Ridgefield Thrift Shop to open in new location on May 20

The Ridgefield Thrift Shop has given new life to the 'old" Balducci's building! Just peek into the windows and you will see an array of trinkets and treasures including clothing, furnature, accessories and home goods. You can marval (but not enter) until Saturday, May 20 at 10:00 am - the official opening day of the newly renovated and expanded Ridgefield Thrift Shop!

Presently tucked away at 15 Catoonah Street, the longtime nonprofit thrift shop has just signed a ten year lease to occupy space at 21 Governonr Street, beside Way of the Sword. This new location will provide additional space and increased visbility for the Thrift Shop.

Ridgefield Thrift Shop was incorporated in 1946 as an independent non-profit organization chartered to sell donated goods to raise money for charitable organizations that supported Ridgefield residents. The shop continues to be true to its mission. In 2016 the shop donated $160,000 to 40 local nonprofits.

We asked former Thrift Shop President and longtime volunteer, Carol Gardell about this exciting new chapter in the history of the Ridgefield Thrift Shop.

Why the move and why 21 Governor Street?

We have outgrown our current location. The Governor Street location provides more selling, storage and workroom space, convenient donation drop-off area, safer and expanded parking and is centrally located. It will more than double the size of our showroom and provide five times more storage space so we can keep our inventory turning and plentiful. (The space is 5000 sq. feet with another 5000 sq. feet for storage.)

Have you signed a lease?

Yes. We entered into a 10 year lease.

When are you expected to set up shop there?

Renovations are underway. We anticipate moving within the next two months.

Are you going to be renovating the space?

Yes. The space has some great architectural features and we are creating a charming Shop with a boutique feel.

Any additional Thrift Shop offerings in the new space?

We will be able to display and store more items – everything from clothes to collectibles to furniture to artwork.

This move will give you a lot more exposure and foot traffic! What does the future look like for Ridgefield Thrift Shop?

The future is bright for the Thrift Shop. Our operating income continues to grow every year and we anticipate it will expand further with the new location. What’s most important is, the more donations we receive, the more income we produce, the more money we have to donate back to the Ridgefield community. It’s donations to dollars to donations!

Will you be taking on additional employees and/or volunteers once in your new location?

We are a volunteer organization with about 50 current volunteers. We add volunteers periodically and will continue to do so in the new location.

Tell me about your mission to give back to the community.

The Thrift Shop is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which has supported the Ridgefield community for 80 years! Our goal is to empower and support local philanthropic organizations through the sale of generously donated merchandise at our store. Last year the Thrift Shop donated $160,000 to 40 organizations. There are three essential elements to the success of the Thrift Shop – our donors, our customers, and our volunteers.

The Thrift Shop is seeking financial donations and grants to offset some costs associated with our relocation – furniture, fixtures, lighting, flooring, signage. Checks should be payable to:

We are also looking for donations of shelving units, curio cabinets, buffets, and other items to be used in the showroom and for storage. A picture of the items should be sent to info@ridgefieldthriftshop.com.

The Thrift Shop remains open at 15 Catoonah Street for sales  Monday – Friday from 12 – 4 and Saturday from 10 – 2pm.