As we previously reported, the Salvation Army Thrift Store is moving into the old Beverly’s building on Clayton Rd. at Bailey Rd. in Concord.
The store has actually been fully stocked for several months, and was supposed to open last March, but so far, the doors have yet to be open to the public.
We asked Major Gwyn Edward Jones with the Salvation Army about the delay. He said they’re having problems with the City of Concord, and they’re currently working with their lawyers to get it open as soon as possible.
He did not specify what kind of problems they’re dealing with at this time, but apologized for the delay.
A store having issues with the City of Concord. Surprise, surprise, surprise.
The City of Concord strikes again! It amazes how long it takes this city to permit businesses. And we wonder new businesses do not up in Concord.
EXACTAMUNDO!
I have info from someone in the neighborhood behind the store that the neighborhood sent around a petition to keep them from opening. They don’t want “the wrong crowd” and the dumping that happens during closed hours.
I personally would like a SA thrift store. And that building already looked really run down, don’t know how anyone thinks it would attract anything else!
The Salvation Army is very well organized, and there is a reason why they call it an “Army.” It’s how they do things, precise, exact, disciplined. I did a research paper on them in college and was really impressed with the way they operate. If any group could run an efficient, clean, and neat thrift store without it turning into a junk yard, the Salvation Army could. I was really looking forward to seeing their operation because they do everything so well.
Thrift stores are big with those who seek to have as little impact as possible on the environment. Purchasing goods second hand saves them from the landfill, and eliminates the pollution caused in the manufacture of new goods. Clothing especially is economical to purchase this way, saving labor costs and manufacturing pollution, and sometimes near slave-labor wages in a third-world country. I have liberal-minded friends who only purchase second hand everything. Thrift stores are really catching on as the ultimate recycling venue that is good for the planet.
I used to work next to the St Vincents in Oakland, and every Monday there was a pile of garbage in front. They cleaned it up, but still. Cops would set up a sting and catch them, but it never really went away. On the other hand, I liked going over on lunch hours and do a little shopping.
The wrong crowd. What jerks! First of the homeless (if that is who they are referring to) are already there all the time. The thrift store would actually bring people there helping the other businesses. Sometimes people are so ridiculous!
It’s more complicated than some of the comments here. For Sure.
Why is any different from Goodwill down the street?
Not True.
Goodwill Industries of the greater Eastbay IS NOT owned by one individual. It IS a non profit organization. What JON is referring too is some very poor information posted online. I do believe about the petition going around and there is some truth to dumping being a problem, but it is so so rare that you see trash outside the SA in Pleasant Hill.
The anger should be directed at THE DUMPERS. They drive by when the stores are closed most likely because it’s trash!! Not always but most of the time it’s not good sellable items.
Jon,
I’m a big believer in letting people support whichever charities that want, but when you spout that kind of nonsense, you do no one any favors. Goodwill is a charitable nonprofit corporation as defined by the IRS. The CEO does get a salary, but the profits go to the charity. Goodwill hires people who would otherwise be unemployable and gives them meaningful work to do.
The Salvation Army is a wonderful organization, but the Goodwill is unethical. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, employers can apply for a special wage certificate that allows them to hire people with disabilities at a subminimum wage. Goodwill uses the special minimum wage exemption to take advantage of 7,300 of its 105,000 employees. Disabled employees make as little as 22 cents an hour. The Goodwill should be ashamed of themselves.
Well heck, . . . just bolt onto the building, at main entrance, a bronze plaque with names off all the members of the city council . . . . .
problem solved.
Gotta get more money to shovel into the police department.
Guessing someone with connections to the Goodwill has enough sway to stall them out? Some willy nilly code requirement that didn’t matter when it was Beverley’s but is a deal breaker now? What gives?
Hahaha you obviously don’t know retail. The G W in Pleasant Hill is one of the top profit stores GW has because of the proximity to other
Shops in the area. I know, I managed it. If anyone is blocking its TJ because new goods feel used goods are hurting them. Might be a conflict with TJ and the complex management
Oh good, yet another low-budget store to be a magnet for tweakers and bums. Pie in the sky wish is that ENTIRE Clayton Rd corridor would undergo 100% renovation and gentrification instead of being this embarrassing and disgusting eyesore.
I’m sure if they put a Tiffany’s or Nieman Marcus in there everything would get better.
Well said!
+1
We’ve got a newish Starbucks on Clayton Rd that was an abandoned gas station for decades. They sell medium quality food and beverages, but they charge a premium. Sounds like gentrification to me. We’ve got a new Dunkin Donuts that sells so-so donuts and pedestrian coffee. But it’s overpriced, so I guess that’s upscale. The new Mr. Pickles is also overpriced. Ain’t no riff raff being attracted there.
It’s called capitalism. Dollar stores and thrift shops proliferate because that’s what Claycordians are voting for with their dollars. Even Moraga got a Dollar Store despite some NIMBYs attempts to use the government to impede commerce. It is now full of Moraganites happily buying party supplies and stale Little Debbie cakes.
You people crack me up. I grew up on the Peninsula. Y’all don’t know squat about gentrification. I had to move to Concord because I couldn’t cut it in the regular world. Concord was, and still is, a Bay Area backwater for the warehousing of homeless people, low-earning service workers, and Clayton peckerwoods that are pretending they live in Idaho. I’ve come to love my adopted home town. It’s super easy to drive around all day going to fast food, gas stations, big box stores, and trashy strip malls. Nobody cares what college you went to. People are generally super friendly. Be careful what you wish for. You’ve actually got it made around here.
Agree
Who cares why they have not opened yet! Residents who live behind it do NOT want a Salvation Army that will attract homeless and tweakers. The longer it stays unopened, the better off the neighborhood will be. That entire shopping center is an absolute pigsty, as is.
The Salvation Army can elevate that shopping center. My friends in Marin County all buy second hand. It’s how they can afford to live in Marin County. There is no reason to believe that homeless and drug addicts will be hanging out at a second-hand store. If anybody can do a well organized, clean and efficient thrift store, the Salvation Army can.
Is the 9999 cent store still open there? If so that is plenty of bargains galore.
The parking lot has southern exposure and its outdated for todays flee hickles.
a more quiet area would be best so the patrons are not hassled and hurried to bring home their treasures.
The army store must have jumped the permission process in order to secure the space.
Also …… what about the new restaurant that went in next to Dunk’n Doughnuts???? It looks ready to go but it’s set there empty for months.
Yeah I think they are going to replace the arrest raunt for a bong store.
Thrift shops are great. We don’t need everything to be new. For instance, sometimes my kids wear brand new shoes twice and then outgrow them. I give the shoes to friends kids or donate them to thrift shops. I’ve found lots of brand new (or nearly) stuff for cheap.
The people shopping inside them are almost always just regular people, not “the wrong crowd”.
Not much of a surprise.
To much judging going on
Too much judging going on
I believe that the appropriate coinage has failed to cross the palms of the appropriate approvers within the confines of the municipality.
From a reputable website that analyzes charities the Salvation Army is a fine charity and worthy of your donations, both physical and monetary. Goodwill is not.