Crowd greets opening of Goodwill store

By Elise Franco

efranco@vindy.com

Austintown

The grand opening of the new Goodwill store exceeded all expectations, shoppers and a representative said.

The store, in the Austintown Plaza on Mahoning Avenue, welcomed about 150 patrons through its doors at 9 a.m. Thursday, said David Ivko, retail-sales director for Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries.

Ivko said they were expecting only about 50 people when the store opened.

“We had that many people waiting outside,” he said. “We were ecstatic that we had that kind of response from the community.”

The store’s grand opening continues through Saturday and offers discounts of 30 percent off new products and 50 percent off donated products.

The 12,000-square-foot store is the eighth Goodwill to open in the five-county region, and Ivko said he hopes customers appreciate its quality.

“Customers seem very pleased,” he said. “They’re excited about the look of the store and the quality of the merchandise, both donated and new.”

One customer who said she got her money’s worth was Francine Schrum, of Boardman, who had a shopping cart full of clothes and home accessories.

Schrum said she came to the opening because of the 50 percent discount offered to patrons through Saturday.

“I also get 15 percent off on top of that for being a club member,” she said. “It’s a really good deal.”

Schrum said she shops at Goodwill often and intends to return to the Austintown store, which she described as “beautiful, bright and cheery.”

“It’s the only way you can afford to really shop,” she said. “Today I found a blouse for $1 that I would have had to pay $150 right now in the store.”

Sheila McCall of Youngstown said she also plans to visit the location again, but not until the crowds die down.

“I think it’s really nice, but we’re all bumping into each other today,” she said. “I’ll definitely come back, though.”

McCall said she likes Goodwill because she not only shops but she donates.

“I like to give, and then I can come get something as well,” she said.

For more information or store hours visit www.goodwillyoungstown.org.