The best places to shop for secondhand furniture in Los Angeles

Be prepared to spend some time inside this 54,000-square foot thrift store, where you will encounter endless rows of sofas, chairs and other household goods. The furniture at St. Vincent de Paul, which helps the Catholic volunteer organization serve the needy, is organized by genre, which is helpful if you are looking for something in particular. Seeking bedside tables? They are grouped in one room. Need a mattress? There is an entire room devoted to them. Chairs — barstools, dining, side and office chairs — inhabit another room in the massive building. (I found a terrific midcentury side chair needing upholstery for $25.) There are also appliances, housewares, clothing and electrical goods.

Sofas were available in every style, from modern leather to Victorian-style seating in flowery fabrics. A three-seater in good condition was $99. Similar lounge chairs were priced between $79 and $99. But not everything is cheap. A pristine leather club chair was on sale for $299 and a minimalist three-seater sofa in cream-colored linen was $349. A chest of drawers that looked brand-new was $399. A red leather sectional was $800. My favorite item, a custom-built dining room table with hairpin legs, was $249.

One of the sales staff told me there was even more furniture than what was on the showroom floor.

Unfortunately, furniture dimensions are not listed, so bring a tape measure. Once you remove the receipt from an item, you have 15 minutes to purchase it from a cashier. Otherwise, the item will be retagged and resold. All sales are final and sold as-is. Ample parking on-site.

Open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Also in Long Beach at 2750 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., (562) 494-9955.