When I was in London England a few years back I was pleased to see there was an Oxfam Charity Shop in Islington that focused on books and music. London UK also had several charity shops that were more like upscale fashion boutique than a thrift store. You can even thrift online.

For a long time, I have wondered why thrift stores (thrift store history) organizations in Calgary and Canada haven’t adopted a more strategic approach to maximize their profits from selling donated goods, by creating specialty stores.

Goodwill Bookstores

On my recent visit to London Ontario, I discovered that Goodwill had not one but two thrift stores that are in fact bookstores.

I visited the one at 1044 Adelaide St N and was surprised to find out it has been there for 12 years. How come I just found this out now?

They also said there is a second bookstore only at 979 Wellington Road but warned me it is much smaller.

They weren’t lying, when I visited a few days later, the COVID capacity was three people, as it was maybe 20 ft by 20 ft. As there was already two people in the store both my Mom and I couldn’t go it. She decided she’d go to the Dollar store in the same strip mall, while I explored the bookstore.

Both bookstores were well stocked with books of various subjects - the books were all in good condition and well organized. And like the London UK charity bookstore they also had some music. In fact, I bought two records at the tiny Wellington Road store.

London’s Goodwill Bookstore on Adelaide St. N

London’s tiny Goodwill Bookstore on Wellington Road.

Goodwill Boutique Store

London ON is also home to a Goodwill Boutique store at 765 Hyde Park, which I made a point of visiting on my way to pick up my 5-year-old great niece from dance class.

Like the boutique charity shops in London UK, it was full of high-end clothing and home décor items, all carefully curated and presented like a high-end boutique.

I had promised myself I wouldn’t buy any more golf shoes this year, but I couldn’t resist purchasing a pair of new leather Ashworth golf shoes for $20 and Ping golf shorts for $10. I could have bought more, but I already have 10+ pairs of golf shoes and the same for shorts.

FYI: If I had waited another day, I could have gotten 30% off, as my sister who lives in London but was vacationing in the US, texted me her 30% off coupon from Goodwill.

Goodwill Bin Store

It was in London ON that I first experienced the bin shopping experience about five years ago. In this case there are huge bins that are filled with items that haven’t sold at other stores and people frantically sort through them for hidden treasures. It is literally a free-for-all – yes there is pushing and shoving. New bins are brought out every 30 minutes or so, yes, some people can spend all day at the bin stores. Calgary got its Goodwill bin store in 2021. Location: 3410 White Oak Road.

Goodwill Thrift Cafe

Goodwill London ON also has another interesting initiative at its flagship at 225 Horton St. E. Bet you didn’t know thrift stores also have flag ship stores? In this case the store is part of a large modern Goodwill complex that includes space for offices and programs, as well as an Edgar and Joe’s Café.

I discovered the café on my last visit to London and remembered how we had a lovely lunch so on my last full day visiting my Mom I said we had to go thrifting and have lunch at the Goodwill on Horton Rd (ironically no relation to Tim Horton the hockey player and Canada’s iconic coffee donut shop). The café has large windows facing the street that not only make it not only great for people watching but also fills the space with lots of light.

The menu for breakfast and lunch is extensive (closes at 3 pm). I had a tasty pureed vegetable soup and a grilled turkey, bacon and cheese sandwich that was yummy.

Of course, we also had to taste the butter pecan tarts, which also got a thumbs up.

The café’s mandate is ambitious:

CREATE WORK

Through our partnership with the Goodwill Career Centre’s “Hands on Hospitality” program, our goal is to employ, train and apprentice people to ready them for the food and hospitality labour market, an industry that has high labour needs and challenges.

PROVIDE GOOD, NUTRITIOUS FOOD

Provide people, particularly those who face barriers, access to good, nutritious food and knowledge to improve health and wellbeing. There is a program that allows customers to purchase a coffee or a meal for someone less fortunate. When we were there, I noticed on the blackboard that there were 44 cups of coffee available for those in need.

REDUCE STIGMA

Provide a platform to dialogue, showcase success stories, and learn/understand mental illness and social disadvantage with a view to breaking down stigma and eliminating attitudinal barriers.

FOSTER COLLABORATION

Foster collaboration and community partnerships that embrace diversity, social justice, and inclusion with an emphasis on health and wellbeing.

GATHER COMMUNITY

Serve as the main gathering, work break and event space for Goodwill staff, clients, and customers and to welcome the neighbourhood and community to our facility

STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY

Contribute to the vitality of our neighbourhoods. There are two cafes one in London’s SOHO district (south of Houston) and one in a co-workspace in downtown London.

Last Word

Kudos to Goodwill London ON for their efforts to be creative and strategic in merchandizing their stores. I can’t help but wonder why Goodwills in other Canadian cities aren’t doing the same thing. I would love to see Goodwill or some other Calgary thrift store organization collaborate with one of the City’s affordable housing builders to create a mixed-use development.

If you like this blog, you will like these links:

London’s Quirks: Charity Shops & High Streets

Thrifting Fun in Victoria BC

Thrift Store Find: Vintage Postcards

London Ontario: The Goodwill City