Modesto’s new Salvation Army thrift store moves to bigger location. Shoppers approve
Die-hard thrift fanatics lined up around the building to shop inside Modesto’s new Salvation Army Family Thrift Store.
The second-hand store opened Thursday in the former Simi Floral Supply Center building, nestled among the car dealerships on north McHenry Avenue. The floral and party supply shop closed at the end of last year after 55 years in business. But its founder and building owner Ron Simi said he was happy to see his life’s work transformed into something that does good.
“It feels great to see it like this,” he said inside the new store. “It’s so nice to have this organization in here. It made it easier for me to retire.”
The thrift shop replaces the Salvation Army’s older, smaller store on Yosemite Boulevard. That location was closed about two weeks ago and the building is being sold, said Salvation Army Major Sylvan Young. The new 35,000-square-foot building has four times the floor space as the former site. That means more products and opportunities for the charitable organization.
All the funds raised in the Modesto thrift store go toward its Stockton Adult Rehabilitation Center, the group’s residential drug addiction program. The 80-bed facility is open to those seeking help across Northern California.
On its opening day, the store had a healthy line as doors opened. Shoppers were eager to check out the rows and rows of clothes, as well as shoes, kitchenware, home decor, books, movies, furniture, electronics and more. New products will be put out daily.
“It’s very good, and I like how it moved to this part of town,” said Modesto resident Frank Moreno, who came with his 5-year-old son Prince.
The donation center is located around the back of the building, and the new site has a large warehouse area to store merchandise. In the next year, the organization plans to run a work rehabilitation program in the warehouse to help process donations as they come into the center.
The new Salvation Army Family Thrift Store, at 4418 McHenry Ave., is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Donation drop-offs are accepted daily until 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.satruck.org/FamilyStore.
This story was originally published April 11, 2019 at 3:59 PM.
