RUTLAND — Goodwill of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont has leased 10,000 square feet of retail space on Route 7 in Rutland, where it plans to open a new thrift store.
The site, at 230 North Main St., #6, had been the location of LaFlamme’s Furniture, which has relocated to its expanded location at Diamond Run Mall.
Goodwill plans to open the Rutland retail outlet in March. The site will also have a donation center where people will be encouraged to drop off items for resale. Goodwill anticipates that it will be ready to take donations of gently used and new clothing, housewares, furniture, small electronics, and computer equipment at the site by mid-November.
Goodwill worked very closely with the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce in selecting this premier location.
“We are thrilled that Goodwill has chosen to open a large new store in Rutland and we sincerely appreciate their investment and creation of new jobs in our area,” said Tom Donahue, CEO of the Chamber. “We believe in Goodwill’s mission of providing job training skills and education to people seeking gainful employment.”
“We’re excited about investing in the Rutland community, bringing the Goodwill shopping experience to the area, and look forward to serving the community,” said Frank Engels, CEO of Goodwill of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont, which is based in Pittsfield, Mass.
The non-profit organization operates a total of four other stores in western Massachusetts and southern Vermont.
The Rutland store will initially have between eight to 12 employees, said Engels. Thomas G. Kessop Jr. of Rutland was recently hired as the store’s manager.
Goodwill funds job training, employment placement services and other community-based programs benefitting people facing employment challenges through its recycling initiatives, including sales of donated clothing and household items at Goodwill retail stores.
For more information visit www.goodwill-berkshires.org.
