Out of the Closet - Columbus — Local services in Columbus

I rate this five stars because of how special it is. I live in Toronto and when my friend and I visit Ohio we go there to look around because it is a thrift store, but mainly because it is a cool LGBTQIA2S+ friendly area. It is nice to know some of the staff is queer and it is so awesome that Americans can get free HIV testing at the clinic within. That is so important and a necessary service that should be free always. In terms of the atmosphere, I will not lie, it is a bit empty. But they have amazing deals (I got a flannel for a $1) and have a nice selection of leather goods and some decent long sleeved shirts. They had a grande piano last time I went, which was nice. They also have a water bottle refill station, but no public washroom, unfortunately. I have never encountered a bad employee, in fact, I had a very nice talk with a gentleman about what is going on in the States in general and abouy Canada. It was really nice. I got about ten pieces of clothing for $40 which was a steal, pretty much. Overall, I liked it. It is a little empty, but the...

I visited Out of the Closet Thrift Store, at 1230 N. High St. in the "Short North" neighborhood of Columbus, for my first time on 9-20-2023.

I have walked by that store many times while on my way to and from events at Stonewall Columbus, one block to the south, but I had never actually visited there until recently.

It had been fun to walk around Out of the Closet Thrift Store for thirty minutes or so and to see the many interesting items that they have for sale. Certainly, the items that they have for sale at that store will change every few days.

The woman behind the counter told me that 96% of their sales go directly to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s HIV/AIDS treatment and care programs worldwide.

Also available at the Columbus location of Out of the Closet Thrift Store are free HIV testing and a pharmacy.

If you are looking for some "one-of-a-kind" items and you also want to support a worthy cause, I recommend Out of the Closet...

My experience was not all that positive here. On the day I visited, staff was helpful and friendly. I purchased a chair however, that I didn’t know would be too big for my car at the time. They graciously held it longer than the amount of days they usually hold items for pickup, while I arranged for it to be picked up with a truck. One of the employees (Christian?) was very rude when he contacted me about having to come pick it up. He told me that I would not even receive store credit for the item if I brought the remaining pieces back & not pick up the chair. I contacted the store later that day to say that I would definitely be coming to pick it up, and confirmed this with the same employee. Later that day, I spoke with the manager who informed me that his staff had sat my chair outside in the rain and it got ruined. The staff may have done this purposefully. I’m not sure why there was so much ill intent behind this...