Early September Opening Scheduled For Dobbin Road Thrift Store

From all indicators, it looks like Columbia’s becoming a magnet for secondhand stores.

For the longest time, there were none. Then there was one, and now there will be at least three come Sept. 10 when a Pennsylvania-based chain will open its doors on .

That store, 2^nd Ave Value Store, will occupy more than 10,000 square feet in a small side lot adjacent to Dobbin Center. It will sell a mix of designer items, purses, shoes, stuffed animals, dishes and books, as well as used household and clothing goods.

Electricians and other contractors are working daily to get the store ready in time for the early September opening, said Linda Brennan, company spokesperson.

Although new to Columbia, the company has 10 other stores, five of which are in Maryland. There are three stores in Pennsylvania, one in New Jersey and another in Northern Virginia. Under the name Value Thrift Stores, the secondhand store has been doing business since 1959, according to its website.

The 2^nd Ave space, next to Ross Dress for Less, has housed a discount store and several furniture stores for interim periods over the last several years.

, an ultra-modern Scandinavian furniture store, was once a tenant. Columbia now has Goodwill, a mid-size thrift store,  , a small, upscale household consignment shop, and another thrift store may be opening before year’s end in Harper’s Choice, according to a village employee.

Thrift stores have evolved, enjoying increased popularity in a struggling economy. The industry has experienced a growth of 7 percent in the number of stores over the last two years, according to the National Association of Resale Professionals (NARTS), a trade group which keeps statistics on the industry.

The organization's website reports that there are more than 30,000 resale, consignment and thrift shops in the United States.