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Hillcrest · $$ · Ranked in 1 list
Last updated
Buffalo Exchange is a Hillcrest spot ranked #2 of 4 in our Best Thrift Stores in San Diego list, scoring 86/100 in our Best Thrift Stores in San Diego. Order the current-season secondhand. The highest turnover in the city — worth checking weekly.
We scored Buffalo Exchange 86/100 in our full editorial review.
Read the full Buffalo Exchange reviewBuffalo Exchange is in Hillcrest, San Diego. Give yourself a few extra minutes for parking on weekends — Hillcrest fills up early on sunny days.
Explore HillcrestOn our Best Thrift Stores in San Diego list, Buffalo Exchange lands at #2 of 4, just behind Flashbacks Recycled Fashions (89/100) and ahead of Goodwill Outlet (the bins) (84/100). Flashbacks Recycled Fashions holds #1 with 89/100, so the gap is 3 points.
See the full Best Thrift Stores in San Diego rankingBuffalo Exchange scores 86/100 against a best thrift stores in san diego field that averages 85.5, running from 83 at the bottom to 89 at the top. That puts it 0.5 points above the category average and ahead of 2 of the 3 other places we scored. It lands 2nd of 4, and the category leader is 3 points clear.
Judged criterion by criterion, Buffalo Exchange separates itself most on atmosphere (82/100 versus a 73 category average). Its softest showing is uniqueness at 74, 9.5 points under the field. Those two numbers are the honest summary: this is a place you pick for atmosphere, not for a clean sweep of every category.
| Criterion | Buffalo Exchange | Category avg. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experience | 88 | 87.8 | +0.2 |
| Consistency | 90 | 83 | +7 |
| Value | 84 | 89.8 | -5.8 |
| Atmosphere | 82 | 73 | +9 |
| Uniqueness | 74 | 83.5 | -9.5 |
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best thrift stores in san diego.
Hillcrest is dense enough that Buffalo Exchange rarely needs to be a standalone trip. We have scored at least six other ranked spots in the same neighborhood, so it is easy to stack a visit with Great Maple (90/100 in our best brunch in san diego list) or Hillcrest Farmers Market (90/100) and turn one stop into an afternoon.
90/100 · #1 in best brunch in san diego · $18–28
90/100 · #2 in best farmers markets in san diego · Free entry
88/100 · #2 in best brunch in san diego · $15–25
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87/100 · #3 in best karaoke in san diego · Free entry, drinks $8–13
If Buffalo Exchange is booked or closed, these score closest at the same $$ spend in the same list:
Yes, if you are in the neighborhood or nearby.
Buffalo Exchange scores 86/100 in our Best Thrift Stores in San Diego list (#2 of 4). It is strongest on consistency (90) and experience (88). The highest turnover in the city — worth checking weekly.
Skip it if uniqueness matters most to you — that is its weakest category (74/100).
Buffalo Exchange is a good fit for thrift stores. Because it ranks #2 on our best thrift stores in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in Hillcrest rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
Best tactical tip: Sell your own clothes for store credit at a better rate than cash.
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Score 86/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Current-season secondhand · $$
A well-lit, well-sorted resale floor that skews contemporary. Not the cheapest, but the hit rate on wearable pieces is high.
Local tip: Sell your own clothes for store credit at a better rate than cash.
Scored with our ranking methodology — thrift stores.
Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking.