Bascom-​which I visited. It is supposed to be ‘higher end’ but had really nothing of interest and again, high prices on ‘so so’ items (like better furniture)…just to pay the rent at that location.

They get one lousy star because they blast smarmy K-​LOVE Jesus rock on the radio. I find that extremely offensive (no, I’m not Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist), and considering the experience Georgianna had at the old Campbell location, it’s hypocritical as well. Of course that’s to be expected from any over-​the-​top born-​again paranoid pro-​Prop 8 types though now, isn’t it? Last time I was in there the lazy low-​life factor among the staff was off the charts. You know, the type who jump at the chance to feel empowered by exercising authority because it’s such a novelty for them. Like a sleazy apartment manager hacking away from a pack-​a-​day nicotine addiction.
So why, you may ask, would I even choose to drop money here? Because I know someone who grew up in another state and was in a TC program when he was younger and said they’re a good operation.
But that’s neither here nor there anymore. Since they’ve been at their new location on West San Carlos, I’ve yet to find anything worth buying. Indeed, I hardly find anything that interests me enough to pick it up and handle it. The Campbell store had so much more, particularly furniture, appliances and electronics.
As with so many of the non-​chain thrifts reviewed on Unilocal,the high star ratings for TC have been given by women shopping for clothes.
So I suppose if you’re shopping for women’s clothing, you should consider this place. If you’re looking for anything else, I offer this advice: «Move along, there’s nothing for you to see here.»

My mom really likes this place and if you’re lucky you’ll find something that you like. The reason why the the stars are so low is bec their customer service isn’t great (if you’re trying to get a hold of someone over the phone) I called about three times for someone to answer then I gave up and left a message. I called around 4 and the answer machine said they close at 5. My mom had something paid for and on hold and she didn’t have time to pick it up so I called to let them know she will definitely stop by the next day. No call back. I’m disappointed because all I needed was one answer to make sure it was okay and it wasn’t given to me. All I have to say is that there is no point in having a phone if you’re not guna answer or call back.

I am a DONOR and I encourage others to donate to this awesome charity.
I am so over GoodWill who stopped coming to homes to pick up heavy items like furniture. They told me to bring my item (like I own a moving van) and they would «consider» if it was good enough!
I have also used TC for moving and yard clean up. The kids are always curteous and prompt.

I like this thrift store mostly because the prices are reasonable. Some items at Goodwill and Savers are priced at almost retail store sale prices.
Teen Challenge has been really helpful to me as I look for props for my kid’s school play. They have even charged lower than marked prices when I buy a lot.
The down side is that they are a small store and selection is limited compared to the larger thrift stores in the area.

I agree with Rea C below, a lot of stuff is worn, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some hidden treasures! I’ve been a Teen Challenge fan for just over a year now and have gotten lots of awesome stuff (brand new work shoes for $ 1, Merona camel-​colored boots for $ 2, Ralph Lauren chamray shirt for $ 1). I pop in every other week or so for a bit of thrift store therapy, It pairs perfectly with my trips to the 99 cents store for some errands.
This thrift store is unique in the sense that its kind of like a flea market: you ignore the posted price signs and you ask the store manager/​assistant how much a particular item costs. It can vary (e.g some managers will give me clothes for a $ 1 and other $ 2) but for the most part, it is very reasonable and it goes to a good cause, so I don’t mind paying for the difference in price estimates.

not as good as service as I would have hoped. I nice furniture that I wanted to donate and when I called, they made me leave a voicemail. when I left the voice mail, got no response. I then waited a couple days and called back only to have the receptionsist sound very testy and rushed as she tried to rush me off the phone to leave a voicemail. Im sure this thrift store is a blessing to many but their service sucks when you need help to give away nice things.

Came in, and this place was huge but at first I thought it was a furniture store cuhs their clothes sections was so small! All the things looked old and not something I’d wear. Then found two decent sweaters! Decided that ill just see how much it was. Felt very awkward being the only one here and there was 3 guys… They were kind of just staring at me! Then I asked one of them for how much they were and he just looked at me and the sweater and said, «$ 2.» Well alright then! Can’t get any better than this! One was brand new from old navy and the other one was charter! I deducted a star cuhs of my awkward little run in… And maybe for a store like this I might’ve gotten ripped off just cuhs of the way I looked and he gave me a price by looking at me.

I’ve been coming here for a few months now. A lot of the stuff is worn out and I don’t find something every time. But when I do find something, boy is it a find!
I came in today and got 2 long skirts and a pair of moccasin-​like shoes all for $ 4!
Staff is very friendly and helpful.
⁴⁄₅ stars because a lot of the stuff is old/​worn-​out but everything else is as good as it gets :)

This location is closed. they have moved to 1897 w san carlos st in san jose. They posted the new address on the door. I will truly miss this location it was very close to my best friends house. The staff here were cool and very nice, they have great deals here especially on furniture and knickknacs. I have yet to visit the new location. I will update my review when I do. Hopefully soon :)

Just went to this thrift store today. They were having a killer deal where you can fill a bag with jeans for $ 5. I snagged a pair of Joe’s Jeans and Blue Cults, plus a bunch of others… all for less than 75 cents a pair!
The other clothing can seem expensive, especially when you’re paying $ 2.50 for a used shirt that would cost $ 4 new at Target. But maybe that’s just me.
The store is a decent size, the people are VERY friendly, and they have a huge furniture collection. I was visiting from out-​of-​town otherwise I would have looked.
The loss of star has mostly to do with bad business practices. They require a $ 25 minimum purchase to use a debit/​credit card, which is actually illegal to do. Thankfully I had cash, but my sister didn’t, and neither of us were anywhere near spending $ 25. That would have been frustrating to miss out on the jeans!
Overall, great place. They do an awesome thing for the community. Would definitely visit again.
Oh, and I’m very grateful I’m not any shorter than my 5’4″ stature or else it would have been VERY awkward to change in their «fitting rooms.» Just saying.

I’m giving this thrift store three stars, because I see so much potential in this place. It is in a great location, located on Winchester, near Campbell and the place is huge. I have been visiting this place a few times a month since early this year and so far, I have found some interesting finds. Among my finds were a super cute, solid wood rocking chair for $ 5 and an antique pillow, stitched with too die for antique lace for $ 2.
The biggest problem in this place is the lack of people working here. Well, let me take that back, what I mean is that what this place needs is more people who will work hard to clean and spruce the place up. Each time I’ve gone here, the items were always in disarray, the shoes section, even though they had some nice quality shoes, were all mixed up together and dirty. It’s like nobody working here bothers to fix things and put them in order. Everything is always left in a mess.
The large half of the store where they keep the furniture and books should really be cleaned and spruced up. I can see this place generating much more business if they arranged the furniture better and kept the areas clean and clutter free. It’s such a waste for this store to have to occupy such a large space in a great location and have nothing to show for inside. It’s my wish that the people running this place can truly realize the need for improvement and be able to find a way to make this place more attractive for shoppers looking for great finds and deals.

It’s always a mixed bag here. Sometimes there are some great things, sometimes not. But the prices are always great.
The staff isn’t overly helpful, but I don’t really expect stellar customer service when visiting thrift shops. I shop here mainly because it’s fun to look at all the cool (and in some cases, hideous) vintage furniture.
I did score a cool vintage rolling desk chair covered in green velvet for five bucks on the last visit– how awesome is that?

Wow I hated to read the review of the Mom with her 6 year old– Georgianna R. Thank you. Im so glad I read this before I donated all of my kids clothes and nursery items. I told my neighbor to donate to them a few weeks ago, but he could never reach them on the phone then when he did he said they were un happy to answer his questions.
Forget it. Ill stick to Salvation Army, or try to find a childrens shelter or womens shelter.

I’ve lived 2 streets over from this location since way back when it was Winchester Hardware store. (!!!) The reason I’m giving it 1 star is from our horrible experience today… Mind you, every toy, household & clothing donation coming out of my house, I’ve given to this organization since it opened. I have a daycare so I always liked checking here for kid stuff.
Today my 6 year old son bought a $ 2 super soaker toy with his own money. As soon as he got home, he tried it & realized the «pumper» was broken. I walked back with him to get an exchange for another toy…
And they said… sorry, no returns. But it’s broken! No returns, it’s our policy. Can he get store credit or pick something else out? No & no. But he bought it 10 minutes ago & it doesn’t work! Sorry, nothing we can do. Once you walk out the door, it’s yours, sorry.
Good grief, it’s a charity shop!!! This shop is given donations & relies on the goodwill of this community, yet we were shown no goodwill in return. No kindness or fair play for my 6 year old. (Tough luck kid!!)
Every single toy, book, & piece of clothing my son has grown out of was donated to this shop, yet, you won’t let him exchange this broken toy you sold him for something else…
It is unbelievable that they treated him that way – got ripped off by a «Christian» store. I was trembling I was so mad. We walked out with tears in our eyes. I was so bummed for him. I told the cashier before we left that we won’t ever donate our stuff here again & we won’t shop here again either. Didn’t matter to him one way or another…
You give good service, your customer will tell 5 friends. Give bad service, your customer will tell 50. (Screw over my 6 year kid, I’m going to tell 1,000.)

Wow Brian, i cant believe your first to review, i guess you did live down the street.
I was a little hesitant to add my review and possibly draw more attention to this place. As an ongoing mid-​century furniture hunter and college student i can never afford to buy the true iconic pieces but i treasure places that have great pieces and don’t even know. Teen Challenge is definitely one of those places. I bought a green streamline couch from the early 60’s for $ 10 and I’ve also bought an awesome mid century modern credenza for $ 20. Many of the items i have bought there or seen there i have also seen on craigslist for hundreds of dollars.
You have to check this place ALL THE TIME because the good stuff goes fast and they also have sale’s often where everything is half off. Check for those.
As much as i love this place, i hope no one reads this, because i want it all to myself. =)