SPCA store gets ready for move
Volunteers are packing up the bric-a-brac to move the Aiken SPCA Thrift Store to larger quarters.
The store's final day at its present location on Park Avenue will be Saturday, and the doors will open to the public at its new location, 404 Richland Ave. E., on Monday, March 1. The new store at the corner of Richland Avenue and Union Street, which formerly housed the Amish Heirloom Furniture, will give the SPCA twice the space of its previous location, according to SPCA Executive Director Gary Willoughby.
"We started off with just one side of the store, I think about 10 years ago, and outgrew that and took over the second side in January of 2007; it's a little over 2,000 square feet," Willoughby said. "I've been looking for a new location for almost a year because we've gotten a lot more donations and we've really outgrown it. The Board of Directors wanted us to stay as close to downtown as possible, and I wanted a larger overall space and dedicated parking."
Among the new building's other pluses are double doors at the front and back, enabling easier access for delivery of large furniture and appliances, and a dressing room space, Willoughby said. There will also be a pet adoption area with shelter cats there full-time and weekend dog adoptions, and an information table with plans for the new SPCA shelter at the store, to emphasize the thrift store's connection to animal welfare.
"One thing that worked out for us is that this building is owned by Lee Boylston, who owns Holley Heating and Air. He's been a big supporter of ours for a long time now, so it's a good fit for both of us," he said.
The thrift store is offering special sales this week in hopes of finding homes for some of its merchandise rather than packing it up and taking it to the new store. Sales include $2 on women's tops and shoes unless otherwise marked, half off framed pictures and some housewares, and buy one, get one free books.
"We have rock-bottom prices every day, but the more we can sell, the less we'll have to move," thrift store employee Kay Bradford said.
The thrift store will accept new donations after Saturday at the new location, Willoughby said. The new store will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The phone number will remain the same: 648-0091.
"In general, the thrift store is our single largest source of income for the entire organization," Willoughby said. "Because we are building a new shelter, we know our expenses are going to go up, and we needed a bigger, better store to bring in more money. The Aiken SPCA is a private charity, and it relies on public donations."
Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.