The Thrifty Nifty thrift store Minneapolis location opened in December 2025, bringing affordable clothing and community service to South Minneapolis. Owner Mary Ferguson says the shop is rooted in faith, accessibility and helping neighbors in need.
On the corner of 37th and Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis, just a block away from George Perry Floyd Square, a memorial site that has come to symbolize both grief and resilience, sits Thrifty Nifty, a Black-owned thrift store built on faith, perseverance and a deep commitment to the surrounding community.
For store owner Mary Ferguson, originally from Birmingham, Alabama, who grew up in South Minneapolis, opening and sustaining Thrifty Nifty has not been easy. Prior to relocating to Minneapolis, Thrifty Nifty was located in St. Paul, where Ferguson worked for years to build a steady customer base despite challenges with location and visibility.
“It was hard because I was in a corner. Then people would say, ‘I can’t see your sign. Where are you at?’ And then the parking was bad,” she said…