A popular downtown Courtenay thrift store is finally reopening after burning down a few years ago.
Too Good to be Threw, located on 6th Street, is operated by the Comox Valley Transition Society. Executive director Heather Ney says they are very excited about the store’s reopening, as it is a big revenue generator for the non-profit.
“We are so incredibly thankful and relieved and happy to be back downtown in our original location, which was an old building, but when we compare it to what we have been trying to operate in for the last four years, it was a fantastic building,” said Ney.
“We heavily rely on the funds that we generate through that store to provide the services and programs that we offer.”
Ney adds they have been able to work with the building owner and builder to have some specific design elements and improve on the old space.
The popular store that opened in 2008 has been missing from downtown since 2019. Ney says in February of that year, the building caught fire while unhoused residents were trying to keep warm.
“There was no ill intent, nobody tried to set it on fire, it was a desperate effort on these folks to try and stay warm,” said Ney.
The thrift store will now reopen in a refreshed space during Downtown Courtenay’s Moonlight and Magic. While some of the store is not completely finished and a grand opening might be held in the new year, it is all new and bright and ready to welcome people in.
“It’s pretty basic, but it’s simple and clean and I think it’s going to make for a good shopping experience,” said Ney. “The way we’ve always operated is buying used fixtures or getting donated fixtures.”
The store is opening from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight and will return to normal hours on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
They will be accepting donations around the back of the building from Monday to Saturday as well.
