Good Neighbour storefront, located in downtown Calgary, offers affordability and sustainability. Photo by Emily Kirsch
Thrifting has been steadily gaining popularity, the rise in popularity driven especially by younger generations seeking a sustainable alternative to “buying new”, but one local thrift store is doing things a little differently. For the past three years, Good Neighbour Community Market has operated on a pay-what-you-can model.
The market operates out of two storefronts, both located at 149 Fifth Avenue S.E. Good Thrift is set up as a standard thrift store to help keep Good Neighbour barrier-free. Both stores rely on item donations and the hard work of volunteers, whether in the store or out in the community.
Co-founder Alice Lam says that the store is there to help Calgarians get the resources they might not otherwise be able to afford, something that has become more necessary amidst economic downturns and Canada’s current housing crisis.
But whatever your reason for shopping secondhand, Good Neighbour offers a large selection of secondhand items:
- Clothing
- Toiletries
- Household Items
- Books
- Food items
Many of these are necessities that are often overlooked until your financial situation shifts, which is why making them affordable makes a difference.
Still, Lam says that while the store has been successful so far, opening more stores would be a failure to her. She wants Good Neighbour to be a billboard for Calgarians—to draw attention to income inequality in the city while giving money back to the community.
Good Neighbour is open Thursday to Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. There is a 10-item purchase limit, but customers are welcome to visit daily.
Author’s note
As an avid thrifter myself, Good Neighbour stands out as a sustainable and affordable option when shopping for clothing. Being open to all Calgarians, the non-profit creates a barrier-free experience for its patrons. As Alice mentioned, it is comforting to know that Good Neighbour is an option for those who need it—especially at a time when money is tight for nearly everyone.
Having basic needs like proper clothing and hygiene products, food, and even a roof overhead should be accessible for everyone, however, that’s just not the case. Participating in other means of support, like food kitchens and equity initiatives, Alice and the team of volunteers and staff at Good Thrift and Good Neighbour play their small role in creating a bigger impact.
I also appreciated something Alice said, that Good Neighbour shouldn’t be the norm, but instead bring awareness to all of these issues that a lot of people are facing right now.
Thrifting is just one thing you can do to make an impact on the world we live in. But it is also important to consider how you can help make changes to our systematic issues. That is what I appreciate most about Good Neighbour. It’s not just a more affordable option for thrifters and people in need, but a beacon to help call out important issues of poverty and inequity in Calgary.
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