It’s been exactly one year this week since Good Shepherd Humane Shelter Executive Director Cole Wakefield estimated that the shelter’s new thrift store on the 62 Spur in Berryville would be open by the end of 2022. He added the caveat, “But it’s a huge project.”
For most of last summer and into early fall a lot of scraping, cleaning, painting, demolition and renovation went on in and outside the 8400 sq. ft. building that formerly housed the Carroll County Newspapers offices and printing facility.
Thanks to a lot of hard work by Thrift Shops Manager, Janet Chupp, who headed the planning and design team with Wakefield; and GSHS VP and board member Mark Minton, who directed the construction phase – plus the boundless enthusiasm of employees and volunteers – the new facility was ready to receive the contents from the old location in November and had a soft opening by Christmas.
Since then, mountains of donations have been sorted, priced and placed in the proper showroom area in preparation for the official Grand Opening and ribbon cutting on Friday, May 19. The public is invited to come help GSHS celebrate.
“We are very excited to host this event for the community,” Chupp said. “There will be gift bags for the first one hundred people through the door, plus games and face painting for the kids,”
The shop is also offering lunch and beverages, as well as a special gift (until they run out) for those who purchase any item from the store that day. Special cat and kitten adoptions will be available from the free-range kitten romper room onsite.
The new facility offers furniture in homey settings, a spacious main showroom, smaller display areas, a snack and coffee bar, offices, an animal food distribution center, and the kitty romper room which has a glass wall so shoppers can watch the felines frolic. You’ll find craft and sewing areas, medical supplies, outdoor and yard items and art. Shopping is all on one floor.
The former press room serves as a sorting and pricing area, and the receiving bays off the press room make it easy to receive and process large donations, especially furniture. There are also plans for a community garden on the two-acre property.
Volunteers are always welcome for regular part-time shifts. Under a new policy, volunteers can choose either sorting/pricing or floor assistance/cash register work. Interested? Contact Janet Chupp (479) 334-8097.
Operating hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 206 US 62 Spur.