Doors open to packed morning at new Salvation Army thrift store in Sidney
Published 11:00 am Thursday, March 19, 2026
A line that wound around the corner set the tone early in Sidney.
Close to 100 people waited in the rain Thursday morning for the doors to open at the newest Salvation Army thrift store, located at 2455 Beacon Ave.
The shop opened at 9 a.m. on March 19, becoming the seventh Vancouver Island location for the organization. Inside, the 4,300-square-foot space was stocked with clothing, books, household goods and electronics, all sourced through donations.
Among the first through the doors was Tess Barker, who had already been keeping an eye on the store in the days leading up to opening.
“I have been walking by for the last couple of days eyeing up a couple of things through the window,” she said with a smile. “Thrifting is fun, affordable, and helps keep waste out of the landfill.”
Barker said she avoids buying new whenever possible.
“I do my best to not buy new anymore,” she said. “Places like this make that a lot easier.”
Store manager Hannah Brett said that kind of mindset is a big part of why she was drawn to the work.
“I used to be a bartender, I used to be a barista, and I just didn’t love what I was doing,” she said. “Working for the Salvation Army, I actually feel like the work I was doing mattered to the community.”
Brett has been with the organization for about a year and a half and recently stepped into a dual role, managing both the Sidney and Brentwood Bay locations after time at the Hillside store before it closed.
She said opening in Sidney has already introduced her to a different cross-section of the region.
“Being able to go to Brentwood, I met a whole new different crowd of people out there,” she said. “Coming to Sidney, I was just really excited to meet new people again. It’s such a great community here.”
The environmental side of thrifting is another motivator.
“I despise fast fashion,” Brett said. “I really do feel like thrifting is a huge pillar of how we can actually help out the planet.”
The opening also drew local political figures, including Elizabeth May and Emily Lowan.
“It really was so special to see those (Elizabeth and Emily) people actually come out to our thrift store to open it,” Brett said. “It just further solidified that what we do here matters for the planet and community. I was really encouraged to see them here.”
The Sidney store currently employs nine staff, a number Brett expects will stay consistent given the size of the location.
Proceeds from sales support Salvation Army programs, including food banks, shelters, rehabilitation services and emergency relief efforts across the region.