Loving Hands Thrift Store Expands Presence With Furniture Shop

BRADENTON, FL — Loving Hands Thrift Store opened a second location in Bradenton Oct. 15. This new shop, located at 701 Manatee Ave., will focus on used furniture and other large items.

The nonprofit opened its original thrift store in July 2018 in the former St. Vincent de Paul shop at 719 Manatee Ave. Business has been thriving ever since, even through the COVID-19 pandemic, said Sheri Ketner, thrift store manager.

In fact, in many ways the pandemic has led to the thrift store’s growth, she added. Despite closing for a period early in the pandemic, there’s been “an uptick in business” since it reopened.

“(COVID-19) set us back like it has a lot of business, but we’re gaining again quickly,” she said.

While spending time at home, many people organized and cleared out old items, which led to more donations for Loving Hands, Ketner said. “The donations were coming in so much that there were several days we had to put a sign out that said ‘we’re full,’ because we couldn’t take any more donations. It’s happening in a lot of thrift stores. During COVID, people are home and cleaning closets and things, which is to our benefit. With all the bad things happening, there were good things happening too.”

When the second location, which previously housed an auto parts shop, came available, Loving Hands decided “to go for it,” she said. “We took advantage of an opening and we’re just gonna see if the additional store will be to our advantage, because we’re so full of donations we needed space to put things. We’re hoping we can turn around those items for good prices for our shoppers.”

The space will be split with Theresa’s Restaurant, which has operated downtown at 1401 Manatee Ave. W, for 15 years. The café’s new address will be 711 Manatee Ave. It will likely open sometime in November.

Theresa’s owner Jodi Boucher said she’s making the move because of a rent increase at her downtown digs, but she’s excited for the change.

“It’s gonna be really cool,” she said. “We’ll have more than 2,000 square feet, a beautiful outside patio and a swing. It’s gonna be beautiful.”

It’s a growing part of the city with new residential developments and businesses opening, she added.

“We’re still close enough to our old place that all of our regulars will find us, but we’re going to have the potential to pick up new customers in these new developments, too. The Riverwalk is being built up behind us. They’re expanding Riverwalk, eventually, which is going to be really nice, too.”

Ketner agrees that it’s an area ripe for growth.

“There are new apartment buildings to the east and the south,” she said. “It’s a growing area as far as people living in the area, which is to our advantage because they all need furniture.”

She added, “It’s a great time to have a thrift store. It’s absolutely amazing. When some stores are closing, we’re growing, opening another one. We believe that it’s God’s move, his design for this business. We’re just enjoying where he takes us.”

All money raised through the thrift store and furniture shop funds Loving Hand Ministries, a nonprofit that operates a two-year residential drug rehabilitation program for men. This free and faith-based organization has operated since 1984.

Visit Loving Hands Furniture Store:

• Address: 701 Manatee Ave., Bradenton
• Website: www.lovinghands.net