Thrift Directory

upcycle | recycle | repair | restore

The EcoConcern thrift directory is a starting point for mapping the circular economy around campus. It highlights thrift stores, campus closets, repair cafés, makerspaces, and other locations that support circular living through reuse and repair. Over time this directory will grow through community submissions and partnerships — helping you save money and reduce waste with upcycle ideas and plans.

Look at SDG 12 for more information on that Sustainable Development Goal.

Use the map and listings below to discover where you can thrift, repair, and build with reused materials. If you know of a thrift store, repair shop, or makerspace that should be included, you can submit it directly using the form on this page.

If you’re looking for a good cup of coffee or some tea, you should check out our EcoCafé sister site for our take on sustainable, planet-friendly cafés. These folks care about more than just making a great cup of coffee.

Browse the thrift & repair map

The map shows locations that are part of the EcoConcern circular economy hub. Each related page includes a name, address, and short description of how the location supports thrift, repair, or reuse. As you explore the map, consider how these places might fit into your daily routines — for example, a repair café on your way to class or a thrift store near your usual bus stop.

When you submit a new location, the EcoConcern team reviews the information for clarity and alignment with the mission of the directory. Approved locations are published to the map so that other students and community members can find them easily.

Types of locations in the directory

Thrift and resale shops

These locations offer secondhand clothing, furniture, books, and household items. Some are campus-based closets or student initiatives; others are community thrift stores and social enterprises. They help keep usable items in circulation and support more affordable access to essentials.

Repair cafés and workshops

Repair cafés, bike co-ops, and electronics workshops invite people to bring broken items and learn how to fix them. Volunteers and staff provide tools, guidance, and encouragement. These spaces build practical skills while preventing premature replacement.

Makerspaces and fabrication labs

Makerspaces and fabrication labs provide tools and support for prototyping, upcycling, and creative reuse. They may be located on campus or in the community. In the directory, they are highlighted when they actively support projects that use reclaimed materials or focus on repair.

Submit a listing to the thrift, repair, or makerspace directory

The EcoConcern directory is designed to be community-powered. If you know of a location that supports circular living — whether it is a small neighborhood thrift shop, a student-run repair club, or a long-standing makerspace — you can submit a listing using this form. Clear, detailed submissions make it easier to review and publish your suggestion.

Before submitting, please check whether the location already appears on the map. If it does, you can email the EcoConcern team to suggest edits rather than creating a duplicate entry. For new locations, share as much information as you can about the services offered, hours, and how students or community members can get involved.

Using the directory for circular planning

The thrift and repair directory is not just a list of places; it is a tool for planning circular habits. Students can use it to design a thrift-first dorm setup, find a trusted place to repair electronics, or locate a makerspace for class projects. Faculty and staff can use it to connect coursework and co-curricular programs to real sites of circular practice.

For example, an instructor might design an assignment that asks students to map the life cycle of a single item purchased or repaired through directory locations. A student organization might host a“thrift tour” that visits multiple shops in one afternoon. A campus sustainability office might partner with a repair café to host a recurring fix-it event. The directory brings these possibilities into one shared view.

To explore broader learning resources connected to the directory, visit circular resources or read circular stories that highlight how people are already using thrift and repair options in their lives.

• Pick one regular purchase in your life and identify a directory option that could replace it.
• Plan one “repair first” action this semester — a laptop, bike, or clothing item to fix instead of replace.
• Sketch an assignment, club event, or community project that uses three locations from the map.

Digging deeper into circular living

Circular living is a mindset as much as a set of actions. It asks us to notice the stories behind our stuff: who made it, how long it is likely to last, what it is made from, and what will happen to it when we are done. Thrift, repair, and reuse become ways to honor the work, materials, and energy that have already been invested.

When communities adopt circular habits at scale, they reduce waste, create local jobs, and strengthen social connections. A repair café is not just a technical space; it is a place where neighbors meet and skills move between generations. A thrift store is not only a retail site; it is a gateway into more affordable housing, education, and creative expression.

An upcycle project is not only a craft; it is proof that imagination can change how we see value in the things around us.

EcoConcern is designed to make these connections visible. As the SDG Campus grows, this hub can host courses, pop-up events, research projects, and storytelling series that make the circular economy feel less like a distant policy debate and more like a practical, hopeful part of daily life. The more examples we collect, the clearer it becomes that small circular choices really do add up.