Salvation Army gets new digs

Superior’s Salvation Army Thrift Store has found a new home five blocks from its current site. The store will move to the former Daugherty Appliances building, 1705 Belknap St., this month.

“We’re excited,” about the move,” said Maj. Rosemary Matson of the Superior Salvation Army.

The building at 1621 Broadway St., which has housed the store since its inception 13 years ago, was sold in June. The new owner, Bill Stack, gave the Salvation Army an extra 60 days to find a new site.

“He’s just been great,” said Rick Rockwood, a member of the Salvation Army board of directors.

With the extra time, members of a special committee checked out 10 potential storefronts. They preferred to stay in the north end, which has close proximity to both bridges.

“We do get a lot of traffic from Duluth,” Rockwood said.

Daugherty Appliances closed its doors in March 2008, according to the Superior Business Improvement District files. The storefront offers access to bridges, is situated along the main traffic arteries of Tower Avenue and Belknap Street, and has more space than the Broadway Street store. Building owner Terry Lundberg offered the Salvation Army a good deal, too.

“We’re going in there at the same price as the other building,” Rockwood said. “He’s just trying to help us out.”

Lundberg has offered to clean the carpets and repaint the walls.

“We can just move right in, it’s ready to go,” Rockwood said. The move will take place between Aug. 15, when the new space is ready, and Sept. 1. Board members plan to move quickly, with as little down time as possible, drawing on volunteers and trucks to transfer racks and items five blocks to the new store.

“If we have to walk the stuff down Ogden Avenue, we will,” Rockwood said.

Board members hope to re-tool the store’s image at the new location. According to Rockwood, there will no longer be a dumping behind the building due to safety and fire codes. The board is also in the process of purchasing a baler to bundle clothing donations together.

“Sixty percent of the items taken in are clothes,” Rockwood said.

He said everyone has been very supportive as the store prepares to move — the city, the Business Improvement District, building owners and volunteers.

“Everyone was trying to help us, which is cool,” Rockwood said.

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