It’s growing in popularity, and it doesn’t cost you much.
Second-hand shopping has become mainstream, and in Barrie, Ont., a new store hopes to capitalize on the growing popularity of buying used goods.
“Finding a good deal once in a while gives you a good feeling,” says Barrie resident Arnold Filazek. “And besides that, the money goes toward a good cause.”
Thrift stores are becoming so popular, the Barrie Bible for Missions Thrift Store is expanding. There’s hardly any room left on the shelves and to meet the growing demand, it’s going to double in size with a new building in a new location.
Chair of the building committee Ralph Degroote says the thrift store will own the property and the building.
“We are outgrowing the space where we’re at that has been such a success,” Degroote says. “We feel with a bigger store, we are probably doubling the size.”
The new building will be at Yonge Street and Big Bay Point Drive. A ground-breaking ceremony was held June 10, 2013.
Volunteer Philip Bell says the store has been busier than ever.
“I think (it is) because people are wanting to see things used more and recycled out rather than disposed of,” he says. “They have so many things they want to see them passed on to someone else and this is a good way to do it. What we don’t sell, we recycle the best we can.”
For manager Betty Zondervan, the store’s low prices attract shoppers and donors.
“This time of year, we are just overloaded with blessings, as I call them,” she says. “But it’s a little overwhelming. A lot of people have garage sales and then at the end of the day they bring all their leftovers here.”
Construction on the new store is scheduled to start within the next couple of weeks, and they hope to be open by fall of this year. Until then, people can continue to shop or drop off donations at the Cundles Road location.
