Humane Society thrift store rebrands, reopens in new location

The Humane Educational Society’s thrift store has found its own version of a new “furever” home along Highway 58 in Harrison.

The store moved from its longtime East Ridge location a few weeks ago to attract a new customer base and expand its storefront area to focus more on antique china, furniture, clothing and more, said HES Executive Director Bob Citrullo. Though the overall square footage of the new building is less than the old space, the showroom area is larger, meaning more items can be shown at once.

In the first two weeks since the store’s reopening, Citrullo said it has already seen increases in both foot traffic and purchases, both of which are crucial to help HES pay for the more than 600 animals currently being cared for in its downtown facility.

“The thrift store is really important to help us care for the animals and to help us take care of utilities and basics like keeping the lights on and paying rent,” he said. While many people will donate to help a specific animal, the shelter needs a reliable stream of funding to help with day-to-day operational costs, Citrullo explained, adding that he is optimistic the shelter will be able to generate roughly $150,000 per year through the store.

“If you raised that much from events, even a single event, it would take a lot more time and manpower to make that happen,” he said. “We hope [Deja Nu] will help keep our cash flow more stable. … Plus, it’s an outlet to do some good with some stuff many people would just throw or give away.”

The new store is located at 4784 Highway 58 and is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to schedule a tax-deductible donation pickup, contact 708-8995.