Just nine months ago, the future was uncertain for Goodwill Industries’ beloved Yorkville thrift shop after decades of serving the neighborhood. Not only was it saved, but Upper East Site has also learned Goodwill is set to open a third Upper East Side shop with a brand-new concept.
Located at 1496-1498 First Avenue, between East 78th and 79th Streets, in the single-width storefront formerly belonging to Glasses on First, Goodwill’s newest expansion in Lenox Hill will be a Donation Drop & Mini Shop — the first of its kind in New York City.
Far smaller than traditional Goodwill outlets, shoppers will not find rows upon rows of hangers and colorful outfits; instead, they will be greeted with home décor, books, glassware and “other great knick-knacks and doodads,” the non-profit told Upper East Site.
Still under construction, you may not have noticed the new Goodwill mini shop, which remains largely under the radar except for the large blue Goodwill banner draped across the scaffolding attached to its building and the stream of Goodwill-branded vans delivering merchandise to the still largely-empty shop.
A peek through the windows on Thursday showed just a few shelves completed within the former eyeglasses store — including racks filled with shoes and a display case fittingly stocked with sunglasses. The rest of the retail space remained raw.
The new-concept store’s opening comes nine months after a tumultuous winter that saw Goodwill’s popular Yorkville store, located at 1704 Second Avenue between East 88th and 89th Streets since 1998, come to the brink of closure — before the company negotiated a longer stay with its landlord.
Goodwill also maintains a thrift shop accepting donations in the southern end of Lenox Hill, at 1114 First Avenue between 61st and 62nd Streets. Both existing locations are open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm seven days a week.
Hoping to open Tuesday, October 2nd, it is a race against time to complete the Upper East Side’s first Donation Drop & Mini Shop. Goodwill plans to be open for drop-off and shopping from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm daily.
