After months of searching for a location in Manteca and finding that almost every viable commercial space was occupied, Community Hospice wasn’t optimistic about opening a new thrift store in The Family City.
But it was a drive to work by one of their employees that changed everything.
According to Community Hospice Director of Retail John Renner, somebody passing by the building that once housed New Deal Market and most recently a party store that was sub-let from Kelly Moore Paints noticed a sign in the window advertising that the space was up for rent.
Just over a month later the sixth Hope Chest was opening its doors.
“We’ve had a lot of support from the communities that we’ve been a part of, and we’re enthusiastic about the future here in Manteca,” Renner said during Friday’s grand opening. “We’ve been looking at Manteca for a while now, and were fortunate to have this space open up when it did.”
And the reaction from the public couldn’t be more positive.
Dozens of people flooded the new business within the first hour of the grand opening ceremony – taking advantage of everything from standard thrift store items like clothes to higher-end items like DVD players and gaming consoles.
The bulk of the Manteca site – which opened faster than organizers expected – came from the Tracy store with hopes that the community will be able to replenish it as it becomes established.
Sales from the six stores and the revenue from the auto-donation portion of the business help fund both in-home hospice care as well as the Hughson-based Hospice House – receiving a large portion of shoppers who want to help support the non-profit that aims to comfort terminally ill patients.
“I think that the store is wonderful. Anything that benefits hospice is a good thing,” said Elaine Ivey. “I think that the store is very nice and very well organized. There’s a nice variety and great prices.”
The Hope Chest is located at 208 S. Main Street. The business is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store does take donations from residents.
For more information, call 824-5638.
But it was a drive to work by one of their employees that changed everything.
According to Community Hospice Director of Retail John Renner, somebody passing by the building that once housed New Deal Market and most recently a party store that was sub-let from Kelly Moore Paints noticed a sign in the window advertising that the space was up for rent.
Just over a month later the sixth Hope Chest was opening its doors.
“We’ve had a lot of support from the communities that we’ve been a part of, and we’re enthusiastic about the future here in Manteca,” Renner said during Friday’s grand opening. “We’ve been looking at Manteca for a while now, and were fortunate to have this space open up when it did.”
And the reaction from the public couldn’t be more positive.
Dozens of people flooded the new business within the first hour of the grand opening ceremony – taking advantage of everything from standard thrift store items like clothes to higher-end items like DVD players and gaming consoles.
The bulk of the Manteca site – which opened faster than organizers expected – came from the Tracy store with hopes that the community will be able to replenish it as it becomes established.
Sales from the six stores and the revenue from the auto-donation portion of the business help fund both in-home hospice care as well as the Hughson-based Hospice House – receiving a large portion of shoppers who want to help support the non-profit that aims to comfort terminally ill patients.
“I think that the store is wonderful. Anything that benefits hospice is a good thing,” said Elaine Ivey. “I think that the store is very nice and very well organized. There’s a nice variety and great prices.”
The Hope Chest is located at 208 S. Main Street. The business is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store does take donations from residents.
For more information, call 824-5638.
