Goodwill thrift store grand opening draws huge crowds
By YVETTE C. HAMMETT
If opening day was any indication, Riverview is more than ready for a super-sized thrift store, and, now, it has one.
The new Goodwill at 10739 Big Bend Rd., just east of U.S. 301, opened April 6. Some 1,600 people checked out through the cashiers that day, and that does not include the looky lou’s.
“The place was packed,” said Goodwill’s Chris Ward, director of marketing. “There were a lot of people really happy to see that store open. It opened at 9 a.m., and there was a line around the store of people, waiting to get in. Once the doors opened, it took 10 minutes for everyone to get inside.”
Goodwill prepared for months to open the new store, piling up inventory to fill its shelves and racks. Much of it was stored at a new warehouse facility, recently built north of the store on U.S. 301, just north of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway.
“That area is hungry to have a nice thrift store, and the people waiting to get in seemed really happy,” Ward commented.
The new store is 27,700 square feet, including the processing area. That is larger than the Brandon store on S.R. 60, which is 25,000 square feet and has been the leading Goodwill store east of the Mississippi River for years now. “This store has a more open look,” Ward said.
She added: “What we did all weekend long is people could sign up for a drawings to win prizes. We gave away a 65-inch Smart TV on Sunday.” The winner of the television was Lisa Pucciarello of Riverview. The store also gave away a couple of Apple iPads and other items.
“We had like 4,000 slips made up for the drawings, and they ran out and [we] had to print more,” Ward explained.
In addition to the shopping area, this Goodwill also has a job connection center. This is the second one Goodwill has opened.
The store will have a ribbon cutting April 17, and the Job Connection Center opens in July. It will offer free employment services to anyone who needs assistance.
“It’s right in the middle of the store, an office area enclosed in glass,” Ward said. “We have one in St. Petersburg where anybody can come in to use the computer and look for a job. There are also job developers there to walk them through the process of finding a job or a better job.”
Goodwill will also offer workshops on resume development, mastering the interview, and job seeking techniques.
“Our first job center in St. Pete is going great,” Ward said. “Not only do they help anybody who walks in for free, but [they] also do programs at public libraries and other places. This one will do the same thing.”
The ribbon cutting on April 17 begins at 8 a.m., and refreshments will be served. “It will also be an opportunity for people to learn more about the mission of Goodwill,” Ward said. Goody bags with coupons will be handed out afterward.