9 THRIFT STORES NEAR ERIE, PA [2024]

Fall-themed glassware displayed at re.FOUND.ry in North East, Pennsylvania.

Do you love thrift, secondhand, resale or antique shopping? If so, you’ll love the town of North East, Pennsylvania. We’re conveniently located along Interstate 90 between Erie, PA, and the New York state border. Here, you’ll find many resale shops within a 2-mile stretch.

Whether you’re staying in a nearby vacation rental or hotel along Lake Erie, visiting our many local wineries, or passing by on I-90 from Buffalo to Cleveland, take a break and go shopping. Treat yourself to the joy of finding a treasure on our “Lake Erie Resale Trail.”

Parking is free at all of these locations. Are you ready to shop? The first three shops are located within steps of each other.

Address: 109 S. Lake St., North East, PA

Browse thousands of new, vintage, and second-hand items, many from estate buyouts. Discover lamps, end tables, collectibles like Limoges and Noritake, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, new and vintage jewelry, clothing, and shoes.

“Every day visitors compliment us on how clean and cozy the store is and how we have the best prices around,” says store owner Don Bova. “We get both local shopers and visitors from out of town. We often hear our store feels like taking a walk down memory lane.”

77 S. Pearl St., North East, Pennsylvania

Treva and her husband purchase items from estate sales and resell them. You’ll find a mix of furniture, functional and decorative items from all eras: antique, vintage, mid-century modern, and modern. Treva filled me in on the difference between these terms. Antiques are 100+ years old. Vintage items are 50 to 99 years old. Mid-century is generally from the middle of the 1900’s — so around the 1950s and 60s. Modern items are ones you would buy in more recent years.

11 Clinton St., North East, Pennsylvania
Hours: Wednesdays: 10-8, Thursdays to Sundays: 10-3.

Across the street from Treva’s, you can find highly discounted “new” items at Erie Bargains. The selection here is always changing. Products sold here are purchased from pallet stores. These products aren’t sold through normal channels because they’ve been discontinued or had label changes. You’ll find health and beauty products, housewares, seasonal decor, arts and crafts, pet items, books, toys, DVDs and more. You can also take a diamond painting class here on Wednesdays from 6-8 PM.

Parking Tip: Next, head north to the business district/shopping center of North East. Again, park once and walk to the next three shops: re.FOUND.ry, The Alley Shop, and Mark’s Coins. Street parking is usually available or you can park behind these shops in a parking lot.

14 S. Lake St., North East, Pennsylvania

This is a fun store to browse. It’s a mix of old and new items. You’ll find antique, vintage, salvage, collectibles, handcrafted goods from artisans, and the owner’s line of candles which have amazing scents. re.FOUND.ry is actually many little shops within a big shop since it’s a collection of multiple vendors selling through the shop. Re.FOUND.ry is conveniently located between The Bean Coffee House, my favorite coffee shop, and Michael’s Italian and Pizza (my go-to for pizza and catering) and Yori Wine Cellars (try the sparkling Aromella). Plan to shop, grab a coffee, eat lunch or dinner, and taste local wines all in one stop!

5 Mechanic Alley, North East, Pennsylvania
814-490-5638

Just a quick walk around the corner from re.FOUND.ry is The Alley Shop, a thrift and consignment store. But first, call to see if they’re open–this store has limited days and hours. The Alley Shop is a mix of new and “pre-loved” clothing, handbags, jewelry, art, glass, and seasonal decor.

9 E. Main St., North East, PA
814-725-0313

Mark’s is a quick walk from The Alley Shop or re.FOUND.ry. Coins are the main business here. You can buy a special piece to add to your collection, sell a collection you inherited or collected as a youngster, or find out how much a coin or collection is worth. But you can also find vintage items, glass, oil lamps, antiques, and vintage jewelry.

The next shop is less than a mile.

10659 W. Main Road, North East, PA
814-384-0780

Here’s one for the guys! Randy Peterson, owner of The Trading Post, calls it “mostly a man’s store”. He gets his inventory from buyouts and clean outs of houses. You’ll find a mix of new and gently used items for resale, many of them geared to men such as hunting and fishing gear and tools. Choose from hundreds of fishing flies, plus rods and tree stands. But he also sells children’s toys and kitchen items (because men need those too, right?). Need a landmark to find this place? It’s conveniently located near Valley Beer and the gun shop less than a mile (head west on Main St.) from re.found.ry, The Alley Shop, and Mark’s Coins.

49 Smedley St., North East, Pennsylvania
814-725-9804

Four N.I.N.E. is a community-focused thrift store with a mission to help those in need. Donations of clothing and household goods from the community are resold and the funds support community needs.

Finally, it’s back to the highway (if you must leave us) so you can catch the last shop below. On your way back to I-90, do not miss a chance to try ice cream from the Penn State Creamery sold at The Straw Hat Sundae Shoppe. I recommend the Bittersweet Mint, but Peachy Paterno is up there too!

5446 PA-89, North East, Pennsylvania
814-725-1603

This antique shop is located very close to the I-90 exit.

Happy shopping, thrifters and antique shoppers. Let me know what you think about your shopping adventures and if there’s anything else I should add.

About the Author:

Lynne Clement, is the owner of Clement’s Lake Erie Cottages–a provider of vacation rental homes in North East, Pennsylvania on Lake Erie. A marketing consultant and content writer by day, Lynne has been operating vacation rentals since before it was a trendy thing to do. Lynne enjoys meeting vacationers and local business owners and sharing all the fun things to do in North East, PA, and the greater Erie and Western NY areas. Would you like to have your business featured in a future blog? Reach out to Lynne at lakeeriecottages@gmail.com or text 814-566-4722.