Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – Abilities Unlimited celebrated the grand opening of its new Burke Avenue location with a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday.
This new store, called Abilities Unlimited Super Thrift, is located at 806 Burke Ave. It is a consolidation of all the nonprofit’s stores, which were its clothing thrift store on Union Street, its upscale boutique on Huntington Avenue, and its furniture store on Monroe Avenue.
The 30,000-square-foot building, which was used as a recycling center by the nonprofit, will now also house all three stores, in addition to recycling and donation collection. The boutique will have its own entrance.
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Darren May, CEO of Abilities Unlimited, said the consolidation had been in the works for several years, with leadership considering buying a building or constructing a new one. He said that since the nonprofit no longer recycles with the City of Jonesboro, the Burke Avenue building would save the organization money and help revitalize the area.
“This is a new building, with the exception of the steel and the concrete,” May said. “Hopefully, this is a win for us. It’s a win for this part of town, and it’s a win for the community.”
As for the other stores owned by Abilities Unlimited, May said the nonprofit had already sold its upscale store on Huntington Avenue and had closed on the sale on Tuesday. The clothing thrift store on Union Street remains for sale, with an asking price of around $1.2 million.
| READ MORE: Abilities Unlimited looking to consolidate stores, downtown Jonesboro thrift store for sale
Its furniture store on Monroe Avenue may be sold or remodeled into a residential setting for those the nonprofit serves, with a final determination to be made later this summer, May said.
The move did not affect employees, May said; rather, it simply moved everyone into one facility. He added that having everyone in one place would make staffing easier.
As part of the grand opening celebration on Tuesday, the store will remain open until 7 p.m. May added that the nonprofit would look into staying open later one night per week during the summer to accommodate those who work or may live out of town. The store’s current hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Founded in 1963, Abilities Unlimited is a nonprofit organization that serves and supports people with disabilities. It provides residential services and job opportunities through its retail store and recycling services.
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