Come to Top of the Hill’s Great Room this Saturday night to enjoy some great jazz and blues (Equinox), eat some yummy food (hors d’oeuvres), have fun with a terrific MC (Ron Stutts), and support a great cause — the PTA Thrift Shop’s capital campaign.  It’s the PTA Thrift Shop’s Birthday Bash.  Yes, the PTA Thrift Shop has been providing a steady – and substantial – stream of revenue for our public schools for 60 years.

In the past five years, the Thrift Shop has earned a total of $1.3 million for our schools, including $265,000 in 2011.

Not only does the Thrift Shop support our schools, but it’s our community’s number one example of the “reuse” part of the “reuse, recycle, reduce” mantra of sustainable living.  Also, the Thrift Shop has provided our community with a very economical alternative for purchasing clothing, furniture, books, and household goods during this prolonged economic downturn.  

In fact, our community has needed the Thrift Shop so much that its physical space is bursting at the seams.  That’s good news because it means the Thrift Shop’s giving potential is even greater.  All it needs is more space.  

So the Thrift Shop announced plans in June to re-build new facilities and additional commercial space at its Carrboro location.  It launched a $1.7 million community fundraising campaign to support the project. Proceeds from Saturday night’s Birthday Bash will help get our community closer to this goal.

But I bet when you read the last paragraph you were kind of stumped to read that the Thrift Shop is building “additional commercial space.”  Why not build just the space needed to sell more stuff?  Good question.  

The Thrift Shop will be building 14,000 square feet to serve the Thrift Shop’s combined needs for retail, processing, and administrative space.  But it also will be building 13,000 additional square feet to lease out for increased revenues.  “Whoa,” you are thinking, “Is that such a good idea in this economy?”  Well, as a matter of fact, it is.

The Thrift Shop already has leased almost two-thirds of the space (8,000 square feet) to the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools for its Pre-K and Head Start administrative offices, as well as professional development programs.  And don’t worry about the remaining 5,000 square feet – the Thrift Shop has been contacted by a lot of organizations and businesses that are interested in renting.  Now the Thrift Shop is in the fortunate position of being able to look at the list of interested organizations and, in the words of the Thrift Shop’s executive director, Barbara Jessie-Black, consider what mix of renters would “provide a synergy that would benefit all the organizations in the space.”

Sounds like the Thrift Shop’s expansion plans are off to a solid start.  So join our community at Top of the Hill this Saturday night to support the Thrift Shop’s future and celebrate its past. 

Related Stories
‹
From the Archives: Roy Williams Wishes Ron Stutts a Happy Retirement
Two Chapel Hill legends have announced their retirements in the past few months — longtime 97.9 The Hill morning show host Ron Stutts and UNC basketball coach Roy Williams. Stutts and Williams have been mainstays in the Chapel Hill community for many years. On the day of Stutts’ retirement from 97.9 The Hill, Williams called […]
The Music in My Head: The Power of Lyrics
I love rock and roll music. If that surprises you, you must not know me very well. Other than my family, I would put it right up there at the top — along with friends, good food and drink. Seriously, my wife and kids and pets probably get tired of me listening to music, and […]
Top Stories of 2020: Ron Stutts Retires After 43 Years with 97.9 The Hill
To reflect on the year, Chapelboro.com is re-publishing some of the top stories that impacted and defined our community’s experience in 2020. These stories and topics affected Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the rest of our region. Longtime 97.9 The Hill WCHL morning show host Ron Stutts announced his retirement after 43 years with the radio […]
Listen to Ron Stutts’ Grand Finale on 97.9 The Hill
After 43 years, Ron Stutts has signed off from his morning show on 97.9 The Hill for the final time. Listen to his entire show below and watch the final 20 minutes streamed live on Facebook: Click below to listen to Ron’s entire final show with 97.9 The Hill (December 18, 2020): https://chapelboroaudio.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2020/December/Ron%20Stutts%20Audio/RON%27S%20GRAND%20FINALE_FULL%20SHOW.mp3 For more […]
Hometown Hero: Ron Stutts from 97.9 The Hill
This week’s Hometown Hero, presented by Hendrick Southpoint, is none other than 97.9 The Hill’s Ron Stutts. Stutts is heading into retirement after a legendary 43-year career of being the morning voice of 97.9 The Hill and waking up Chapel Hill. Stutts has been a familiar face in the local community, on stage at both […]
Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro Proclaim Dec. 18 as Ron Stutts Day
The town governments of Chapel Hill and Carrboro have declared December 18 this year as Ron Stutts Day, a move recognizing Stutts’ many years of representing and informing the Chapel Hill and Carrboro community. While not officially proclaimed during its latest virtual meeting, the Chapel Hill Town Council heard a preview of the proclamation from […]
After 43 Years With 97.9 The Hill, Ron Stutts Announces his Retirement
Ron Stutts has been the voice waking up Chapel Hill on WCHL for over 43 years. He first came to WCHL on July 11, 1977 – and on Friday, December 18, 2020, he will host his final morning show. “It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of the inimitable Ron Stutts,” said […]
CommunityWorx Launches Rebranding of Store and Website
Two months after announcing its new name to the public, CommunityWorx officially completed its rebranding with a launch ceremony on Friday. Board members, staff and representatives from the local chamber of commerce cut a ribbon to formally announce the rebranding of the long-time PTA Thrift Shop. The celebration inside the YouthWorx on Main building, adjacent […]
Leaders Explain Process of Rebranding Former PTA Thrift Shop
At the annual State of the Community Report in Carrboro last week, the PTA Thrift Shop revealed its new name. As the non-profit transitions its branding to CommunityWorx, its leaders are sharing what led them to the changes. The steps toward rebranding began in June of 2018, when the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools PTA council […]
Clean Joke of The Day – 8/16/19
Click below to hear Nicki tell it!
›