The Thrift Shop of Aspen is re-opening today at a new temporary location on East Hyman Avenue between the Mother Lode and the Crystal Palace buildings in downtown Aspen.
It’s a been a week since the nonprofit organization closed its doors and started moving its donated inventory to its new location, which is the former home of a supper club, an art gallery, a gift shop and most recently, Gracy’s consignment store.
For some regular customers of the Thrift Store, it was a long week.
Stephan Isberian, the owner of Isberian Rug Company on Hyman Avenue, makes the rounds of the Thrift Shop nearly every day.
“It’s my excuse to get out of the store and if I am on my way to the bank or somewhere, I’ll stop by,” Isberian said. “My kids just bought a house so I kind of shop for stuff for the house and the kitchen. And the ladies are all wonderful, that’s the best part.”
About 80 volunteers make the Thrift Shop work and about six are on duty on any given day. And the “Thrift Shop ladies” worked hard last week to move “stuff” from the old store to the new store.
“We collected and saved the best of the best stuff to re-open with,” said Christina Patterson, the vice president of the Thrift Shop board. “Everything is laid out differently and you’re going to have to come in and get reacquainted with everything.”
The Thrift Store’s former building, along with the Aspen Volunteer Fire Department building, are going to be demolished this week and replaced with two new buildings.
In the meantime, the Thrift Shop is paying below-market rent for its temporary space.
The rent payments, which were not specified, will cut into the approximately $250,000 a year the Thrift Shop donates to local nonprofits from proceeds of the clothing, books, toys, dishes, electronics and other stuff it sells.
However, the Thrift Shop board felt it was important to keep the store open in a downtown location while their new building is built.
And like the old store on Hopkins Avenue, there is a drop-off location in the alley behind the store. The alley is a one-way alley off of Mill Street behind the Wheeler Opera House.
Customers can also drop off donations at the front door when the store is open.
The Thrift Shop ladies are asking that people be mindful of what they drop off at the new store.
No mattresses, appliances or computers are accepted, although Habitat for Humanity’s re-sale store between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs does accept some larger items and offers a pick-up service.
And useless items, which tend to mostly show up under cover of darkness, are not welcome.
The nonprofit organization will keep its regular operating hours of 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, as well as Tuesday evenings from 4-7 p.m.
Also staying the same is the policy of volunteers making up prices for items at the cash register, where customers are encouraged to refrain from haggling.
One change at the new Thrift Shop might help the organization raise the $500,000 more it needs for its new building — the store now accepts credit cards.
bgs@aspendailynews.com