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Slow Market Helps Store

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By KENNETH KNIGHT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - It took a slow real estate market to put a thrift store benefiting the Hope Children's Home in a highly desirable location on Fowler Avenue.

The Goodkids Village Thrift Store opened in April at the northeast corner of Fowler Avenue and Interstate 275, ending a five-year stay at the Skipper Square complex on Skipper Road.

"This is probably one of the best locations," store manager Greg Lyons said. "We couldn't have pursued this location if the real estate market hadn't been so bad."

The thrift store moved to the site previously occupied by a Pier 1 Imports clearance store at 702 E. Fowler Ave. The 9,400-square-foot building sat empty for about a year after the national chain store closed.

The thrift store's new building is much larger than the 6,000 square feet of space the nonprofit, volunteer-supported organization operated on Skipper Road next to Headquarters Military Surplus Store.

"Things weren't going well because the exposure wasn't that good," Lyons said.
Hillsborough County property records show Goodkids Village purchased the property on Fowler Avenue for $1.48 million.

Since the thrift store opened, a steady stream of customers has dropped by to shop or get a look at the new store, Lyons said. He is thrilled with the exposure the new location offers.

The store operated by paid and volunteer workers has plenty of display and storage space to work with. More than 6,000 square feet of space is used to display merchandise, and an additional 3,000 square feet is for inventory and storage. Wide glass front doors allow for greater wheelchair accessibility.

The store offers an assortment of home furnishings, knickknacks, toys, kitchen appliances, washers, dryers and clothing for all ages, ranging from casual shorts and tops to cocktail dresses and suits.

Clothes and shoes average less than $5 a piece, and furniture runs from about $20 to $65. Antiques can cost as much as $200.

Proceeds from the store sales are used to operate the Hope Children's Home, a 40-year-old facility for abused and abandoned children ages 4 to 17 at 11415 Hope International Drive in northwest Hillsborough County.

"Everybody says we are the best-kept secret in Tampa," Lyons said of Hope Children's Home.

"We don't take government funds; we work completely on faith."

Lyons, 49, knows all about the children's home. He grew up there and graduated from the program in 1977. "That's why I am passionate for the kids," he said.

He left the Hope home and labored in numerous trades before he took over the thrift store four years ago. Lyons and his wife of 20 years, P.J., both work for Hope Children's Home. She is the cook at the children's home.

"This has been a great thing for the children's home," Lyons added.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Goodkids Village Thrift Store

WHERE: 702 E. Fowler Ave.

WHEN: Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday

INFORMATION: Call (813) 631-0031

Reporter Kenneth Knight can be reached at (813) 865-4842 or kknight@tampatrib.com.

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