Hospice Thrift Shoppes

This is one of the best organized and beautifully displayed thrift shops I’ve been too. The prices are on par with other thrift shops but they have sales more often. The last time I was there EVERYTHING was 50% off. They have some of the best quality shoes I’ve seen at thrift shops, again at reasonable prices. I bought a pair of brand new leather shoes marked at $ 10 (got em for 5 because of the sale). I’ve seen smelly, scuffed shoes for the same price at other thrift stores. The staff was super friendly too. Apparently they have other locations so if you don’t want to deal with the Whole Foods parking lot situation try another spot.
Store supports: Hospice of the East Bay

This place is cool, but I really only shop here when they’re having a sale on something. Otherwise, their prices are a bit high for me. It’s a small to medium-​size shop so it’s not full to the brim with wares. Also the parking is a bit frustrating because it’s next to Whole Foods and the few spots in front of the store are usually taken. The store doesn’t really have a parking lot.

Out of all the times I’ve been here I’ve never seen anything worth buying, especially at the ridiculous markups on prices. It’s all junk. Slim selection.
Not worth fighting the Whole Foodies for a parking space.

Very expensive,$ 25 for stained collar mans shirt,$ 5 for regular class cup, prints with plastic frames $ 45.Its a major retail business .Its sad you are thinking that we are actually helping a cause like Hospice, cancer etc, and getting a good deal as well… nothing can be further from truth. Just go to Nordstrom rack or Macys sale date get everything new with same price or even lower.

Great place to wander… finds range from Montblanc pen to collectible coins to logo’d pint glasses to Cucinelli pants to Zegna shirts to best selling books… additionally, super friendly staff. JA

I love this place! I always find little treasures, especially around the holidays. They are quite picky with what they put out, so for the most part, everything is pretty well taken care of by previous owners. I have bought three pairs of pants from this place that look completely brand new! It’s one of my favorite places to peruse on my lunch hour.
So I went over there again today and am finding the new manager has priced everything really high and doesn’t do good sales like the last one. Bad for business! :(

Way too expensive ! Sorry, but it’s not worth it!

My major find here was an $ 18 Reiss strapless summer dress (hot!) that retails for around $ 200+. That little trophy aside, it’s mostly your basic brand names like Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Gap, Target and J. Crew. Some merchandise is overpriced, some reasonable, some in great condition, some spotty. I stop by and peruse now and then since it’s next to Whole Foods and ya never know when you’ll spot your next big find.

This thrift shop is my fav in the east bay area! Everything is clean and orderly and the items are good quality. The shoe section is great, as is the book section and the employees are friendly. They also frequently have extra discounts and there’s a senior discount day once a week… I think it’s Thursday.
I nearly always find something fun whenever I stop in!

A very good cause. My friend found some housewares, I got a book. Everyone went away happy. A good selection of accessories, books, clothes were hit & miss but that is the nature of the game. Return at a later date and who knows what you might find. A worthy stop. Plus, we stopped in on a day where everything in the store was 20% off, watch the sign outside for deals.
p. s. The parking lot is shared with whole foods and is also a back entrance for a high school, you have been warned!

Bruns house was the go between between being at our home and my husband passing. We weren’t even there a day but the time there was a great respite for me and my husband. This portal to the next life creates such a level of inner peace and tranquility that I left feeling that there must be more than what the physical plane dictates. The people were very supportive emotionally and accommodating to my needs. I had planned on spending many days there waiting for my husband to pass. The garden was very homey but comforting. The spiritual and counseling that is offered is far beyond anything that you could get in a hospital or nursing facility.
These volunteers and social workers etc are experts in this area of dying. They are the most knowledgeable about the death process and even could tell that my husband was close to passing within the next few hours when I felt it was going to be much longer.
With societies feeling that talking about death is kind of a taboo it is very supportive to be in a place where you don’t feel your all alone dealing with this situation.
I was given the tour and saw a very accommodating kitchen, garden etc.
IF your looking for a place to deal with the death process and are open to receiving extra love and attention to you and your family then you have your little bit of heaven on earth.
The more open you are to receiving their love and support then the more they are capable of giving to you and your family. having ²⁴⁄₇ allows you the complete freedom to follow your heart and visit your loved one anytime rather than the dictates of other facilities. so if your one of the lucky six that they accomodates count your blessings.

I might have given this shop (pe) five stars, except that the prices and the attitude were overwhelmingly negative. Overall, it’s a well-​kept, clean place with a dream selection of clothing for the middle-​aged. But $ 30 for a Liz Claiborne sweater, for example, seems a little delusional, and is consistent throughout the store. Also, the stuffy staff looked at me suspiciously — a cleanly dressed woman in her thirties with a quiet little girl. Maybe their faces are just frozen in that suspicious expression, or maybe my daughter was making faces at them behind my back? Hmmm…

For the Unilocaler whose fingers were itching to click on two stars, I will do it for you! Yes, I have paid their outrageous prices for some finds. It is priced more like an antique shop than a thrift shop. Management can be snooty. They get good quality donations but they charge too much and they are inconsistent. Even consignment shops, that have to split the sales price, have more realistic prices. I have been there at least a half-​dozen times or more, so my comments are not random. I have resolved not to return. There is no point in another Unilocaler taking issue with my comments, they are borne about by many others. On numerous occasions they have put out damaged or soiled items, something that I rarely encounter in other similar shops.

Bruns House is a peaceful, comforting, clean, beautiful place to go for pain management or end of life care. The staff takes care of the patient and their family providing medical, physical, and emotional support.
I have two experiences with Bruns House, 2005 (Dad) & 2010 (Mom). They were more comfortable than if they had stayed in the hospital or returned home. Our family and close friends were able to stay 24 – 7 and help our parents have a good death.
I have told my family that when my time comes– take me to Bruns House.

Good points and bad points.
On the upside, the Thrift Shoppe occasionally has some amazingly nice items. They clearly get a lot of donations from local estates (they are near both Rossmoor and John Muir Hospital) and the families of people that the Hospice of the East Bay has nursed through their last days are happy to donate to them. Their vintage sales sometimes feature unusual and highly collectable items.
That said, their prices can border on outrageous. While overall I am a big supporter of Hospice of the East Bay and support their service to the community (I used them when a family member was passing, and have donated items to them on a number of occasions) the thift shop seems to have completely lost sight of the fact that it is – wait for it – a *thrift shop*.
They should just change the name. They seem to think they are a vintage boutique in the pricest section of San Francisco instead, or a destination antique shop. They want to squeeze the absolutely last possible dollar out of every item, and they think there’s one born every minute. Yes, I know their mission is noble, I completely agree that it is noble (thus I am giving them three stars when my fingers are itching to click on two stars). But when you’re shopping there as a customer, this can be really annoying.
As long as you don’t think of this store as a thrift shop, you’re OK. Or, if you have a vintage store or a boutique, you could buy stuff here and mark it up a little bit for your own stock. But for quality items at thrift shop prices, go to the Garrett (in Walnut Creek, on 3^rd Avenue, off North Main). They are associated with John Muir Hospital and get excellent donations and are not under the impression that they are a Nob Hill boutique. The Youth Auxiliary Thrift Shop on Vivian Lane in Pleasant Hill sometimes has great stuff, too.

I just lost my Mom and I am so relieved and at peace that she went at Bruns House instead of in the hospital.
The Staff was wonderful and the home is beautiful and warm.

I like to go here for their GREAT USED BOOKS selection. Never leave this place w/​o a book in hand!
The other merchandise never seems all that desirable, to me, and seems kind of pricey compared to other thrift stores.

Um no.
A Forever 21 dress was priced at $ 18 dollars, as was a Liz Claiborne sequined shoulder padded dress from the early eighties. I’m moving here from the east coast, where my prime shopping outlets were all things thrift. That being said the prices in this shop were ridiculous. I’m not sure how they price, in terms of label, current style, etc. But this shop was a complete waste of money, even if it was for a great cause, which I recognize. I would seek elsewhere, Forever 21 dresses are always at least 21 – 28 dollars new, you should never buy it used for more than 14 depending on the quality.
Also the lack of current style trends and lackluster housewares section based on community needs adds to the poor service and blatant over pricing of this «boutique».

Frankly, since I’m never here for their end of the month 50 – 75 percent off sales this place has sorta diminished in my eyes.
They’re a thrift store first and foremost, so quality, brand name and the state of the items don’t always factor in. However more often than not I find a cute sweater or purse. I really love their shoe section, but sometimes I find shoes that are torn or broken and they’re still selling them.
In the end my only major negative of this store is that their prices have gone up and if you’re not coming in during sale time, you feel overcharged.

Some might find it strange that I’ve given 5 stars to a place I hope no one ever has to visit. I don’t.
This review is specifically for Bruns House in Alamo, but could be attributed to any of the hospice locales in the county. I believe that one must be recommended to be transferred to Bruns, though I may be wrong.
When someone is sick, a hospital is a place of hope. A place where doctors and nurses can take care of you and make you better.
When someone is terminally ill, a hospital becomes little more than an elaborate prison. A prison where the patient must compete with others for the nurses’ and doctors’ time. A prison that they can’t escape, and at the most extreme, a starchy white prison where they will pass on.
Being told that they are moved to a hospice, a person must then fend off two alternating arguments. On the one hand, they are being sent to a place to die. But on the other, they are being sent to a place that will comfort and take care of them in their final days.
Bruns House is a marvelous hospice located in a residential area of Alamo. It’s unassuming, and since the address isn’t advertised online, purposely kept hidden for patients’ privacy. It’s a converted ranch-​style home with six bedrooms, ensuring that there are never too many patients for the facility’s and nurses’ capabilities. Food is provided, and there is ample room in the kitchen and living room areas for family members.
Many of the people who work here are volunteers — some are social workers, some are nurses, some are clerks. No one shouts or screams, or scolds patients for wanting too much. They are friendly and calm, helping those suffering from life-​ending illnesses find comfort in their final days.
Bruns is ideal for those people who would like to be at home but because of medical reasons must have supervision ²⁴⁄₇. It is a complete 180 from the scary prison of a hospital. My father passed away this past Sunday, and I am so thankful he spent his final days in such a wonderful and caring place.
Although I can’t say it would be nice to go there, given the circumstances, if you or a family member has been given a limited amount of time left and you cannot be brought home, there is no other place in the world you should want to be.