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BY AMY CALDER
Staff Writer 08/14/2008

WATERVILLE -- The Goodwill Industries retail store on Silver Street will move this fall to the former Brooks pharmacy site on The Concourse.

"It's actually 13,000 square feet, total, and the store we're in is 5,000 square feet, so we'll definitely be more than doubling our space," said Michelle Smith, communications coordinator for Goodwill Industries of Northern New England.

Goodwill is a human services organization and network of nonprofit businesses.

The Waterville retail store offers new and used items at affordable prices. Merchandise includes clothing and shoes, dishes, glassware and other home goods, books, toys and jewelry.

The store opened in 1993 and now is bursting at the seams, Smith said from Goodwill's corporate offices in Portland. Having a larger space will allow for more of a variety of merchandise and the addition of items such as furniture, she said.

"Sales have just been doing really well," she said. "The Waterville community has been very responsive to us and has been great."

Maine Centrex Corp. is renovating the former Brooks pharmacy to Goodwill specifications in preparation for the move, to occur sometime in October or November, Smith said.

Goodwill will lease the space from 10 Concourse LLC, she said.

"Eight people are employed at the current store; we're hoping to double that number in the new store," she said.

The former pharmacy drive-thru will serve as a drive-thru for people dropping off donations, and a staff person will help remove donations from vehicles, she said.

"We're hoping that will be convenient for our donors," she said.

Goodwill Industries of Northern New England has 25 retail stores, and of that number, 18 are in Maine, according to Smith. The closest stores to Waterville are in Augusta, Rockland, Bangor, Belfast and Bath. The agency has stores in New Hampshire and one in Vermont, she said.

"We're celebrating our 75th anniversary this year," she said. We started in 1933 in Portland."

All revenues from the sale of goods help fund human services programs. Those programs provide rehabilitation, employment, and residential support to people with disabilities and those who are disadvantaged, according to Goodwill's Web site. Goodwill programs are funded by the retail businesses, government sources and grants, as well as corporate and individual donors.

The Brooks pharmacy closed a year ago on The Concourse. Rite Aid Corp. bought the business. Since then, an effort has been afoot to try to fill vacant spaces on The Concourse, including the former Ames department store.

The Goodwill store's move to The Concourse comes as good news to City Council Chairman Dana W. Sennett, D-Ward 4.

"I think it's a very popular store in this area and I'm pleased to think they're expanding to serve a greater population," Sennett said. "I hope they have some shirts and ties."

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

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