American Thrift opens new store

Little York at Hardy


Forget everything you thought you knew about thrift stores. American Thrift is revolutionizing the business with nicer stores, lower prices, wider selection, and better customer service than can be found elsewhere.

This Friday, American Thrift will branch out from its original location on Gears Road. On the 18th, their new store will open on Little York just east of the Hardy Toll Road next to Seller’s Bros.

The grand opening of this new store will make it even easier for Aldine residents to snag the great deals. “Ten to 15% of our customers are from this area,” said general manager Tacho Martinez. With few stores of this type in the neighborhood, American Thrift hopes to benefit the community.

As soon as customers enter the doors, they can see the difference. The stores, both of which used to be former Weiner’s, are clean and well organized.

While they shop, customers can enjoy a cup of complimentary coffee. And if husbands or children don’t feel like shopping, they can watch one of the store’s four TVs which are all tuned to something different: news; cartoons for the kids; Lifetime, for the ladies; and sports.

“We have a customer who comes in every Sunday with is wife and sits down in front of the TV while his wife shops for three hours,” Martinez said.

Before American Thrift opened, the owners shopped other thrift stores to see what they offered and then improve the concept for their own store. “We went over and beyond and did 100% better,” Martinez said.

With 20,000 square feet, the store will offer 200,000 items. Finding just what you are looking for is easy. Clothes are sorted by size, type, and color. “If you are looking for a short sleeve, yellow, ladies shirt in small, you can go right to that section,” Martinez explained.

The store offers a great selection at low prices. A Liz Claiborne shirt sells for just $3.99. There are several shirts on the racks from Croft & Barrow and Abercrombie & Fitch. A Structure shirt is priced at only $5.99. A new pair of shoes with the tags sold for $4.99.

All the items are clean and in style.

In addition to clothes, American Thrift offers toys, books, electronics, household items, jewelry and more. They offer wedding dresses for $29.99 and Quinceañeras /prom dresses starting at $8.99. A car seat is just $4.99.
New merchandise arrives daily. “Every day we receive a truckload of merchandise with 10,000 items,” Martinez said.

American Thrift created a system that keeps merchandise circulating. That way, customers don’t have to sort through the same items each visit to find what’s new. As part of this system, the stores offer daily specials. On Monday, a tag color is chosen to be on sale for 99¢ Monday through Wednesday. On Thursday through Sunday, a certain tag color is offered at 50% off.

As the new American Thrift on Little York opens, the original on Gears Road prepares for their one year anniversary in August. The store plans to continue branching out with a new store every year.

Martinez said, “Our goal is, through doing business right, to satisfy each and every customer as well as growing through the years.”