Salvation Army in Wilmington opens another thrift store while plans remain for new shelter

With its downtown thrift store closed and the building recently demolished, the Salvation Army in Wilmington has made new arrangements to serve the community, including opening another store.

The city bought the Salvation Army’s building and land at 820 N. Second St. earlier this year for $4.8 million. City leaders called the buy a “strategic” move that gives it an opportunity to redevelop the site and draw more economic development to the area.

As for the Salvation Army, it has relocated most of its social services to the Harrelson Center. Progress is also being made to build a community center and shelter facilities off of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

Here are three things to know:

Where is the new thrift store?

A new thrift store opened recently at 5912 Oleander Drive in Wilmington at the corner of Peiffer Avenue. The store is open 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Another Salvation Army thrift store in the city remains in operation just off Oleander at 1411 Floral Parkway, across from Hanover Center.

Is the MLK Parkway site still on track to start construction?

Major Ken Morris, a pastor and corps officer with the Salvation Army, said "the architect is working on final drawings. There is no hold up, we are moving forward. The next step will be to hire a general contractor."

The organization purchased the land in 2016.

What will be included at the new 22-acre site?

"Our first building will be a replacement shelter. Then when funds are available, we will be building a community center. Additional space for further development," Morris said.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Salvation Army in Wilmington opens new thrift store