New West Hartford Thrift Store Has Goals Far Beyond Profit

WEST HARTFORD/HARTFORD, CT — A new thrift boutique in West Hartford is aiming to help fund efforts to end homelessness across the Greater Hartford area.

Journey Home, a Hartford-based nonprofit focused on helping people move from homelessness into stable housing, has opened Home for Good, a nonprofit thrift store at 591 New Park Ave.

The shop began operating Feb. 26 and will hold an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 19.

The event is being organized by the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce.

According to Journey Home, 100 percent of profits from the store will support the organization’s programs across the region, including efforts that provide housing assistance and household items to individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness.

Journey Home Deputy Director Sara Salomons Wilson said the store was designed as both a retail space and a social enterprise.

“What sets us apart is our intention,” Wilson said. “Our store does more than sell secondhand furniture and home decor. It is a curated, boutique-style experience that inspires shoppers and keeps material out of landfills while creating dignity and stability for individuals and families who deserve a home to call their own.”

The store sells home furnishings, décor, dining items, artwork, photography, and mirrors. Store hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Home for Good Retail Manager Christina Heffernan said each purchase contributes directly to the organization’s housing work.

“Every vintage piece you take home helps make a home for someone else,” Heffernan said. “When you shop with us, you're not just finding a great bargain — you're helping a neighbor find stability, dignity, and hope.”

Journey Home said the thrift boutique is intended to support several community goals, including generating sustainable funding for homelessness programs, reducing landfill waste by reselling used items, and creating job and volunteer opportunities for residents, including people served by the nonprofit.

The store is accepting donations of gently used household goods and is recruiting volunteers.

Journey Home works across Connecticut’s Capital Region to address homelessness through housing placement, support services, and partnerships with community organizations.

For more information on the 'Home for Good' thrift store, including donation information, click on this link.