The hunt was on Aug. 22 at Washington Square Mall — the hunt for bargains.
For the first time since Sears closed in 2018, shoppers returned to the property’s northernmost end. They prowled the new Evansville Goodwill Industries thrift store, perusing racks of donated pants, tops, jackets, and shoes, plus furniture, home decor, books and more.
The doors opened at 9 a.m. – following a brief ribbon cutting ceremony 15 minutes earlier – and a line of people stretching around the building filed in. Those at the front arrived at sunrise.
Only 100 shoppers were allowed inside at once, so many had to wait before browsing the aisles. Adult shoes were going for $4.99; jeans could be had for $6.99.
The store covers 14,000 square feet, much larger than Goodwill’s former East Side store a few blocks north of Washington Square Mall. President and CEO Connie Ralph says the renovated space offers “a huge array of one-of-a-kind merchandise,” and donations of clothes and other goods are always accepted.
“The only thing we would prefer not to have is mattresses, because we actually can’t resell mattresses,” Ralph says. “It is an expense for us to dispose of them. We prefer no chemicals or paint, because things like that will cost us money to dispose of. But otherwise, we will take pretty well anything.”
Goodwill bought Washington Square Mall’s former Sears location in 2020 and has since prepared it for the new thrift store as well as the Excel Center, a free high school diploma program for adults.
The Excel Center’s first day of classes was Aug. 23. About 150 students were expected, and the center will offer supports such as transportation, life coaching, college credit opportunities, and onsite childcare.
Sales in the thrift store benefit the Excel Center and other community programs provided by Evansville Goodwill Industries, Ralph says.
Those include job placement services for people with disabilities who are referred by Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors in Indiana and Kentucky; the Senior Community Service Employment Program; and GoodSkills Academy, which offers computer instruction to individuals with barriers.
Ralph told shoppers waiting to enter that their pursuit of great deals has additional positive impact.
“Every time you come and donate and shop, you are helping your neighbors to thrive,” she said before the ribbon was snipped.
Goodwill’s new Washington Square Mall thrift store, 5001 Washington Ave., is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
