Arc Thrift Stores runs a location at 8100 South Quebec Street in Centennial, a stop along the busy Quebec Street retail corridor south of C-470 in the Denver Tech Center area. Like every store in the chain, the Centennial branch exists to do two things at once: sell affordable secondhand goods to shoppers and fund advocacy programs for Coloradans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The chain traces back to 1968, and proceeds from every sale here flow to The Arc, an organization with chapters across Colorado and New Mexico that supports people with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities and their families.
The sales floor covers the ground a full department store would, just at secondhand prices. Shoppers find mens, womens and childrens clothing organized by size and category, shoes, belts, handbags and costume jewelry, plus a home goods section with furniture, lamps, small kitchen appliances, dishware, books, media and holiday decor that rotates with the seasons. Because everything on the floor arrives as a donation, the mix changes constantly, and Centennial shoppers benefit from donations coming out of the surrounding Arapahoe County neighborhoods, giving the store a different everyday selection than an Arc Thrift location on the other side of the metro area.
One detail that distinguishes Arc Thrift Stores from many other charity retailers is its employment model. The organization intentionally hires people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to work in its stores, on registers, in donation processing and throughout daily retail operations, treating the store not just as a fundraising vehicle but as a direct source of inclusive jobs. That means a shopping trip to the Quebec Street location supports affordable goods, charitable funding and disability employment all in a single visit, a combination that has helped the chain remain a fixture of Front Range retail for close to sixty years.
Shopping hours at the Centennial store run Monday through Friday from 9 in the morning to 9 at night, Saturday from 8 in the morning to 9 at night, and Sunday from 10 in the morning to 6 in the evening. Donation drop off follows a slightly earlier closing schedule, Monday through Saturday from 9 in the morning to 8 at night and Sunday from 10 in the morning to 5 in the evening, with the store generally able to accept clothing, small and large furniture, working electronics, housewares, books and seasonal items during those windows. Given the location’s spot along a heavily trafficked commercial stretch of Quebec Street, it is an easy stop to combine with other errands in the area.
For deal seekers, the appeal of shopping at a donation driven store like this one is straightforward: prices sit well below retail, and the constant turnover rewards repeat visits over a single planned trip for a specific item. Families furnishing a home on a budget, parents keeping up with fast growing kids, and anyone looking to donate rather than discard used goods all find a reason to stop in. Those with questions about furniture pickup service, current donation guidelines or holiday hours can call the Centennial store directly at 720-440-6340 before making the trip. Arc Thrift Stores in Centennial is, in short, a secondhand department store on Quebec Street where every purchase and donation helps fund disability advocacy and creates jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Colorado.
