Out of the Closet

In an effort to try and avoid becoming one of those people on the TV show "Hoarders", as a general rule, each time I purchase new clothing items, I try and discard at least an equal amount of stuff from my closet and dresser drawers. Also, if I haven't worn something in at least a year and a half or two years, I figure that chances are I'm not going to wear it again and I remove those items as well, usually with the goal of donating them to charity.

Though I'd driven past other "Out of the Closet" locations on Biscayne Blvd. and in Ft. Lauderdale, I never really knew what they were about until I read Carla L.'s review of this location. In the past, I'd always donated things to Goodwill, but the donation location closest to me always had limited hours. There are also donation bins at few nearby churches, but the ones I've seen specify that they'll only take donations of clothing and nothing else.

When doing a bit of house cleaning recently, I found that I had lots of clothes to donate, but also some household items, decorative items and some electronics and other things that were hardly used but that I no longer needed.

On a recent Sunday I was heading to a friends' house on the beach, I checked Out of the Closet's website and saw that they're open from 10a-6p on Sundays. I drove past this place, the meter in front of their store was open, so I pulled in and took a few bags of items in to donate.

This location is on Alton Road, about a block away from Lincoln Road. On this Sunday it was fairly busy. I dropped off my items and though I was in a bit of a hurry, it looked like they were selling pretty much anything one can imagine. According to their website, they have trucks that they'll send to your home to pick up couches and furniture as well, which was great to know!

As Carla mentions, this company uses the money they make from the sale of donated items to provide counseling and medical care to people who are ill and who couldn't otherwise afford medication and other needs. They also offer free HIV testing at each of their stores in Miami and Lauderdale, which is also funded by the sales they make in their thrift stores.

Its a thrift store like any other. It has some really cool items and some you wouldn't even think of touching (like used underwear - OH MY).

The best part of this place and the part that I love is that $0.95 of every dollar goes to helping stop HIV worldwide. I am absolutely donating my old stuff here and coming to check in every once in a while to see what treasures they have.

They even have furniture and it was VERY nice stuff. Make sure you check out this cute shop, the cause is a good one.

I have been on the prowl to find a cool South Florida Consignment /thrift store and have been very disappointed in most. This one has a fighting chance.

It is clear that they are fairly new to their space (1 year) and are trying to get it up to speed. The morning I stopped in most of the back and half of the front of the store was being painted. I consider this a very positive event because the space (which is huge) is immensely brighten up. For now, the clothes and bits of furniture are cornered into about 1/3 of the store. Once the painting is done, I suspect that everything will have the space necessary.

The secret to a great consigment/ thrift store is the love of the community. It will take the neighborhood to fall in love with the store to make it shine. I have decided to make this one my drop off for clothes that need a new loving home.

In short ----- stop in, check it out and donate what you can to this great cause. You may be very surprised at what treasure you find.

By comparison to the Out of the Closet stores in Fort Lauderdale, I can hardly even rate this one in Miami as a two star. There isn't much in the store and what is in there doesn't begin to even compare with a Salvation Army, Goodwill or Twice Around shop. Things are nearly as orderly as the other two stores in Fort Lauderdale and those working there seem far more interest in their cells phones, twitters or whatever than they are in their customers.

I also found far more items mislabeled as to size along with a good number of used designer items that would have been at a reasonable price if it were not for holes or other seriously detracting problems.

One of my favorite stores!

I bought lots of clothes there and decorated pretty much half of my apartment going there on a weekly base for three months and I was so happy not to spend an ATM and a leg in my apartment I rented here as snow bird...

The staff is friendly, sometimes a bit hyper but there is a good vibe in the air!
you find vintage stuff, oddities and rarities! :)
The trick is its a bit like opening a box of pralines - you never know what you will find!

The clothes are generally ok but I prefer the stuff next door at the SoBe Thrifty
Out of yhe closet though has Furniture and more accessories
Prices are fair, sometimes you get incredible deals on a really cool shirt etc - sometimes can be a bit pricey

They listened to my complaints and finally installed two other dressing booths next to that one that has been there for a while - still not that many for a store of that size.



If you've been a bad boy or girl (and you know it when!) you can get yourself tested for HIV for free, instantly and painless upstairs, there are free condoms as well when you check some random hottie out :)

One of Miami's best kept secrets, please open a branch in NYC!!

I try my best not to give 5-stars when I do reviews, because you always want to leave room for improvement. But Out of The Closet on Miami Beach, Alton Rd., continues to impress me and I give them, without hesitation, a solid 5-stars. I want to personally commend and give Ida, [whom I believe is the Manager] a A++. She definitely knows and exhibits Customer Service so much that I recommend friends here in Miami Beach BUT also in Brooklyn, New York on Atlantic Avenue to visit and donate their gently used clothes and items.

Out Of The Closet on Miami Beach, Alton Rd., has a wide selection, color specific racks of clothing, awesome finds [and if you're a designer like me looking to flip and give new life to unwanted items, this is absolutely the place to go], they have a friendly & helpful staff, they price everything reasonably... and they truly APPRECIATE and showcase ALL donations!

I love knowing that most of their proceeds goes TO a great cause, and their mission statement is posted clearly for everyone to see [over the check-out desks], they definitely give back to the community; from reasonably priced items to their free HIV testing and more.

I have witnessed first hand on several occasions homeless people patronizing the store; and just a few of them apparently showed signs of being homeless due to their unpleasant smell and dis-shuffled appearance. BUT never once-not once did the Out Of The Closet staff deny their business, make them feel less than or speak down to them. And that says a lot...

After all... that is truly what a THRIFT Store was ORIGINALLY created for-for people with lesser means and who were/are "less fortunate" to shop and buy low cost and good condition clothes and items. And Out Of The Closet on Alton Road DEFINITELY has not forgotten this fact! That is why I give them 5-Stars!!!

I really loved this store in LA. And am happy to see it has made its way to the East Coast.

There were well priced items. Some cool furniture pieces. And since it is new, everything is still well organized and neat. Time to go thrifting without leaving the beach!

A great thrift store...

Dropped off some donations and checked out the merchandise today. I was glad to see that the prices are actually "thrifty," unlike other thrift stores on the beach. I saw some cute things and I'll be back when I have more time to browse.

But wait, there's more...

Proceeds benefit the AIDS Health Foundation and I think they will soon offer free HIV testing, because it is offered at all their other locations. Support these guys by bringing all your unwanted, still-usable stuff here! (You can also call them to come pick up bigger items @ (877) 2 PICK IT UP.)

Fabulous day for crate digging! Got a sweet Al Green album and the soundtrack to Beat Street plus other treasures for 50 cents each. Good sales on books and clothes too. All donations go to fight aids. Can't go wrong visiting this sobe thrift store.

This place should be named out of the basement... yes I did give this place 5 stars because we did come out with great finds, however, it had more everything than clothes (which was our main goal). I was looking for clothes for an upcoming business trip up north. I came out with books, lamps, shoes, purses and videos. I did not find clothes that I liked. However, their customer service is extraordinary. The man in charge is so nice, so helpful I did not mind that I did not mind not finding clothes that suited me. I will definitely go back again but not necessarily for clothes but just to see any new items. On a separate note, it is too bad that they close the location on the beach, it was right next to my work. But it is definitely worth the extra miles to this place. Come without a goal mind and you will find some great gems.