Salvation Army in Buffalo, NY

Pros

• The store has impressive stock, including items like the CDs pictured.
• The thrift store is impressively clean and neatly displayed, with competitive prices.
• The staff is friendly and the store feels like a nice place.
• There are many great prices and the store is clean and comfortable.
• Bargains are always to be found here.
• The As-Is building (the Junkhouse) is a real treasure.
• The staff provides great, prompt service and is very helpful.
• This Salvation Army location is among the best, with clean, well-organized premises.
• Customers love this store for its good finds and friendly staff.
• Purchases help others, which adds a positive impact.

Cons

• The location was closed, suggesting the store was moving.
• They lied about the pickup window.
• The mattresses remained in plastic.
• The staff refused to help load large items.
• The white‑haired clerk was rude.
• The store was greedy and overpriced.
• They resell damaged Zara items and mislabel them as refurbished.
• Price tags stapled to clothes damage the garments and are hard to remove.
• Merchandise was dirty, especially the kids’ toys.
• The thrift store was disorganized and hit‑or‑miss.

Review

This Salvation Army thrift operation in Buffalo is best suited for budget-minded families and solo shoppers who prize breadth and practicality over a pristine, boutique experience. The store’s core strength is scale: a full retail floor plus a sizable As-Is section, the Junkhouse, behind the main building, creating a one-stop shop for everyday needs and frequent, surprising finds. For buyers who expect a curated, consistently pristine environment or a streamlined, painless pickup process, this location will test patience. Alternatives that emphasize a more predictable shopping journey or higher-end refurbishments are worth weighing for those whose priority is reliability and a calmer shopping cadence.

Pros that matter in real-world terms begin with volume and order. The floor is generally clean, well laid out, and easy to navigate, which helps when wandering through a vast inventory in search of value. Shoppers consistently report plentiful bargains and the occasional extraordinary score, especially in the As-Is area where deep discounts turn into real savings for families assembling a home on a shoestring. The charitable mission behind the sales adds a practical incentive: purchases fund programs, provide employment, and support vocations through vocational training. For many, these factors together create a compelling, real-world value proposition that keeps repeat visits productive rather than merely decorative.

But a few stumbles temper the appeal. Service quality ranges, and that inconsistency is noticeable. Several reviews recount long or unhelpful pickup experiences, with windows stated as 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. sometimes slipping into vague, missed promises. Large-item pickups and loading assistance appear hit-or-miss, leaving buyers to improvise with family or friends. On the sales floor, a few staff interactions feel brusque or dismissive, and a handful of managers have drawn particular ire for perceived attitude or rigidity. Pricing practices also draw scrutiny: stapled tags can damage fabrics, and some items, especially name-brand pieces, are seen as overpriced for thrift standards. More troubling are reports of mislabeling or misrepresenting refurbished goods, with some shoppers describing damaged items marketed as “refurbished” rather than repaired. These cons don’t erase the value, but they do shape a shopping experience that requires vigilance and patience.

The upside, strong enough to offset the negatives for many, rests in how the store leverages its strengths. The inventory breadth means there is usually something for everyone: clothing, furniture, home goods, and odds and ends that meet practical needs and surprise on occasion. The bargain environment, especially during special discount events or in the separate bargain spaces, translates into meaningful savings for families trying to stretch every dollar. The “Junkhouse” or As-Is zone, in particular, can be a gold mine for those willing to hunt. Cleanliness and organization on the main floor help mitigate some of the chaos typical of large thrift operations, and the sense that purchases support a social mission adds an ethical boost to every bargain found. For thrift veterans, the combination of scale, variety, and discount cadence makes this Buffalo site a reliable engine of value, even when service edges fray.

Those who value smooth, dependable service and worry-free logistics should consider alternatives. Several reviewers point to other area Salvation Army locations or thrift venues where staff are consistently friendlier and where pickups and interactions feel more predictable. The Niagara Falls Boulevard store, in particular, gets praise for its staff demeanor, while other stores in the region highlight a more straightforward buying process. For families juggling time, transportation, and the need to move heavy items, it often pays to weigh these options against the Buffalo flagship. If a calm, uniformly helpful shopping environment is paramount, scouting neighboring outlets or calling ahead for furniture assistance may save frustration. Yet for those who want a high-volume, price-first experience with a charitable backbone, the Buffalo site remains a strong contender.

Bottom-line guidance: this Buffalo Salvation Army location serves thrifty families and budget shoppers who can tolerate variability in service to harvest real value from a broad, practical inventory. It functions best as a primary stop for affordable clothing, household goods, and occasional furniture when planning ahead and approaching purchases with a plan. Target the As-Is corridor for the deepest bargains, and be prepared for uneven experiences in checkout and pickup. Bring help for moving heavy furniture, inspect fabrics and finishes carefully to guard against misrepresented refurbishing, and be ready to negotiate or walk away when items don’t meet thrift-store benchmarks. For those who crave reliability above all else, a visit to other area thrift venues may be warranted; for value-driven families who can navigate the quirks, this location often delivers more wins than losses and keeps charitable impact front and center in every bargain found.

This part of Buffalo, New York offers convenient access to a variety of essential amenities for senior living. With multiple pharmacies such as Rite Aid, CVS Pharmacy, and Walgreens within close proximity, obtaining prescriptions and healthcare products is easily manageable. There are also numerous dining options ranging from fast food at McDonald's to upscale dining at places like The Foundry Lounge and Sinatra's Restaurant. For medical needs, there are several physician offices nearby including Primary Care Of WNY and Kenmore Family Medicine, as well as larger medical facilities like Erie County Medical Center and John R Oishei Children's Hospital. Additionally, the area boasts a number of parks for leisurely walks and relaxation. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded environment that caters to the needs of seniors seeking a comfortable and convenient lifestyle in Buffalo.

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.8 miles)
• The Foundry Lounge (1.3 miles)
• Gray's Place (1.8 miles)
• Sinatra's Restaurant (1.9 miles)
• Jack Rabbit (2.6 miles)
• Anchor Bar (4.2 miles)
• IHOP (4.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.9 miles)
• Wegmans Food Markets (1.6 miles)
• Tim Hortons (4.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Tim Hortons (4.4 miles)
• Tim Hortons (4.4 miles)

Physicians

• Primary Care Of WNY Primary Care Of Western New York Kenmore (1 miles)
• Kenmore Family Medicine (1.2 miles)
• Northtowns Medical Group PC (2.5 miles)
• 50 Gate Circle (2.6 miles)
• Jericho Road Community Health Center (3 miles)
• Ross Eye Institute (4 miles)
• Urban Family Practice (4.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Erie County Medical Center (3.8 miles)
• John R Oishei Children's Hospital (4.3 miles)
• Roswell Park Cancer Institute (4.5 miles)
• Degraff Memorial Hospital (4.6 miles)

Parks

• Beaver Island State Park (4.1 miles)
• North Tonawanda Gateway Park (4.2 miles)
• Ellicott Creek Park (5.3 miles)
• Delaware Park Marcy Casino (5.4 miles)
• Wilkeson Pointe (6.3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Maple Ridge 8 (4.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saint John Gualbert Catholic Church & Diocesan Shrine (6.1 miles)
• Newman Center at UB (6.1 miles)