Lighthouse opens new thrift store
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on August 25, 2006 1:55 PM
The Lighthouse of Wayne County will once again venture into the thrift store business.
Seconds Please will replace the group's old thrift store, the Beacon of Hope, which had been located on West Walnut Street.
That store was opened Nov. 1, 2004, but closed its doors in October 2005. Lighthouse Director Cheri Seronick said it was nowhere near being self-sufficient.
She said it served two purposes while open -- to generate funds to use for client services and to allow domestic violence victims to choose free clothing and household items from donated goods.
"Having a store downtown, the majority of the traffic we got was foot traffic," Mrs. Seronick said. "And with that customer base, we couldn't charge enough money for nice clothing and items to make anything.
"We wanted to be in a location where if we want to sell a silk blouse for $5 instead of $1, we can do that. We really felt like we needed to get out of downtown to do that."
The new thrift store will open Oct. 1 at 4450 U.S. 70 East, just past N.C. 111 (the old City Girls Antiques store). Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Donations of housewares, clothing, knick knacks, appliances and furniture will be taken starting Sept. 1. The manager will be Cassy Wood.
The Lighthouse is leasing the building through a family violence prevention grant, Mrs. Seronick said.
"The new store will have informational materials on domestic violence in the dressing rooms," she said. "It will be a less conspicuous way for people who may need assistance to access our agency safely."
For information about the store or donations, contact the Lighthouse at 736-1313 or Ms. Wood at 738-2308.