Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey Incorporated recently unveiled its first outlet store and donation center in Long Island City.
The 17,000-square-foot store was lined with bins full of clothes with signs hanging overhead that listed their prices.
Robert Mallon, store manager, hopes that the store will add a retail atmosphere to an area dominated by warehouses.
A typical clothing store would list the individual price of a shirt or pair of slacks, but the Goodwill Outlet sells clothes by the pound.
One sign noted that sales between one and 24 pounds sold at $1.69 per pound. The more one buys, the cheaper it is per pound.
“Naturally we’re looking for someone to come in and buy a table’s worth, to send home to their families,” said Mallon.
Mallon was recently laid off from Rite-Aid, where he also worked as a store manager. He says that he is now content at Goodwill.
“It’s a great job with great people,” Mallon said.
Assistant Manager Mark Lucin describes the store and its locale as a great environment.
“We help out people that have disabilities,” Lucin said. “We give them employment, and from there they can work their self-esteem up, make sure they can bring home a paycheck.”
Proceeds from the store will be directed towards supporting its community and human service programs.
Some of these programs help those on public assistance move on to employment. They provide job placement and support services for those with physical, developmental and psychiatric disabilities.
Shopper Damion West browsed through what he described as a bit of a messy presentation, but enjoyed the store nonetheless.
“I was pretty excited by the opening, to see what it might bring,” said West. “It is a pretty good deal; I think it will do great things for the neighborhood, especially here in Queens.”
The store is located on 47-47 Van Dam Street between 47th and 48th Avenues.
Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
