La Jolla’s new Goodwill retail store got a warm welcome from shoppers Jan. 21 upon its debut in its larger Village location following a move from its former spot a quarter-mile away.
People lined up outside the new location at 7849 Herschel Ave. before the morning grand opening, which included a ribbon cutting along with discounts and giveaways.
At 3,332 square feet, the new two-story store is more than twice the size of the 12½-year-old former location at 7631 Girard Ave., which closed Jan. 17. The new store has 26 employees — up from 19 at the former shop.
The crowd at the first day on Herschel resembled the large turnout for the opening of the original location in June 2013.
Darlene Cossio, director of community relations and marketing for Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, previously told the La Jolla Light that the new spot “gives us better access to tourists and people visiting The Cove and all the other destinations that people tend to come into La Jolla to see.”
Also, she said, it is “significantly larger, so that’s a great way for us to expand our offerings to the community and provide a better shopping experience and donation experience as well.”
Goodwill uses the revenue from selling donated items at the store to help fund its paid job-training programs and employment services. ♦