Amid pandemic belt-tightening, thrift shop opens second London store
You might think opening a new retail store in the teeth of a pandemic doesn't make much sense.
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You might think opening a new retail store in the teeth of a pandemic doesn’t make much sense.
But the COVID-19 crisis itself is what’s given a non-profit thrift store in London the boost it needed to open a second store to cater to the needs of cash-strapped Londoners.
“I would say the pandemic has certainly impacted our industry,” said Jonelle Mace, general manager of the Mission Thrift Store. “We consider second-hand stores a very vital service, especially through these times of economic uncertainties, for many families.”
Mission Thrift Store is a separate organization from the Mission Store operated by Mission Services of London.
Plans for opening a second location of the Mission Thrift Store have been in the works for a few years after the success of its first store, opened in 2012 in the Fanshawe Park and Hyde Park roads area, Mace said.
But it was the COVID-19 pandemic and a surge in clients that made the expansion plans make economic sense, she added.
“We’ve seen an increase in shoppers and a different demographic than we’ve been used to,” Mace said.
The new store, at 784 Wharncliffe Rd. S. just north of Southdale Road, allows the non-profit to reach more Londoners, Mace said.
“We knew there was a portion of our community that we had yet to serve with our thrift store model because they just lived too far away from our existing store,” she said.
Though COVID gave a boost to its operation, opening a new location in the midst of the pandemic “is a little bit scary,” Mace said.
Due to existing restrictions, for instance, the new space will be allowed to operate at only 50 per cent capacity to start.
But Mace said the organization is confident the support of the community will continue to be there.
“As a non-profit . . . we rely completely on the community to donate goods to our cause,” she said. “We would not exist without those supporters.”
Crews are putting the final touches on the new retail space. Mace said the hope is to start receiving donations and launching the store in the coming weeks.
Once COVID-19 restrictions allow, the store will host a grand opening for the public, likely in the summer.
“We hope we can gather again together and find a way to celebrate with our community,” Mace said.
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