ROSE Advocates thrift store moving to E. Commercial St.

After about 20 years in the same location, ROSE Advocates Thrift Store is moving.

 The store is currently located at 27 W. Main St. but will be moving to its new location at 181 E. Commercial St. at the end of the month, with a projected opening date of Oct. 10.

 A grand opening is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 19. More information will be released as it is made available.

 The building was previously operated as a hair and tanning salon.

 “We are dressing up the place and it’s looking really good,” said Dolores Larsen, Executive Director of ROSE Advocates, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Weiser that offers a wide range of services to victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

 “We are getting lots of donations and needed a better location and better parking,” Larsen said. “There is a lot of parking at our new location. People are going to see a much brighter atmosphere. It’s going to be a fresh, happy place.”

 The store, originally opened by St. Agnes Catholic Church, will carry all of the same items it always has. The building is comparable in size to the current one in terms of square footage, but has better possibilities and even has room outside for a storage shed, which was greatly needed.

Among the improvements will be a proper fitting room, a room dedicated to linens, bedding, pillows and other items, and another where kitchen wares will be located.

There is also a backroom that will be used for staging inventory, a breakroom with a sink, and a bathroom.

 Lead store volunteer, Nancy Miller, along with Kelly Harlan and other volunteers have been working to get things ready to open.

 Last week, a fresh coat of paint was applied to the interior walls and some new racks and shelving installed over the weekend. 

 Miller’s son, David, was on hand Monday making some minor repairs to ceiling tiles.

 “It’s a good move,” Miller said. “It’s a nicer building and we are working on it. We spent a couple days getting it painted and we planted some flowers out front. We are hoping to be moved out of our other place by the end of September. We have to be out by Oct. 1.”

 Miller said that with only five volunteers, she is in need of some muscle to assist with the move.

 “We could use some men to help; we have two or three really heavy cases to move,” Miller said. “I know that two of my volunteers, their husbands, are going to help but we could really use some more manpower.”

 Those willing to lend a hand can call Miller at (208) 549-5510 or on her cell at (208) 550-5644.

 In addition to the new location, the thrift store will also be getting a new name. 

 A variety of suggestions have been considered, but Miller said they have tentatively settled on ROSE Advocates Boutique, although the name has not yet been set in stone.

 Those who have shopped at the thrift store are well aware of the low prices offered on a variety of quality items.

 “We are more of a service project,” Larsen said. “We want to help those in our community who need our help. We didn’t put this together as a money-making project. We want to cover our expenses and we do, but we want to keep our prices as low as we can.”

 “We were going to close at one time, but the community needs us,” Miller said. “We are in this for the community.”

 The items are free of charge to ROSE Advocates clients.

 “Also, if there is a house fire and a family has to move, we will provide them with things that they need at no cost,” said ROSE Advocates’ Veronica Vasquez.

 The thrift store is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 Hours of operation are based on volunteer availability, so new volunteers are always welcome, Larsen said.