Goodwill Industries of the Valleys held the grand opening of its newest retail store on West Main Street in Salem on Thursday January 6th. Goodwill Marketing Manager Suni Heflin said, “We are very excited about the opening of this new store right in the heart of Salem. It will be a convenient location to donate and shop.”
The grand opening led off with a “Tie” cutting ceremony at 8:45 a.m. and featured local officials, community leaders, and Goodwill representatives welcoming the new store to the area. The doors opened for shoppers for the first time immediately following the ceremony.
During the grand opening festivities, which will continue through Sunday, January 9th, shoppers will have the opportunity to register to win a new flat screen television and take advantage of thousands of bargains throughout the store.
The new store offers over 7000 square feet of retail space filled with high quality, low cost furniture, books, household items, and clothing for the entire family, as well as a drive-thru donation center.
“Goodwill is excited to expand to better serve the Salem community,” stated Bruce Phipps, President and CEO. “When the community donates and shops at Goodwill, they are helping people achieve the pride, dignity, and self respect that comes from real work.”
The addition of a new store is timely, as Heflin explained, “The need in our community is greater than ever before. In 2010, Goodwill served 40,000 individuals just in the 31 counties we serve. This number was up from approximately 32,000 the year prior. The stores are the economic engine that funds the job training and employment programs we offer.”
Heflin added, “Convenience is a real key factor we consider when deciding where to open a new store. We want donors and shoppers to have the most convenient locations and West Main Street in Salem is one example of an absolutely perfect location. The Lakeside Salem location is still a great place to donate and shop and will remain open.”
For many households, the New Year means sorting and purging possessions, and while Goodwill is perhaps best known as a convenient place to find a new home for those items, Heflin wants to remind the community that “Helping people and families in our community achieve a better life through work and independence is our mission. Without donations and a way to sell those donations, our mission can’t be met.”
Goodwill retail stores support the training and employment programs for individuals who face barriers to employment. Last year the donated goods operation generated $24.1 million in revenue and provided over 578 jobs in the communities served by Goodwill in Virginia. The new store, Goodwill’s 32nd store location, will employ 17 people, including supervisory positions.
The new Salem store, located at 1830 West Main Street (the former Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi location) will be open Monday – Saturday from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday noon – 6 p.m. Donation Center hours are Monday –Saturday from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday noon – 6 p.m.
Visit www.goodwillvalleys.com for more information.
