Hope Village Thrift Shop sees an increase in shoppers one month after reopening

In Meridian, a local thrift store that serves as a non-profit organization that benefits Hope Village for Children was closed for almost 5 months, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since its recent reopening in September, the Hope Village Thrift Shop has seen an uptick in the number of shoppers visiting the store.

The thrift store had been closed since late March, and store manager Robert Evans shared that he was worried that when the store reopened they would see a decrease in customers, but is thankful to have seen an increase. He attributes the increase in shoppers to more people wanting to save money during to the pandemic.

“I thought it was going to be a decrease, but it’s turned out to be better than ever, because people have changed their way about shopping,” said Robert Evans.

He also stated that he hopes the store continues to see an increase in customers, as it now provides shoppers with the opportunity to shop online, for those who are uncomfortable with shopping in person due to the pandemic. Additionally, he offers a reminder that the funds from the store go towards the Hope Village for Children, which services children in the community, who do not have a foster home.

“I do want us to grow a little bit more, once people know that we are online and the store is open, I think it will be a greater effect, because people are want to save now. You know, as before you know everyone used to go to the shopping mall, now re-thinking ‘oh, we need to save a few pennies’. So, --and we have great items in the store. Everything a shopping mall has online, we have it here. So, I think that will help people and their savings. That money can go towards something else, and plus it’s going to a good cause with the children,” said Evans.

The Hope Village Thrift Shop was initially limiting items that would be accepted as donations when the pandemic began, but has officially resumed accepting donations of various items.