Trendy Thrifty Kitty boutique celebrates one year in business.
It was just a year ago when a new boutique shopping experience landed in Alameda’s West End. It has become a destination for thrift and style conscious shoppers of all sorts. The Thrifty Kitty opened its doors July 1, 2022, with a mission to support the work of the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter. After opening and working through the COVID confusion, the staff and volunteers were thrilled to celebrate their first birthday on July 4th.
After years of home detention and isolation, folks are anxious to get out of their jammies and fuzzy slippers and back into the world. They want something stylish… but on a budget; a change of home environment with flair… not financial stress. Call it what you like: thrifting, rag-picking, chasing vintage, yard sailing; rehoming has become a part of the zeitgeist of our time. With a looming recession and increased awareness of recycling, reuse, and creative upcycling to reduce our landfills, the thrill of the thrift has become a cross-generational pursuit. Worn by celebrities and Gen-Z, sold at high-end shops, and glamorized on social media, secondhand fashion has become a creative, antidote to fast fashion and conspicuous consumption. And at the Thrifty Kitty, shoppers get a double dose of good by knowing their purchase helps care for and rehome animals in need.
“Our mission to rehome animals sparked our passion to create a vibrant space to rehome clothing, artwork, and household items, with donations and staffing, largely depending on our loyal cadre of volunteers,” says John Lipp, CEO of FAAS. According to store manager, Rob Lee, “We carefully curate donated items, and style the merchandise like a high-end boutique, which has made us a Bay Area go-to for creative shopping, and added another important revenue stream for FAAS.”
The Thrifty Kitty is open Wednesday through Friday from noon until 5 p.m., and on weekends they are open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Of course, four-legged shoppers get special treats. Two-legged shoppers are encouraged to share their great finds on Facebook and Instagram, and folks wishing to donate items can easily make an appointment through the website. You can find them at 1509 Webster St., near the intersection with Santa Clara Avenue, or find them online at www.theThriftyKitty.org.