Thrift store opens in Bonners Ferry
BONNERS FERRY — The white building south of Super 1 Foods has been several things over the years, but as of the beginning of September, new shopkeepers have stepped in. MaryAnn and Sandi’s Thrift Store and More unlocked their doors on Sept. 3 and allowed shoppers to browse the store as they brought items in and set up shop. MaryAnn Gromley and Sandi Sullivan partnered to make their idea come to life.
As with many new businesses, it takes time to get everything established, so there are still plans in motion. With both partners having full-time jobs and families, the progress has been made in spare time. Once a solid client base is established, they plan to offer aid within the community with spay and neutering cats and dogs, as well as helping Veterans where they can.
“I don’t want people to assume that we are non-profit. If they donate, we can give them a receipt. We will choose where and how we donate. We just don’t want any misunderstanding because we have rent to pay too,” said Sullivan.
The duo from Troy, Mont., frequent Bonners Ferry, and in those visits, they saw the abundance of donations at the other thrift stores. With thrift store experience, they decided to bring a new business to Bonners Ferry to meet the needs of the community.
“People around here don’t want to see good stuff go to the dump. We are all about reuse, repurpose, resurface, re-everything. We are also aiming to have a higher standard of product acceptance as well as the plan to have new items in here at discount prices,” said Sullivan.
They have given the store a facelift with new paint on the interior walls and floors, and flowers in the flowerbed at the front of the store, among other improvements. Donations can be brought to the rear of the store, and they would like to remind the community that they are not an animal shelter.
MaryAnn and Sandi’s Thrift Store and More would like to offer an invitation to Boundary County and surrounding communities to attend their Grand Opening Potluck on Oct. 7.