The newly opened Goodwill is back with more bargains, but with a little less thrift store charm.
Situated next to the Connecticut Beverage Mart with ample parking at 955 Washington St., this well-lit and spacious store includes not only the usual rainbow-inspired assortment of clothing (organized by color), but now has an expanded accessories area and an extremely organized book section.
Greeted by a sign announcing the Weekly Special—50 percent off all yellow-tagged items—I checked out the reasonably priced furniture selection, including a very comfortable chartreuse armchair for only $14.99. Yes, the color would be difficult to integrate into my industrial-red-schemed Fauver living room, but for that price I’d be willing to “make it work,” Tim Gunn style.
I made my way to the accessories section, where dozens of well-loved purses and briefcases were hung on the wall. There was a particularly nice Kate Spade knock-off that I held onto as I made my way to the belt section, where I picked up two gently used brown leather belts for a total of $4.99.
My companion tried on a houndstooth blazer and immediately found a pair of Enzo Angiolini shoes in a vibrant orange that completed the look for only $9. The new shoe section is at least three times larger than at the old store, and among the sneakers and pumps I uncovered a pair of roller skates as well as several lone ski boots. The denim selection is hard to beat, as well: there are hundreds of styles and hues that would please even the most discerning fashionista.
The aforementioned book section is the most noticeable improvement—organized into nearly a dozen categories, there are hundred of titles and there is even an entire corner devoted to cookbooks. The “Time Life Cooking” series stood out on the shelf as an impressive eleven-book multicolored set divided into such categories as Beverages, Classic Desserts, Poultry, Fruits, Pies & Pastries, Beef & Veal, with an early 1980s indifference to fat and cholesterol that surely guarantees deliciousness.
As I continued to the back of the store, past a variety of kitchen appliances and board games, I was especially impressed by the extensive collection of glassware, plates and other kitchen supplies that covered the shelves. A set of eight floral-printed plates, reminiscent of a vintage Laura Ashley pattern, would only set you back $6, and they would compliment the commemorative mugs that ranged from 49 to 99 cents.
Other finds included what appeared at first glance to be a bulletproof briefcase that revealed an old Sears typewriter for only $9.99. And there was a large selection of framed artwork that would brighten any cinderblock Foss Hill dorm wall, my favorite of which was a series of blue and green dots that cascaded down the canvas in ascending order from one to ten.
Although the fluorescent lighting and sometimes endlessly expansive aisles give off the vibe of a big box retailer and make the bargain-hunting seem a little less anonymous and exciting, Goodwill’s new location scores points with increased selection and big budget items like beds, dressers and even a living room table for only $20.
With Tuesdays’ Student & Military Discount, Goodwill should be a destination on everybody’s list.
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