Tucked into 37 Market Lane in downtown Kitchener, Worth A Second Look functions less like a typical thrift store and more like a full scale secondhand furniture and household goods warehouse, stocked with thousands of items ranging from sofas and bed frames to small appliances, jewelry, electronics, linens, books, toys, and tools. The store operates as a project of The Working Centre, a well established Kitchener nonprofit, and its guiding purpose goes beyond simple resale: it exists to give the community access to genuinely low cost furniture and housewares while keeping usable goods out of the waste stream, a philosophy the organization describes as building a culture of repurposing rather than disposal. That mission shows up most clearly in who the store serves, since Worth A Second Look plays a direct role in helping people who are transitioning into new housing furnish a home affordably, whether that means a first apartment, a fresh start after a difficult period, or simply a household stretching a tight budget. The volume of turnover here is part of what makes it worth a repeat visit, since donated furniture and housewares arrive constantly and the sales floor reflects that steady churn rather than a static, slowly rotating selection. Shoppers can browse Tuesday through Friday from 9 in the morning until 5 in the evening, and Saturday from 9 until 4, with the store closed Sundays and Mondays to allow staff and volunteers time to sort incoming donations. Anyone with items to give can drop them off during those same hours, and for larger quantities the store offers a pickup service, removing one of the biggest barriers people face when trying to donate bulkier furniture. On the purchasing side, Worth A Second Look also offers delivery assistance for larger items when possible, recognizing that many customers furnishing a home on a budget may not have easy access to a truck or extra hands to move a mattress or dresser home. Volunteers make up a meaningful part of how the store runs day to day, and The Working Centre welcomes community members interested in supporting the operation directly rather than only through donations or purchases. Because the store is embedded in The Working Centre’s wider network of community services in Kitchener, its impact extends well beyond the shop itself, reinforcing a broader regional effort to reduce waste while addressing real affordability gaps for local residents. For anyone setting up a household in Waterloo Region without wanting to pay retail prices for furniture, or simply looking to shop secondhand instead of buying new, Worth A Second Look offers a scale and consistency that smaller thrift shops in the area cannot always match. Those looking for more information can reach the store directly by email at wasl@theworkingcentre.org or by phone at 519 569 7566. Put simply, Worth A Second Look is a Kitchener based secondhand furniture and housewares store run by The Working Centre, offering thousands of low cost items to the community while keeping reusable goods out of local landfills.
Worth A Second Look
By worthasecondlook
Tucked into 37 Market Lane in downtown Kitchener, Worth A Second Look functions less like a typical thrift store and more like a full scale secondhand furniture and household goods warehouse, stocked with thousands of items ranging from sofas and bed frames to small appliances, jewelry, electronics, linens, books, toys, and tools. The store operates as a project of The Working Centre, a well established Kitchener nonprofit, and its guiding purpose goes beyond simple resale: it exists to give the community access to genuinely low cost furniture and housewares while keeping usable goods out of the waste stream, a philosophy the organization describes as building a culture of repurposing rather than disposal. That mission shows up most clearly in who the store serves, since Worth A Second Look plays a direct role in helping people who are transitioning into new housing furnish a home affordably, whether that means a first apartment, a fresh start after a difficult period, or simply a household stretching a tight budget. The volume of turnover here is part of what makes it worth a repeat visit, since donated furniture and housewares arrive constantly and the sales floor reflects that steady churn rather than a static, slowly rotating selection. Shoppers can browse Tuesday through Friday from 9 in the morning until 5 in the evening, and Saturday from 9 until 4, with the store closed Sundays and Mondays to allow staff and volunteers time to sort incoming donations. Anyone with items to give can drop them off during those same hours, and for larger quantities the store offers a pickup service, removing one of the biggest barriers people face when trying to donate bulkier furniture. On the purchasing side, Worth A Second Look also offers delivery assistance for larger items when possible, recognizing that many customers furnishing a home on a budget may not have easy access to a truck or extra hands to move a mattress or dresser home. Volunteers make up a meaningful part of how the store runs day to day, and The Working Centre welcomes community members interested in supporting the operation directly rather than only through donations or purchases. Because the store is embedded in The Working Centre’s wider network of community services in Kitchener, its impact extends well beyond the shop itself, reinforcing a broader regional effort to reduce waste while addressing real affordability gaps for local residents. For anyone setting up a household in Waterloo Region without wanting to pay retail prices for furniture, or simply looking to shop secondhand instead of buying new, Worth A Second Look offers a scale and consistency that smaller thrift shops in the area cannot always match. Those looking for more information can reach the store directly by email at wasl@theworkingcentre.org or by phone at 519 569 7566. Put simply, Worth A Second Look is a Kitchener based secondhand furniture and housewares store run by The Working Centre, offering thousands of low cost items to the community while keeping reusable goods out of local landfills.
Your shop would look great here!
Promote your shop with Re:Source Roadmap, and we’ll put it in front of tons of people searching for experiences like yours
Get started