Treasure City Thrift has been a staple in the East Austin Community for more than a decade, and now it shares that due to the rising cost of rent in the area, it is being forced to move. The store has signed a lease for a new spot, but it has more work to do.
To help with the costs of moving and securing a new space, Treasure City has set up a GoFundMe campaign with a current goal of $25,000. It's also hosting a screen printing event on Saturday, February 22, to help raise more funds.
A February 10 campaign update explains that thanks to hitting an initial goal, Treasure City was able to secure a new home at the former Oat Willie's (5201 Cameron Rd.), and the new store will officially open in April. At the time of this article's publication, the campaign sits at around $10,000.
This is a great start, but according to the campaign page, there is still about $15,000 to go in order to pay the first month's rent in the new space and the costs of moving.
At Saturday's event from 2-5 pm, shoppers can either bring a blank tee of their own or buy a freshly-printed shirt from Treasure City. Unrelated to the fundraiser, Bikes Across Borders will also be joining in the festivities making DIY kitty litter panniers (buckets recycled into a sort of saddle bag for biking), and free donuts and cookies will be provided by Wheatsville Co-op.
The fundraiser has been live for about two months and in that time, donations have ranged anywhere from $25 to $1,500. This outpouring of support from the community is a true testament to Treasure City's important place in Austin.
Treasure City Thrift first opened up a in a former gas station on East 12th Street in 2006. Unlike some other thrift stores around town, which can be just as costly as boutique stores, Treasure City is truly an affordable store, largely catering to low income and unsheltered guests.
This collectively-run, zero waste, "consensus-based economic experiment and community event space" (according to the campaign page) hosts workshops, shows, movie nights, and benefits throughout the year. Once a month, the store hosts its famous "Really, Really Free Market" where bins of surplus clothing and goods are set up for anyone and everyone, completely free of charge.
Clearly Austin needs Treasure City Thrift, and right now Treasure City Thrift needs Austin. Donations are still being accepted on Gofundme.com, and Treasure City reminds folks that al donations are tax-deductible.
If donating isn't an option, according to the campaign page, people can get involved by continuing to shop at the current location at 2142 East 7th St. until the end of March 2025, or volunteering with Treasure City to help with the move. It also requests that fans share the campaign and Treasure City's efforts.