Shelby Goodwill grand opening draws in a crowd

When the doors to the new Goodwill on East Dixon Boulevard opened at 10 a.m. Friday, more than 200 people poured inside ready to fill up empty tote bags and shopping carts with shoes, clothes and housewares.

A party atmosphere pervaded the building, and employees stood at the entrance ringing cowbells and cheering on customers as music played from a loudspeaker. By 9:45 a.m. the parking lot was so full, people were forced to park at the neighboring Walmart and walk to the store.

The former location beside Lowe’s, which opened 22 years ago, closed earlier in the week, and the new store, located in the former Lidl, hosted its grand opening with free coffee and donuts, a prize wheel and tote bags.

One of the largest: Shelby to host one of the largest Goodwill stores in the country

Alene Bates drove from Spartanburg, South Carolina, to get in line by 4 a.m. and was one of the first ones through the door. Within moments her arms were full of shoes and clothes.

She said she loves thrifting, especially in new locations.

“I love the grand opening most of all,” Bates said. “I’ve been to four in all. It’s a thrill.”

Joy Crawford said she came from Blacksburg, South Carolina, but it was the books that drew her in.

“That’s the only reason I’m here,” she said. “We’ve been watching this store get ready for months.”

She said she normally shops at Goodwill for books and clothing for her grandchildren.

Natalie Clayton, from Cherryville, said she loves thrift store shopping and called it a thrill.

“You never know what you’re going to find,” she said. “Me and my mom go to thrift stores together.”

Jose Luiz, chief operating officer, said the grand opening was going great with the first 200 people allowed to enter the store and shop and another 200 waiting in line outside.

“We love the opportunity to serve the community,” he said.

Luiz said the customers who come in and buy from the store help support Goodwill’s mission of providing job training and workforce services free of charge.

Charlotte has a Goodwill University which provides free job training courses, including virtual classes for those outside the Charlotte area.

Revenue from the sales of items goes back into those programs.

“It’s the community supporting the community,” Luiz said.

Even the location itself is an example of the Goodwill mission of repurposing things and bringing new life to an empty building, Luiz said.

“This Goodwill location is like nothing you’ve seen before,” he said.

It has a community room which is available to reserve for business meetings, bridal showers or events and Big Red’s café in partnership with a local business. It also boasts an entire electronics and gaming section hosted by tech store, The GRID.

Big Red’s Cafe offers shoppers various beverages and baked goods, and a kid zone where children can play.

Chris Jackson, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, told the crowd he is grateful for Shelby’s long standing support.

He said the mission of Goodwill is to build pathways to help people achieve success.

“We aim to help people see opportunities… and prosper,” Jackson said.

Last year they helped 6,000 people advance their careers.

“We’re so excited to be expanding,” he said.

Rebecca Sitzes can be reached at rsitzes@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Shelby Goodwill grand opening draws hundreds