Goodwill opens first Cache Valley location

Just in time for Earth Day, Aggies and community members alike have another place to go thrift shopping in Cache Valley. A new Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain Inc., more commonly known as Goodwill, location opened in Logan on March 27 at 1618 N. Main Street. Located in what used to be Big Lots Furniture, the new Goodwill is a 10-minute walk from the Logan Deseret Industries Thrift Store & Donation Center. 

On the day of the grand opening, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce at 8:45 a.m., with doors officially opening at 9 a.m. The first 75 people through the door received a surprise gift. To promote the new location, five $100 Goodwill gift cards were given away to those who entered the drawing via their website at esgw.org. The winners were announced on March 31.

The store has been accepting donations since Feb. 28. Donation hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Items to donate consist of furniture, electronics, houseware and gently-used clothing.

Goodwill is a private and nonprofit organization. The money they make from the items donated to their stores goes toward causes such as serving individuals with disabilities and disadvantaged families. Chelle Fried is the current director of digital marketing and community relations.

“Our Goodwill stores will provide another opportunity for sustainability in the Logan community,” Fried wrote in an email to The Utah Statesman. “When people donate their gently used items and purchase used items, they help their community not only by helping the environment, but by helping others.”

One of the ways the money the organization makes helps others is through the Senior Community Service Employment Program. The goal is to find employment for low-income individuals over the age of 55. Participants receive aid in job search skills like interviewing, creating resumes and job hunting. The company has been offering this program since 2008 throughout Utah, Montana and Idaho.

More options for shopping at nonprofit second-hand businesses in Logan may excite budget shoppers and vintage lovers alike. Somebody’s Attic is another nonprofit that donates 100% of its proceeds to local charities such as CAPSA.

Additionally, stores like Plato’s Closet and the ​​new Uptown Cheapskate will pay for select gently-used clothing items. Aggies needing to downsize will have more businesses to sell or donate to than ever before.  

 Bill Collins, chief systems and facilities officer of Goodwill, spoke about his excitement for the new location in a press release written by Fried.  

 “We are very excited for this new opportunity to expand to Logan,” Collins said. “Donors may think they’re just cleaning out their closet, but giving gently used items to Goodwill also gives someone a chance to change their life.” 

 Other locations operated by Goodwill are located in Layton, West Jordan, Sandy, Millcreek and Murray. There’s also a Goodwill Outlet based in Salt Lake City. The outlet stores are also known as “Goodwill Bins” and sell clothing by the pound rather than individually, greatly reducing the cost.  

“When we’ve opened other Goodwill stores in Utah, we’ve had a great response from the community. We typically have a busy opening weekend and a line at the door prior to the store opening on the first day,” Fried wrote. “If people enjoy the treasure hunt and find some great new-to-you items in our store during grand opening, then it’s a success!” 

 News and information on the Logan location can be found on Goodwill social media accounts. They are active on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok.