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CONTACT: Patricia Kemp |
Society of St. Vincent de Paul to open
the largest thrift store in Wayne County
Westland store establishes the society’s “Big Three”
retail facilities in tri-county area.
WESTLAND, Mich.—The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) will open the largest thrift store in Wayne County this week in Westland. The 22,900-square-foot facility is the most recent addition to the Society’s growing chain of 10 thrift stores across southeast Michigan and the third major big box operation to serve the metropolitan Detroit tri-county area.
A Grand Opening VIP Preview will be held Thursday, August 10 at 11 a.m. at the SVdP Westland Thrift Store and Donation Center, 6613 Wayne Road in the Westland Shopping Plaza. The store will officially open to the public Saturday, August 12 at 9 a.m.
“The grand opening of our third big box thrift store in Westland is an extraordinary occasion for the Society as the largest thrift store in Wayne County,” said SVdP Executive Director William Brazier.
“This store also joins the ranks of our two other big box operations. These three stores in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties are a critical part of the Society’s mission to help the poor. Through donations and purchases at our thrift stores, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is able to assist 30,000 households annually.”
Known as the “Big Three,” Brazier said the Westland, Clinton Township and Waterford big box thrift stores are unique facilities that offer more than 20,000-square-feet of retail and donation processing space. The concept converts vacant large-end retail space in high-traffic shopping centers into facilities that manage a large volume of retail and resale goods.
Since March 2005, the Society has opened a 38,000-square-foot former Best Buy facility in Clinton Township, the largest thrift store in operation by SVdP, and a 20,000-square-foot former New York Carpet World and pet store in Waterford. More than 300 shoppers visit the big box SVdP Westland Thrift Store Grand Opening stores each day and SVdP officials anticipate the Westland store to draw similar numbers of customers and donors.
The Big Three will anchor the Society’s chain of thrift stores in southeast Michigan. The big box approach is a modern trend in thrift store retailing that allows the Society to remain competitive in a changing marketplace, said Ray Minton, Vice President of Thrift Store Operations and a retired Kmart marketing executive.
“We’re definitely on a roll,” Minton said. “The wide selection of merchandise presents a unique shopping experience to bargain-hunters and is also affordable to people looking to stretch their dollar a little further. The nicer we present the store to our customers, the better quality of merchandise is donated which keeps us competitive in a varying economy.”
The store will offer a wide selection of clothing for men, women and children, designer and retro fashions, career wear, footwear, in addition to antiques and collectibles, jewelry, electronics, records, books, sporting and outdoor equipment, furniture, and many other household items.
All 10 SVdP thrift stores will offer special sales in celebration of the Westland store grand opening.
Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12-5 p.m. New items are received daily with merchandise rotated every six to eight weeks. Donors may drop off items seven days a week until 30 minutes before closing at a convenient drive-up donation center behind the store. Donor pickups for large items and quantities can be scheduled by calling 1-877-ST-VINCE (1-877-78-84623). Receipts for tax credit are available.
Through donations, volunteering and purchases at SVdP thrift stores, the Society is able to provide 30,000 households across southeast Michigan each year with domestic goods and assistance with housing and utility payments for families in need. SVdP operates 10 thrift stores in southeast Michigan with locations in Clinton Township, Detroit, Flat Rock, Inkster, Port Huron, Southgate, Waterford and Westland.
SVdP is a major provider of human and disaster relief services, assisting people in crisis who have been victims of fires or floods, lost their job, or other urgent situations by providing emergency support. SVdP is one of 10 organizations nationwide selected by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to participate in Katrina Aid Today, a two-year case management grant funded by FEMA to assist with the resettlement of hurricane victims in the metro Detroit area. SVdP works in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Detroit, networking with 2,000 Vincentian volunteers in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, St. Clair and Monroe counties. Surplus from the thrift stores support SVdP’s other charitable operations including the Society’s food depots, youth summer camps and health care facilities.
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