Fiona Gaze, the famous writer and reporter publishes a lovely article about The Prague Thrift Store in the New York Times

Beer can already be found for less than a euro a half-liter in Prague, and many of the city’s attractions are free, but now it’s even easier to find a good deal here: the city has become home to a true thrift shop, where you can root out buried bargains as well as find a home for items cluttering your closet or suitcase.

Prague Thrift Store, in the trendy Vinohrady neighborhood, is crammed near to overflowing with quality secondhand goods. The thrift store also supports a number of local charities, including a homeless shelter and a program for drug-addicted youth, filling a need for accessible, small-scale philanthropy.

Opened a year ago by the husband-and-wife team Thomas and Barbara Szende, the shop was inspired by Ms. Szende’s love of thrift stores, which she discovered after she emigrated from her native Hungary to the United States. The two relocated to Prague and, noticing the lack of Western-style thrift shops, saw an opportunity.

“We wanted to create a store that, in addition to providing low-cost, quality goods, would benefit certain charities, as well as providing emphasis on the idea of reduce-reuse-recycle,” Ms. Szende said. While some secondhand shops do exist in the city, they tend to stick to clothing. But Prague Thrift Store, Ms. Szende said, offers “toys, clothing, electronic equipment, antiques, souvenirs, porcelain and crystal.”

With an English-speaking staff and user-friendly services like free pick-up of donations and the promise of a free beer for purchases of 300 koruna or more (or two beers as of 500 koruna), the shop has gotten an enthusiastic reception from locals and visitors alike.

Whether you’re looking for some unique last-minute holiday shopping or perhaps looking to unload a discreetly unwanted gift, Prague Thrift Store’s organized chaos will have a solution. 

Click here to read the article on the New York Times