23 September 2014

The Salvation Army will unveil its new Family store in Shoreline, WA, with a public dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, September 25, at 8:45am. Shoreline Deputy Mayor Chris Eggen is expected to attend the special event.

The grand opening celebration will continue throughout the weekend:

Thursday, September 25

• Shopping and donation hours: 9:00am – 8:00pm
• Dedication and ribbon-cutting
• Performance by The Salvation Army brass ensemble
• Salvation Army canteen serving coffee and cookies
• Reusable shopping bags given free to the first 50 customers (with purchase)
• Door prizes

Friday, September 26

• Shopping and donation hours: 9:00am – 8:00pm
• Reusable shopping bags given free to the first 50 customers (with purchase)
• Door prizes

Saturday, September 27

• Shopping and donation hours: 9:00am – 8:00pm
• Reusable shopping bags given free to the first 50 customers (with purchase)
• Door prizes

     

The new store is an expanded and upgraded version of the organization’s famous thrift stores. “This store reflects the new model of The Salvation Army’s Family stores. It is less like the old thrift stores of the past, and more like a large discount department store,” said Captain Timothy Rockey, Salvation Army officer and director of the stores in Shoreline and Seattle.

The new store, located in former Big Lots will have 20,000 sq. ft. of shopping space, with an additional area where donated items will be received, processed, and prepared for sale.

Merchandise will be added to the floor daily. With donations being collected at the stores in Shoreline and Seattle, plus picked up at donor’s homes, there will be a steady flow of new products. The average “life” of an item donated to The Salvation Army is between 7- 14 days and most items are sold within 48 hours of delivery to the store. “On any given day approximately 50% of the merchandise in the store has been there for less than one week,” added Captain Rockey.

The Salvation Army has a long tradition of operating successful Family Stores throughout the country. Each store, including the Shoreline store and its counterpart in Seattle SODO, are operated as part of The Salvation Army’s renowned Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC). The program, with its Washington headquarters in Seattle, receives all of its operating funds from the store. It is a six-month, residential program, offered for no cost to the participants. Last year, more than 1,000 men and women participated in the program, which includes physical, emotional, spiritual and professional drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

“A new store means more product, more sales, and more people helped” explained Captain Timothy Rockey, Director of the store and the Adult Rehabilitation Program. “The sales from our new store in Shoreline, like our store in Seattle, directly impact our ability to help more men and women overcome addictions.”

Store shopping hours are 9am to 8pm Monday through Saturday. Donations will be accepted at the back of the store from 9am to 8pm Monday through Saturday. The store will be closed on Sundays.