Past the black building on 17th Avenue Southwest sits a green storefront that houses 17th Ave Thrift Store, a Calgary secondhand shop where every dollar spent works double duty, first as payment for a donated find, then as a contribution toward local animal rescue. The store’s stated mission is simple and direct: support local animal rescues and shelters, and it follows through by directing sale proceeds toward organizations including AARCS, the MEOW Foundation, and ARF, among others, turning a routine thrift run into a small act of support for Calgary’s homeless pets.
The shop itself runs entirely on donated goods rather than consignment or wholesale buying, which means the racks and shelves change constantly as new donations arrive. Shoppers can expect clothing, shoes, and accessories alongside household goods such as kitchenware, small appliances, electronics, and even vinyl records, the kind of everyday secondhand mix that rewards regular visits since inventory turns over with whatever the community drops off that week. Not everything is accepted, though: for safety reasons the store does not take baby equipment, corded lighting, books, or large furniture, a policy worth knowing before loading up a donation run.
The story behind the shop adds a personal layer to that charitable mission. Founder Sue arrived in Canada after fleeing Lebanon in 1974, and the store grew out of two things she cared about personally, a love of animals and a firsthand appreciation for how far affordable thrift shopping can stretch a family’s budget. Combining those two threads into one small business let her give back to the city that took her in while keeping secondhand goods affordable for other Calgary families doing the same math she once did. That origin story is part of what separates 17th Ave Thrift Store from a big box secondhand chain: the mission is specific, local, and rooted in the founder’s own experience as a newcomer to the city.
Hours run daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for most of the year, with summer hours shifting slightly to 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and stretching later, to 7 p.m., on Thursdays and Fridays, giving after work shoppers a wider window to stop in. The shop also welcomes furry companions on leash, a small but appreciated touch for a store whose whole purpose circles back to animal welfare, and it offers a student discount with valid identification, making it an easy stop for anyone on a tight budget in the surrounding Beltline and 17th Avenue corridor.
For anyone in Calgary looking to donate rather than shop, the store accepts a wide range of household items and clothing, provided they fall outside the excluded categories, and every item sold funnels back into support for the city’s animal rescue groups rather than into a private owner’s pocket alone. That combination, a rotating secondhand inventory, a pet friendly atmosphere, a student discount, and a direct line from register receipts to shelter funding, gives the shop a reason to exist beyond simple retail. Reach the store directly at 403-453-1305 to ask about current donation needs or hours around holidays.
17th Ave Thrift Store is a donation based secondhand shop at 2631 17th Avenue Southwest in Calgary that funds local animal rescue and shelter organizations such as AARCS, the MEOW Foundation, and ARF through the sale of everyday clothing and household donations, open daily with extended evening hours on Thursdays and Fridays in summer.
