Shoppers took advantage of the grand opening of the new Goodwill store in Liberty. (Courtesy photo)
LIBERTY – A Goodwill Industries store and donation center opened in Liberty a few weeks ago, becoming the fourth such location in Randolph County.
“We are so excited to be part of the Liberty community and have already been blown away by the generosity of the donors in the area,” said Brady Craven, district manager for Triad Goodwill. “Right when people saw our signs go up, we were welcomed with bags and literal truckloads of donations.”
The store has gently used and new clothing for all ages and books in addition to furniture, housewares, and shoes.
Nearly all the new store’s employees are residents of the Liberty area. That’s considered a bonus for the organization.
“A lot of people think that we are just a thrift store, but there is so much more that we do, and we are so happy to extend our reach and have the opportunity to provide more services for those in need, thanks to this community,” Craven said.
Triad Goodwill provides training and employment opportunities.
Christine Gillies, marketing business manager for Triad Goodwill, said that with the Greensboro-Randolph megasite in the works and the expected population growth that could accompany that, it made Liberty targeted for a potential store.
It’s the first Goodwill store in Liberty. Goodwill officials said the location was considered an underserved corridor between Burlington and Asheboro.
The grand opening occurred Aug. 11 in a former Dollar General store on South Greensboro Street.
“The store location was basically the only site available in town with access for donations,” according to information provided by Gillies. “Our primary objective with the sites is ease of access for donors. Our goal is to have a drive-thru on the side of the building in the future.”
The building provides 8,000 square feet of retail space.
Goodwill stores in Asheboro and Archdale opened in the 1990s, though multiple sites have been used for those. The current Asheboro store was built in 2005, while the Archdale location was purchased in 2021. A store opened in Randleman in 2006.
Hours for the Liberty store are 10-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1-6 p.m. Sunday. The donation center closes at 6 p.m. daily.
