Shuffling Off to Buffalo Exchange: New Thrift Store Coming to Davis

The Boston area has a decent amount of used clothing at reasonable prices, but this Bostonist has always felt there was a lack of a certain thrift niche. Many places in the area are just a bit too expensive (Second Time Around, The Closet) or too difficult to find nice items in (Goodwill, Urban Renewal). The Garment District and Rescue almost get it right, but the former has a little too much to sift through and the latter not quite enough. Poor Little Rich Girl has some amazing pieces, but it can be hard to find truly "everyday" items there. So the new Buffalo Exchange coming to Davis Square just might hit a secondhand sweet spot. Sure, it's sort of a chain and may horn in on Poor Little Rich Girl's territory, but we think the Exchange's tendency toward the uber-trendy will allow PLRG to hold on to its vintage niche.

Buffalo Exchange is a thrift store that will also buy your clothes at low rates (they're very picky in our experience, but will donate to charity whatever they don't think they can sell), or give you a little more purchasing power if you trade in clothes for store credit. Prices tend to be quite reasonable and most of the items are very wearable, relieving you of the usual thrift store task of sorting through endless aisles of Faded Glory jeans and Xhilaration tees. The store also has a cute "Tokens for Bags" program in which shoppers can forego a shopping bag to get a token. Drop the token in a canister representing one of a select few local charities, and Buffalo Exchange will donate five cents to the cause.

Buffalo Exchange may not revolutionize your life, but it will give you another option for affordable used clothes in the area, and round out the thrift store options in Davis. Buffalo Exchange opens at 238 Elm Street (the former location of Hollywood Express, which we definitely miss) in Somerville on October 3. Store hours will be Monday-Saturday 11-7 and Sunday 12-5.