Goodwill to open store in Oxford

If you’re looking for good deals on clothes, household items, books and music in this sluggish economy, help is on the way.
That’s because Goodwill is opening a store in Oxford Township.
The location will be 1500 South Lapeer Road, where Power House Gym used to be.
While there’s no official date yet for the store to open, the Goodwill is slated to open sometime in the latter part of December with a grand opening in the middle of January. According to Angella Thompson, Vice President of Retail Operations at Flint-based Goodwill Industries of Mid-Michigan, this is contingent on work being completed by contractors and subcontractors.
‘We’re (creating a) more aesthetically pleasing appearance,? Thompson said. ?[This store] will look a little more like a traditional retail store rather than what people think of in Goodwill or thrift stores in general. It will be larger than most of our stores.?
Thompson added that the decision to open a Goodwill in Oxford stemmed from market research done in this area.
‘Oxford was identified as key location for us, and it’s an absolutely dynamite town,? she said.
According to Goodwill’s website, currently the closest store to Oxford is about 14 miles away in Lapeer. There’s one 17 miles away in Imlay City, and there are two donation centers in Davison. Burton has two locations while Flint has one.
Even with gas prices decreasing down to as low as $1.95 in Lapeer and other places, Oxford residents are certain to appreciate the shorter drive to save money on secondhand items.
Goodwill has more than 2,200 retail stores across North America. Goodwill Industries International has affiliates in 14 other countries, including Israel, Italy, South Africa, Taiwan and Thailand, according to Goodwill Manager of Media Relations and GII Spokesperson Lauren Lawson.
Goodwill’s mid-Michigan website is at www.goodwillmidmichigan.org.