arc Thrift Stores — Local services in Thornton

I am starting a series of Reviews of Local Arc Stores, so follow me if you want a good reference to other thrift stores in North Denver.

Updated 1/7/2025 -- Visited six times over the last month and a half.

Overall, I have found that this particular store has had it's ups and downs over the years that I have come into it.

Clientele/Vibe: Decent, once you get inside. Lots of families coming in buying stuff. People are generally being quiet or conversational, not loud and unruly, but sometimes you get kids trumpeting around in the store. The problem is actually getting into the store. There are homeless people outside, and say what you will, but it does make me uncomfortable. I don't want to think about that it's like walking in if you're a smaller person, a woman, or you have kids.

Prices: This is a thrift store, prices have been relatively consistency. I have found some fine deals here, and that's coming by without the Saturday deals. Sometimes they price things over what they should be, most of the time, not so much, but then again I'm comparing to department stores.

Cashiering: This place gets BUSY, but they seem to mostly have staff on hand to meet demand when everybody subconsciously decides to gather at the cash registers. Time to cashier is maybe 7-10 mins when it gets busy.

Worst Areas: Honestly, the men's section here gets picked through, I scarcely look around in there when I pass through. I think this is because this in a working-class neighborhood

Best areas: The women's clothing dominates the entire center of the store as is the usual for an ARC, so ladies will have the veritable pick of the inventory.

Tech Section is excellent here. They have a good selection of appliances and cables are easy to find, which is nice becuase at some places they throw them in buckets or an old foiling cabinet. That said, as with all thrift stores, tech appliances here are about ten years old and highly visible, so they get picked up quickly.

Linens section here is pretty decent, but a lot of it is worn out cotton blends, which tend to pill. Still some gems in there though. Always sad to see the quilts people make out for sale for a few dollars, as they take a lot of time and money to craft when handmade.

Of all the local arcs I find that this store has one of the better books sections, both in terms of size and quantity, just a good selection that's easy to browse. I wish it was bigger. Furniture section has good pieces from time to time, mostly older...

Love the store. But today my children were harassed by management for stealing as we were walking to the registers. Robin was yelling and making fun of my kids until I interjected and asked her to stop yelling at them and look at the camera footage. She said she had already looked and knows they came in with different shoes and then started making fun of her again (a child) for not walking right in the shoes and if they were really hers she would know how to walk in them. I kept asking her to stop yelling at my children, and she said she was calling the cops to have us arrested and trespassed if I didn't "keep my mouth shut". I kept walking to the registers to check out and try to find a manager and she was the manager 😳. I asked to speak to her supervisor and she told me she was the manager and I could talk to her if I had a problem with her. Finally another employee came over to help. My kids had already payed and were waiting by the door, she went over to them and started yelling at them again to leave the store or get arrested. Again these are kids. I have never had an experience like this before at this store. We all felt very threatened. Not to mention one of the kids is special needs. We've utilized the ARC advocate for Adams county. And they have management harassing children like this.This is seriously a conflict of what the ARC is supposed to represent 💔 I was shaking when I left. I didn't even want to buy our items but the kids were waiting for the sale today to spend their...

Where do I even begin? This place has always been a mess but it's getting worse. The store is jam-packed with stuff that's way too expensive for what it is. They expect top dollar for ripped or stained name-brand clothes. And don't even get me started on the designer stuff – it's like they're not even trying to offer a decent deal.

And it's not just the prices that are a problem. This place has become downright sketchy. You can't even walk in without being surrounded by vagrants or seeing people passed out by the entrance.

But wait, there's more! Now they've got this ridiculous policy where they won't sell you something if they think you've messed with the price tag. Talk about treating customers like criminals and stripping away their dignity.

Sure, some people might enjoy the thrill of finding hidden gems in a thrift store, but this place is just a disaster. It's filthy, chaotic, unsafe as a patron, and the staff are beyond rude – unless, of course, you happen to be Latino. And don't get me started on the evening staff or when Jessica is there. Long wait times at the register when the store is dead and excuses as to why the waits are long from Jessica. If they are a manager, they shouldn't be. Incompetent doesn't begin to describe them.

To upper management of ARC, what's going on here? This place needs a serious overhaul, and it...