Adventures Thrifting & Yard Saling in Central New Jersey
- Maria DeAngelis
- May 18
- 5 min read
Hello Thrifties, glad you're here! Since you are, I assume you love thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales as much as I do! If so, you've found your tribe! As a thrift-o-holic, I'm always on the hunt for low-cost items—whether clothing or goods for my family, and the more selection in one area, the better. So when I heard of the largest rummage sale in New Jersey, I knew I had to experience it myself, as well as check out the thrifting and yard sale scene in central NJ.
Our first stop was in PA on our way to the rummage sale, as our GPS had us arriving too early. We visited the Goodwill in Allentown, PA, which is a dream for discount savers, with a Grocery Outlet Bargain Market and a Dollar Tree in the same complex. The Goodwill was surprisingly expensive, with no shoes priced under $12.99, regardless of brand or condition. I did manage to snag a fall flag at half price and a tank top, but I was in and out quickly. I must say, their end caps were impressively decorated. For a sneak peek, click here.
Additionally, there's an antique co-op called Cottage Crafters—this was my second visit here, and it could easily be a destination on its own!
Cottage Crafters is absolutely AMAZING! It's totally worth the trip to Allentown just to visit this place. As an antique co-op, it offers something for everyone at every price point. I could have spent hours exploring, but I had a rummage sale to catch! I discovered some treasures I had been searching for, like long brass spoons and a gold snake ring. The snake ring brought me right back to the 80s when I had both a snake ring and a belt, which I often wore as a necklace. I really wish I had kept them (I actually had two!) because now they're rare and pricey. I was also thrilled to find a booth selling DIY paint products, as I needed more Top Coat for my upcoming projects!
Our next destination was the rummage sale in NJ. I've dedicated an entire post to this experience, so click here to read more. The rummage sale took place in Far Hills, but we stayed in Branchburg. Naturally, I made sure to visit all the thrift stores nearby. Here's the scoop on where we went and what I thought:
This store offered a decent selection of clothing, featuring higher-end brands with tags and a large selecton of shoes, but it didn't have many hard goods. Prices were lower than those at Goodwill locations in PA, and the color tag was 50% off. I only spotted a few vintage items and left without purchasing anything.
Yellow Tag Thrift: 199 US-22 B, Green Brook Township, NJ 08812
This store is a mix of various items and can be challenging to navigate. It seems to be experiencing an identity crisis—are they thrift or retail? Some prices are surprisingly high, even exceeding those of a curated antique store, but there are bargains available if you're willing to search. The store's layout is unusual, featuring a steep ramp with merchandise displayed on it. It's filled to capacity, and just when you think you've seen everything, another room appears. I've encountered items here that I've never seen before and would have bought if the prices were more reasonable. I did manage to purchase some MCM switch plate and outlet covers (for resale here), but finding assistance at checkout was difficult.
Sidenote: if you're a fan of the old reality show Jerseylicious, this store is located right down the street from the Gatsby Salon, where all the drama unfolded.
Next we visited ReStore: 110 N Main St, Manville, NJ 08835
This location was absolutely amazing! They offered incredible deals on quality furniture, complete sets of dishes, and a fantastic selection of art. The prices were great, and the longer an item stayed, the more it was discounted. I left with several items, including the two below, which are currently available for purchase.
Original Cattail painting: https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m89172924945/?sv=0
Signed Ikebana pottery vase w/ attached frog: https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m42264803009/?sv=0
Since we manage every part of our lives on a budget, we chose a hotel that provided free breakfast. Along with the snacks we bought at the Grocery Outlet in Allentown, PA on the way, we visited the nearby Wegman's and I had a heat-and-eat meal on the first night. Although it cost $15, it was delicious. Mr. Thrifty chose a more economical option and got a slice of pizza.
Our initial plans for Saturday were to return to the rummage sale, but since we decided against it, we opted to explore local yard sales instead. A quick search on Facebook revealed that the town of Bridgewater was hosting its first annual sale. An interactive online map made our planning incredibly convenient. With rain expected later in the afternoon, we were out bright and early. However, most sales didn't start until 9 am, and some were still setting up afterward. Despite visiting every address listed, I was surprised to find that only about 20% of the sales were actually happening, especially since a permit was required.
Venturing slightly off track, I discovered an incredible batch of unlisted yard sales! It turned out to be the Raritan community sale, which wasn't even on my radar. A gracious homeowner saved the day by providing me with a paper map. Most of my purchases that weekend came from the Raritan sales. The sales were fantastic, and the people were equally wonderful, leading to many pleasant interactions. We also headed west to explore sales in the Whitehouse neighborhood, including one where everything was free, and I scored a like-new crock! We even came across some free vintage and antique furniture, giving major castlecore vibes!
We stumbled upon a Shop Rite and decided to grab something for lunch/dinner. For under $10, we both enjoyed hot meals with two sides and picked up some heatable meals for dinner and to bring home. Their selection of hot, freshly prepared foods and heat-and-eat meals is phenomenal! If we had a location near us, I'd never cook again!
Just about this time, the rain hit, and we headed back to the hotel at 1 p.m. for the night, where I did a hotel haul. While the experience wasn't what I was hoping it to be, and with the cost of travel/accommodations, we are upside down on costs, I'll never turn down an opportunity to thrift someplace new.
Have you been to any of these thrift stores or the rummage sale? Please let me know your thoughts and if there's someplace I missed!
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