Goodwill Outlet in Santa Ana, California, a clearance-style Goodwill bins warehouse. Visitors dig through the Goodwill bins hunting for clothing, books, shoes, electronics and more; This outlet uses a pay-by-the-pound system and provides shopping carts. Smoking, food, and drinks are not allowed.. This location features daily auctions alongside pound-based sales.
Rules and Amenities
We recommend calling ahead or checking the store's website to confirm hours and availability before visiting.
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Orange County’s one and only Goodwill Marketplace and Outlet on West 5th Street is the absolute embodiment of a SoCal thrifting experience. It’s a place of brilliant contradictions, a vibrant, fast-paced environment that somehow manages to blend a laid-back, California-casual attitude with a razor-sharp, competitive edge. This is the melting pot where the OC’s incredibly diverse communities—from the beach cities to the inland suburbs—all converge in a unified hunt for the ultimate bargain. The atmosphere is buzzing, a constant hum of activity that is both exhilarating and a little bit addicting.
The blue Goodwill bins here are a perfect reflection of the county’s eclectic lifestyle. The donation stream is a veritable firehose of treasures sourced from every corner of the region, and you never know what you’re going to get. One minute, you could be pulling a pair of high-end designer jeans that clearly came from a Newport Beach closet, and the next, you’re unearthing a well-loved, salt-stiffened wetsuit from a Huntington Beach garage. There’s a constant flow of brand-new, in-the-box Target returns, mixed right in with unique, one-of-a-kind vintage pieces. It’s a wild, unpredictable ride.
The pace is brisk and unrelenting. Bin rotations fire off every twenty to twenty-five minutes, keeping the inventory incredibly fresh and the energy level consistently high. The staff, many of whom are bilingual, run an impressively tight ship. To ensure everyone gets a fair start on a new row, they enforce a hands-off countdown in both Spanish and English. It’s a simple but effective way to manage the eager crowds and maintain a sense of order amidst the chaos.
For any newcomer ready to dive in, a few pro tips are absolutely essential for success. First, let’s talk gloves. Forget the clumsy cloth ones. The move here is to bring nitrile gloves, the kind mechanics or doctors use. They offer much better dexterity and protection, which is crucial when you’re sifting through things like shredded, rubbery wetsuits or other unique and potentially messy coastal castoffs. Second, you need a game plan for the cart situation. This Goodwill outlet requires a two-dollar, refundable cash deposit for a cart, and because they are in such high demand, they vanish almost instantly. Many of the savvy regulars have completely bypassed the cart struggle and instead bring their own large, durable reusable bags. It’s a smart move that gives you more mobility.
And here is the crucial insider tip, the one that can lead to the score of a lifetime. Keep an ear to the ground and an eye on the hard-goods row. Every so often, rumors will start to fly through the warehouse that a local hotel liquidation has just arrived. This is your cue. Position yourself near the housewares and furniture section. This is your absolute best chance to score incredible finds like mid-century modern lamps, unique lobby décor, or high-end bedding, all for the same incredible by-the-pound price as a t-shirt or a pillow. It’s a high-stakes, high-reward game, and it’s pure, unadulterated Orange County thrifting.