The Scrap Exchange

What a great idea to reuse, repurpose, and revamp donated items. It’s wild to see something as simple as toilet paper rolls being donated, but honestly they’re awesome for anyone who needs supplies for a craft project. There are so many small knickknacks with so many versatile uses! There is fabric scraps, fabric rolls, yarn, sewing stuff, knitting needles for $1 a pair, crochet hooks, tools, wood, miscellaneous electrical stuff, ribbon, rocks, bottle caps, eggs cartons, beer tops, fast food straws, glasses, Christmas stuff, packing and shipping, office supplies, plastic containers, chairs, spray paint, gardening, wine corks, random puzzle pieces, beads, buttons, leather, belt buckles, bra straps … so much more. Stores like this should exist in every state and major city. One person’s junk truly becomes another person’s treasure here. I was really interested in the Brother Cover stitch machine - however after talking to an employee and getting the full transparency on the machine decided to not get it. It’s not her fault! Eventually I would have realized in the store what was wrong with it. If I needed parts - this would have been awesome find. But checking the brother website the main parts needed to close up the machine were not available. It was becoming more of finding all the missing parts rather than like just a pressure foot missing, missing needles, or even just a missing foot pedal would have been easier than replacing who knows all what else. I’m sure someone else will snag this and be over the moon! It just couldn’t have been me and I’ll live in regret but I’ll find it when it’s meant to be 😅 The only downsides here were the music and the smell of the bathroom. The bathroom reeked while just passing by it. Aside from that, the customer service was great! They offer workshops too, some are free and some are priced as high as $55. The store really has something for everyone at great prices!

Youve been looking for this place your entire life. With all kinds of people and creatures walking around inside, this is a safe place to be anything you want to be… and also shop donated trash and discarded objects. Prices are decent. It is tough to find anyone who works there though… you can get lost in the layout. But there is also an art gallery with works you can ogle and be inspired by. Pack a lunch cause this place will take you all day.

I mostly wanted to leave a review to show my appreciation for their volunteers and the entire existence of this store in the first place! As a hobbiest who does both sewing and model train work, I HIGHLY recommend this place. There's so many things that normally I would have to dig out of the recycling or never think about going out and looking for! I love visiting here for materials!

Awesome place with nearly everything you can think of for super cheap! Great place to volunteer and to complete community service hours. I love the office supplies and housewares stuff and sometimes there are nice containers :)

I wish more cities had a place like the Scrap Exchange. So many perfectly good items for any craft! Next time you need an item for your project, consider looking here first before going to a big box store. I haven't tried any of their classes yet, but I'm sure they're fantastic and hope to try one soon.

Truly nothing else like it. I visited from PA and wish so badly there was something this impressively useful near me!!

I like this place and have been coming for years but have been disappointed with my most recent visits; prices, first off, are getting a little ridiculous. A used, small ball of yarn costs $3-4. You can get a full skein at Michael's for about the same price. I've seen used Forever 21 dresses priced at $14-16, etc. like I understand the store needs to stay afloat but some of these prices feel a bit silly for secondhand goods :-/ Another thing that's not fun to deal with is there are increasingly aggressive homeless people in the lot that will sometimes follow you to your car, asking for or sometimes demanding money. While I feel for them, I have had experiences that have genuinely made me feel scared and unsafe.

The Scrap Exchange is an amazing space. Donated materials are sorted by type and fairly priced. My finds today included a 1L glass beaker, a bushel of crayons, some party decorations, a few flower ppts, nearly full tubes of oil paint, and polished stones. I will be back and I will bring friends.

Welcome to a veritable wonderland for crafters and artists. They inspire the imagination. I wanted to crochet a fidget bao or steamed dumpling for my daughter. I found yarn, poly fill and buttons plus 4 stamps and 3 stamp pads and put them in a nice pencil case for the hefty sum of $9. The place is beautifully organized!

Whenever we are in the area we make sure to stop by. It's a crafter and artist's paradise! The place has a huge variety of supplies that can be used for so many different projects. I am sure to peak at the fabric to find some special prints I'd likely not find other places. I also snag some zippers since they are so much cheaper than buying new. I could spend hours going through this store and looking at all the fun items that could be used for different projects. Staff are nice and laid back as well.

I LOVE Scrap exchange it's my favorite place to go to kill time and hunt for treasures and crafting supplies. They have the weirdest and most unique items there and I love it, that's what gives the place its charm. Everything his extremely affordable and I've gotten a lot of cool and witty t-shirts from there that I wear quite often. The staff are very friendly and while they tend to rush around and leave the check-out desk empty they are quick to rush over and take your payments. It's an amazing place to explore weekly as they are always cycling out items and clothing. 100% recommend this place if you pride yourself in being a thrifty and crafty person!

This place is what helped me feel at home when we moved here from "Up North" (Ohio, in my case) a long time ago! A wonderful idea, community, haven, and experience, whether you live here or are just visiting. Love, love, love the Scrap Exchange!

Excellent thrift store. As usual with thrift stores the men's clothing didn't really stick out to me. However, my girl friend had fun looking at clothes for herself. She came out with some pretty vintage clothing. I wasn't looking for anything specific but the store is actually pretty well organized. I came out with full set of Harry Potter movie series and a Google nest mini- that I use all the time.

I wish I could like this place, but ever since they stuck their nose into geopolitics in the Middle East, I cannot in good conscience support them. Why an organization trying to keep things out of landfills needs to take sides in the war in Gaza/Israel, I will never know. I will also never shop there again.

You know, I didn't come here on purpose. I kinda had to to, multiple times. Long story. But having to come back week after week, month after month, you learn the charms of the store. The price, hell yes it's a steal. And I've have purchased a few pieces of brand new, beautiful kitchen ware here. It's not all junk, but you can make the process a fun one!

A modern day Emmett Till is how I was treated at the Scrap Exchange back in 2021.i was wrongfully banned at the store, Laura the former Executive Director. She said in an email to me something happened with a customer where I harrassed and was being aggressive with a customer. A caucasian customer lied by going to Wendy a then manager at the time and told her she felt threatened, this because she felt that I was being shown favoritism by another employee and she didn't like it.Wendy and others within the Scrap Exchange knew they didn't have just cause to remove me because I had always been respectful to both customers and employees until another customer who is an african american came in upset because she to felt I was treated favorably by an employee. The african american customer goes off on both myself and the employee and I along with the other african american customer was banned for a yr. After said yr they let her back into the store but continued to lie on me Heather, current director specifically saying I was still visiting the store harrasing and and having disputes with with employees during my time of the unjust 1 yr ban..I NEVER came back to that store.i tried having THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT SERVICES investige their claims and the Scrap Exchange could not show that I ever did anything wrong via video footage. Could not show I harrassed anyone or that I came back.They completely dismissed my claim after holding it for over 2 yrs and siding with the Scrap Exchange who obviously was not going to acknowledge how wrong they did me,Neighborhood Improvement Services took a couple of employees word as being credible.Shame on them as well and i met with them to let them know how disappointed i am.It is so very wrong that in this day and time a black person can be accused of something without a company having to prove anything. Clear DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER! Just throw around a person of color being aggressive and there you have your case without evidence.If I ever did anything wrong why didn't Laura meet with the NAACP Durham chapter president, Rev Rachel Green at the time she call.She declined to meet.My daughter went in asking what is it that I did in the calmest manner to Brittany and she cried wolf yelling Carol Paytons daughter is here..like my daughter was threatening her.The nerve and to further say she should have her banned to. Now my daughters ability to go to the store and shop in peace is threatened. This is sickening because if they can do this ti me without any evidence,they can do it to anyone walking into that store and YES I AM CALLING ALL OF YOU OUT BY NAME HEATHER,BRITTANY,WENDY,AND LAURA..SHAME ON YOU ALL. AND FOR THE MANY TIMES I TRIED REACHING OUT TO THE OWNER.To place a lifetime ban on me without cause. Happy Black History month it will never change

I absolutely love this place!!! I could literally stay here al day long. They have the coolest stuff here from fabric, supplies, crafts, apparel, any and everything you could think of. My favorite bin is the leather scrap pieces. I found some amazing pieces and it's .25 cents a oz. I can't wait until Saturdays so I can get my weekly fix. I always find some amazing gems

I stopped in here with a friend and even though I knew going in that this was an unusal type of spot, I was still somehow expecting the state of the shelves to be a little better. There is so much stuff here that frankly should go in the trash but I guess they're hoping that someone can save this stuff from the landfill. The space had a lot of items that looked used or in poor condition. I do think if you're exceptionally creative and thrifty and working on a very random craft project, this spot may work for you. I may have been better off going with a very specific vision than just browsing.

It is hard to describe the Scrap Exchange. Part Army Surplus Part wayward home for unloved craft supplies Part Salvage reclaim part rabbit warren Certainly a mash-up. Go wearing jeans Leave feeling dusty but satisfied Leaving with everything from craft supplies, bits of old wood or vintage finds like balsa wood airplane kit or luggage. It is easy to spend a whole day combing though stuff. Inviting you to find a creative and innovative use for thousands of orange lids. (Fish scales perhaps)? Someone has done the hoarding so you don't have to. Scrap Exchange excels at keeping stuff out of landfills and is an upcyclers dream.

This is so far the coolest find since moving to NC from CA. If you like thrifting and arts/crafts, this place is a must! I thought it was going to be a small store with only a limited selection of fabrics and small scraps, but it's pretty big and they literally have everything! Office supplies, stamps, bike helmets, wood, leather scraps, etc. The location is also pretty hidden, I would have never found this place on my own had my friend not told me about it. I can't wait to go back to get more stuff!

Great place to find usual thrift store goods as well as crafter and oddball supplies. Quirky and fun atmosphere!

I'm cut from a different cloth. I have enormous self confidence and I'm a strong personality. I'm also kind, respectful and decent. I don't steal. That SIAD, I haven't conformed to what people think is the standard. I dress differently. What the problem is is that most people are intimidated by my style and don't like it. In that store, I've been followed, asked to leave and more than once. I've had a few hundred dollars worth in my carriage to buy and was told to leave. I'm looked at different and they ignored me when I got home to call to complain. Idc what they have. Unless your not one of them, you will be uncomfortable. Fact. If they we're giving stuff away, I wouldn't take it. I suggest going out of Durham to someplace decent.

It's great if you know what you're looking for otherwise probably not worth the time.

So many wonderful things to buy- as a preschool teacher, I can always a ton of items to use for upcoming crafts and projects... also great doors and table !

Excellent spot for a treasure trove of various crafts and projects. You never know what you'll find! Sometimes they may bot have what you're looking for, but that's to be expected; thrifting isn't ever a guarantee. However, you'll likely have a fun time hunting, regardless!

No, last visit (April '23) was very slim pickings. Prices are great but options were few.

This is such a cool business! You can find so much that you could use for crafting and creating. I went in with the intention of finding some old magazines for collages. I ended up leaving with a bunch of stuff to make homemade greeting cards! I got some magazines, scrapbook paper, stickers, cardstock, envelopes, and more. And I spent $9! They weigh paper by the pound so when you're just experimenting with a new hobby, like I was, you don't have to buy much. You can wander for hours. This is also a great place to bring friends from out of town, as well as teacher friends- they can find so much to use in the classroom! I'm excited for the thrift expansion that is happening, and also excited that the Scrap Exchange we know and love will be sticking around the Lakewood Plaza.

I love these sorts of places! It's hit or miss weather you'll find anything good or not but the hunt is always fun. Lots to look at and browse through. I never leave without anything.

I visited the art thrift store and the regular thrift store. Both are absolutely great - and I hope I can visit again, or better yet, I hope they will install one (or one just like it) in Raleigh! Great store hours, amazing book area, so many unique items in both stores too! I didn't find any plus size clothing, that would be my only possible suggestion for the regular thrift side store.

I visited the scrap today. No words describe my disappointment with the "new" Make-N-Take location. The Make-N-Take was set in a well-fitted place and now moved into a crappy size. The Make-N-Take went from neat to a disaster. Who decided this? Because it wasn't for the best. I had planned to have my daughter's 10th birthday party here, but after seeing the move, I am going to have to reconsider big time, unlike the Make-N-Take location.

This is just a fun random place to browse. They accept donations of industrial scraps and other materials, and you can use them to make crafts or assemble random knick knacks. They are a nonprofit and also seem to have spaces for events like kids parties and perhaps classes. You can either go looking for specific scraps or just browse. You just never know what you're gonna find (hey look, a whole bin or old plastic film cannisters!). They also have events like Smashfest where you pay for items and then get to throw them at a wall -- gets out your aggression and raises funds for them. Glad that Durham has an odd little place like this.

Big thrift store, that I wish I'd had time to explore. I had to drop off some of mom's stuff after a move, and they have a spot to pull in out front. Very friendly and helpful staff. Easy access. Mom and her friends spoke highly of this place, both donating and buying stuff from here. It's local, not Goodwill or Salvation Army, and they are doing a great job.

Going here made me really nostalgic. They had so many things that I remember being present in my life which have all but disappeared. But it also reminded me of the ways I watched my grandmother reuse things. Before goods were cheap and it was trendy most families reused things. But that's another story. Scrap exchange is the ultimate thrift/reuse store combo. Not very pricey, but it could be addictive. They have artwork, fabric, electronics. We made the trip because my son needed fabric for cloth napkins for school and his friend wanted to make a robot. We saw fashion students there and people trying to furnish an apartment. What retail store could accommodate all those kinds of needs in one. I am excited to see how they continue to expand.

This place was INSANE. There are so many bits and bobs sure to excite your imagination. The scrap exchange spans into multiple well organized rooms of resale craft supplies. I spent two hours exploring each section wishing I could bring a bag full of things with me back to Detroit, but of course an extra checked bag is an arm and a leg. They have a gallery installation in the back with a totally relevant collection of up cycled commercial fabric and weavings. Incredible work to say the least. Enjoy!!

I'd been told about The Scrap Exchange ever since I first moved to NC in 2014. I finally visited in 2017. (What can I say; I'm sometimes a bit slow to adopt.) Now that I've been several times, I can say with certainty that TSE is a veritable creative oasis. You can be into any kind of art -sewing, mixed media, metal work, wood work, you name it- and you'll find items to further those pursuits. And the best part is they're way cheaper than retail. You have the satisfaction of reusing/repurposing/recycling at a much lower cost. If you're also just looking for random items at a lower cost, then that's also a good bet. I've gotten small tables, crates, glassware and so on for low cost but high quality. The staff is always helpful and full of great info. My visits to TSE really soothe my soul and help me feel creative. Plus, I enjoy supporting a non-profit that's improving the neighborhood without driving out the local inhabitants. TSE is doing great work. Check them out!

I visited the Scrap Exchange yesterday for my birthday and I'm sad to say it but... The Scrap is now Crap! I used to go and fill two shopping carts full with stuff. If you're a science nerd, you will be very disappointed. They went from literally hundreds of different chemistry labware items to a total of eight. The overall variety of neat stuff, is sadly, a bygone era. Also, on top of the widespread letdown of all that is Scrap, the employees just don't seem to give a crap about the store. I felt bad even buying the two items I got because I knew it would be used to pay said employees. That's a long way to go considering the Scrap Exchange was my all time favorite store on the planet.

I just found this place and loved it! I think you can find just about anything here. If you like to dig around for the odd and unusual, you will have some fun here. I don't even know how long I was wandering around, this place is pretty big! Tools, electronics, books, sewing material, craft materials, jewelry, toys, glassware.... I found quite a few treasures and spent under $20. The staff was super friendly, they accept donations and even have a craft room where kids and adults can sit down and make crafts. Neat place that seems to do a lot for the community.

Great place to wander around & find cool treasures. Definitely stop in & see what great things you will find

I'm so disappointed in the Scrap Exchange. They used to be fun and quirky and understood what they were selling which was donated odds and ends. They have obviously grown too quickly and the new thrift store STAFF ARE NOT NICE. I went to drop off a car full of items on Sunday in the pouring rain and apparently missed the sign that said do not enter. Donors be warned. If you pull in the wrong way you will first be asked to turn around before they will except any of your items. And no I am not kidding. They are obviously much more interested in their traffic policy then to bend the rules or to give a little grace for someone who has missed the sign in the pouring down rain. But they have no problem asking you to round up your transaction for a cash donation. Good bye Scrap Exchange. It was fun while it lasted. I will donate and spend by money elsewhere.

I can't believe I hadn't visited The Scrap Exchange after hearing about it consistently for the past three years! I was a little hesitant after hearing about their most recent move into the Lakewood plaza, I used to live a couple miles from there and would occasionally swing by the Food Lion when in dire need and let me tell you, it's sketchy [just not a place I felt safe as a young, white, female]. However, if you can overlook that and see the good in what The Scrap Exchange is doing, you will be pleasantly surprised. Going to the Scrap Exchange challenges me to do more projects with used materials. My sister has gone there many a times to pick up salvaged wood for various projects. I am not usually a "do-it-yourself" type person, but I think if you have something in mind prior to visiting, this is a great place to pick up project items for a much cheaper price. Personally, the store can be a little overwhelming if you're going there looking to be inspired. There are just SO many products and things, things you never would've thought to recycle. However, if you can hone back on the sheer magnitude of the store, and have an idea of what you want before you arrive, there's a good chance you're going to be pleasantly pleased. Unlike most thrift stores, the Scrap Exchange recycles more stuff: office supplies, paper, ribbons, yarn, phone, children's toys, cardboard boxes and metal tins, scrap wood, etc. They have a whole area of unused greeting cards, scrapbook supplies, board games and some ceramics and jewelry. They DON'T have clothing and not a lot of furniture or household products. They have one area where you can fill a bag (three sizes priced $5-$15/bag) with anything from about twenty large blue bins. These bins have everything from bottle caps to pieces of unfinished knitting or croquette work to old race medals to fabric scraps. The Scrap Exchange also offers a "members" program (I THINK it's $45/person or $30 if you're a student, teacher, clergy, etc.) They offer discounts and special shopping events to members. The Scrap Exchange also offers classes for adults and kids! I haven't been yet, but it's definitely on my child-friendly list!

The scrap exchange is usually a hit or miss with clothes or any Knick knacks. It's a great place for books though.

I've always loved the scrap exchange! I learned about that almost a decade ago and they were our go-to for cheap supplies for events. They've moved to a larger place since I left Durham and returned and it's more organized than it used to be and has waaaaay more stuff. I dropped by for some yarn recently and was happy that it was easy to find and nearly sorted into colors. They tend to only have a single skein of each type of yarn, so it's not great for large uniform projects but good for smaller things. I found some great wool and alpaca yarns that were a steal! They have a large supply of knitting needles and a very small supply of crochet needles. Staff was nice and friendly! I asked for help looking for an item and they were able to point me straight to it. I'm not sure how often they get new inventory but I'll have to make it my go-to for yarn!

This is a very cool store. Lots to discover and get your creative juices flowing. There are also thrift items such as appliances and technical equipment. I recommend following their Facebook page because they regularly get new things in and post on there. Overall this is a fun place to go but some downsides are it can be very crowded and is sometimes impossible to navigate with a cart (take a reusable bag to stick your stuff in when you're shopping) and some things are surprisingly expensive (especially when they're selling by weight - there doesn't seem to be a way to weigh in advance of checking out.) This is a place that is good to be mentally prepared for - it can be overwhelming!

Wonderful place to start if you're starting a crafty project and looking for (cheap!!!) supplies. It's well organized into thematic areas, such as fiber (fabrics, patterns, yarn, lace), print (inks, paints, pencil), frames, posters, etc. Last visit I got eight pattern packages (some of them had four or five patterns in the envelope) for $8. FWIW the patterns I saw were all straight sized with b-cup bust :(.

Best place to START no matter what you need. Go to Scrap Thrift for clothes, books, household, electronics, furniture then cross the parking lot for all sorts of other amazing items. Especially recommended for parents, teachers, artists, crafters, students, retirees...well everyone really. Destination even just for a fun outing. Must see!

Two words: Ribbon wall. This is the happiest place in Durham. Don't buy anything you need without checking here first: crafting supplies, school supplies, office supplies, greeting cards, hardware, clothes, books, computer equipment, CDs...literally anything.

I love the Scrap Exchange! I always go their first if I have a DIY project that I'm about the tackle because I know that they'll have a great selection of paints, tools, and supplies to get the job done. Most of the time inspiration strikes and I leave with a totally new project in mind! It is also a great place to donate my unneeded stuff. Because their mission is to get as much use out of everything that comes in, I feel confident that my items will find a new home. They have a super convenient donation drop off area at their Thrift location (they share a parking lot)- you can just drive your car up and staff will come right out to help you unload your stuff.

Wow this place is awesome! Part retail store, part creative space and tons of DIY fun! I met some yelpers at the make n take room last night for some holiday fun. If you have a group of friends, students, etc. this is a great place to take them for some creative DIY crafts. For just $5 you get and hour and a half to play with all kinds of cool recycled materials and make whatever you want. No glue allowed you have to get really creative and put your crafts together using masking tape, staples, string or whatever else you can think of. The Scrap Exchange is a nonprofit creative reuse center and they have moved to this new space. The space itself is huge. They offer classes, an open studio, and what we experienced the make n take room, which can hold as many as 50 people. Even though the make n take room is geared toward children, us adults had an absolute blast. I really needed this hour and a half to just get back into my creative mind and only think about the craft I was making. I forget how calming it is to sit down and do some arts and crafts. The retail store is amazing I had a friend stop by while we were there and she was blown away. She's coming by next week to make some purchases for her business. This is one of those truly unique places that everyone needs to check out. So stop on by and visit, volunteer, or donate to this great cause. I can't wait to come back here. My mind is full of great ideas since leaving last night. Thanks to The Scrap Exchange for recharging my mind and giving me more creative juice.

Imagine that civilization collapses, and the people left to sort through the ruins of the industrial world and gather stuff together are all competent seamstresses, stone masons, electronics technicians, and art students. ESPECIALLY art students. Now imagine how amazing their home base would be. Now imagine they love to teach classes and share their stuff and their knowledge with you. Are you thinking that would basically be the best place in the history of places? Well YOU WOULD BE RIGHT. This place is incredible.

I love the scrap exchange. Especially the new thrift store! The staff and I are on a first name basis! they are so super friendly, extremely helpful, and they actually look for things that I regularly shop for to put aside for me. If that's not customer service I don't know what is! They have the best of the best, the crème de la crème, the top of the crop. not only do I love shopping there for personal reasons, but I love what they do in the durham community, and they've been doing it for so long that they are experts at it. They are making a difference in the lives of our community and growing the imaginations of our children. This is definitely a place to treasure!

This place offers a myriad of scrap items at very reasonable prices. It is an artist's dreamland. You can find everything from scrap wood, scrap leather, to various random home furnishing accessories. The staff is very friendly, and there is even a thrift store next door that has so many amazing steals. Check it out for sure!

This place has it all. And I do mean all of it. It's nestled back in a corner of Durham in a large retail space and lots of room. Items are grouped by type. I found many interesting things to purchase. I also felt like I paid a fair price for the items I purchased. I personally give 4 stars instead of 5 because it was difficult to navigate and although the employees were friendly and helpful when asked I really had no idea what I was doing. I bought a vintage purse and skirt, looked through the abundant sewing supplies, and found a new whiteboard for my classroom. I wish the schools could do purchase orders here. There's a ton of donated science supplies they might benefit from. It's far out of the way for me but definitely a nice way to spend a rainy day. I would love to make it back soon.

The Scrap Exchange is a two part store: 1) the actual scrap exchange store; 2) the thrift store. The scrap exchange store contains carts of everything 'scrappy' you can imagine including thermometers they use in middle school, nails, fabrics, frames, etc. The place isn't completely organized so I'd only go if you were looking for something specific- this store is probably a haven for those craft masterminds. The thrift shop is across the street and huge. It includes the typical thrift stop stuff: bags, luggage, clothes, shoes, jewelry, books, kitchen appliances, frames, and more. This thrift store is very cheap and you can get a punch card (I think after the 10th purchase you get $10 off your purchase).

It is a wonderful place, however, their claim to be a reuse store, has drastically changed over time. They now sell things they claimed wasn't appropriate before such as, working televisions, stereos, speakers, radios, furniture, antique/vintage items, etc.,- all things they previously sent to thrift stores (as they should). Their desire to make money is overshadowing their mission statement. Rod O, hmmmm. think he works there, should be an Ad review if so.

Unique place with a lot of interesting items to let your creativity goes wild. It is an especially great source of art or project materials. There are also some books, comic books and stuff. I have been impressed with the randomness I see in there and you never know what you will find...of course, sometimes nothing, but that's okay.

I have been frequenting the scrap exchange ever since I was 11 & enjoy the fun conglomeration of treasures to find here.

Awesome reuse and repurpose supply center!! Just wandering around got me thinking about fun creative ideas!