A Philadelphia Must-See: Philly AIDS Thrift

The award-winning non-profit thrift store Philly AIDS Thrift, located in the South of South neighborhood at 710 S 5^th Street, is some place that every Philadelphian or tourist should visit. When I visited P.A.T for the first time I was not expecting the size and amount of inventory the store had. There were so many rooms with nooks and crannies hiding clothes, books, and furniture, that you would need one full day to go through everything. Many people have recommended this store to me saying they have always left with something. I didn’t realize that P.A.T. had more than clothes. Instead I found one room filled with videotapes, DVDs. TVs, a mini-bookstore, trinkets, and furniture. There were also more clothes than I had time to look through. Luckily there are maps to help you find your way because it is very easy to get lost. Clothing areas included a Fancy land, a vintage room, a dollar section, as well as women’s and men’s sections. P.A.T even had several wedding dresses for sale.

          Philly AIDS Thrifts is a true thrift store. You must be ready to look through every room and clothing rack in search of a great find. I have no doubt that there are fantastic treasures hidden throughout, but you must be willing to do the work to find them. The store was bustling for a snowy Saturday afternoon and people seemed lost in their own world, looking through each room. I was surprised and delighted to find a café off the book room. The café consisted of a few tables with chairs and vending machines. It seemed like a great place to relax and look through the hundreds of books lining the shelves.  

(Left and Right: Alexandra Carlino; Center: Google)

Since P.A.T is a non-profit, it has volunteers helping. Many of them putting away clothes and other items, while others helped customers, worked the cash registers, and took donations. I approached one of the volunteers, named Rita, to ask about the store and she happened to be a freshman Drexel student. Her volunteer shift was the first time she had been to P.A.T but she fell in love with the store and would be coming back again. I felt the same way. Philly AIDS Thrift donates its profits to the AIDS fund, who then distributes the money to twenty-nine AID agencies in five Philadelphia counties. They are always looking for donations. P.A.T accepts items in good shape. This includes clothing, furniture, electronics, books, records, artwork, and various tschotchkes. You can bring them during store hours. The store is open Monday through Thursday 11:00am – 8:00pm, Friday and Saturday 11:00am – 9:00pm, and Sunday 11:00am – 7:00pm. P.A.T is also always looking for volunteers. If interested you can call their number or send an email.

This is a Philadelphia institution that you cannot miss!