The Salvation Army thrift store has expanded hours and improved organization of items to better serve customers.
Located on Union Street at Fifth Avenue, the store is now open 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday except Wednesdays, when opening time is 9 a.m.
“I approach the store more from a retail standpoint than a wholesale garage sale type thing,” said Lt. David Kyle.
Kyle said he’s more selective about what goes into the store. “Every week we lose one quarter of the store and replace it. We make sure we have space set aside for different uses.”
The changing demands of a changing clientele means clothes are no longer left in heaps. “We have younger customers. They like to see the merchandise. Also, there are fire safety issues that need to be adhered to.”
Kyle said he’s planning a big book sale in the spring, as he recently received a sizeable collection from the former college at the Covenant Life Center. “We got lots of books. We’re just going to put them all out and charge a nickel apiece to send them down the road.”
Drop-offs are accepted during store hours only and must be in smaller amountd. “We’re not restricting anything, but I won’t take a truckload,” Kyle said. Salvation Army Haines has a Facebook page where he plans to provide more information about store offerings. “We’re making it more of a retail place than it was in the past. It’s all about awareness.”