By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
“Cubby’s offers a family friendly environment,” stated proprietor Cindy Johnson, as she described her newly opened business. “There are things for kids to play with so their parents can take their time checking everything out,” she added.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Community members joined Cindy and Chris Johnson and family as they celebrated the grand opening of Cubby’s located in the former Powers’ Theatre building on Sweden Street in Caribou. The new business is a unique thrift shop which will provide a percentage of all sales to Aroostook County children who are dealing with life-threatening illnesses. In front, from left, are: Monique Cormier, Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry; son Aaron Johnson, Wendy Landes, executive director of CCC&I; daughter Paige Johnson and shop owner Cindy Johnson. In back are Caribou Mayor Kenneth Murchison and Chris Johnson.
Cubby’s, located in Suite C of the former Power’s Theatre building on Sweden Street, is a thrift shop that promises to fulfill the needs of most any shopper. Chris and Cindy Johnson, the husband and wife proprietors, not only recognized the need for this type of shop in the area but their top priority is being able to give back to others and to the community.
The foundation of their desire to give back, helping others, is the result of a first-hand experience the couple continues to deal with every day. The parents of five children, one of their sons Kaleb ‘Cubby’, was diagnosed at 9 months with neurofibromatosis, Type I, a life-threatening condition with no cure, in which tumors form on the body’s nerves. Kaleb, now 12 years old, continues to undergo treatments in hopes of finding one that will halt or slow down the condition.
“We have always received strong support from this community and others,” said Johnson, “we know how hard working Maine people are — how important it is to spend time with their families, so we decided that we could give back through this shop — by donating a percentage of all proceeds from Cubby’s to County kids and their families who are trying to cope with the needs of life-threatening illnesses.”
Cindy Johnson also spends time lobbying in Augusta on behalf of the needs of families like her own who have children with serious illnesses — trying to make others aware of the hardship of travel and the need for assistance for these families to be able to get the medical treatments that are crucial for their children.
Cubby’s is not a consignment shop, all items are donated by individuals with the pricing fair and reasonable. “We accept donated items of all kinds with the exception of home building supplies,” said Johnson. The shop is currently filled with a variety of clothing and accessories for both adults and children, furniture and home decor items — some old some new — and the shop also accepts appliances.
Johnson plans to host special programs including recycling workshops at her shop on a regular basis. “ We recycle as much as possible,” she stated. Some of these programs will include making pom-pom rugs; creating purses from placemats; instruction on how to turn a pair of bootleg jeans into a pair of skinny legged ones and even how to assemble a kids favorite, marshmallow gun. Johnson said she expected that a class on making placemat purses would be held in October.
Aside from the creative recycling sessions the Johnsons have another special idea planned for each month — their Hero of the Month. “We are planning on recognizing the efforts of survivors, other individuals or organizations who have worked to support others or other causes within out communities,” said Cindy Johnson. “We see it as another way to keep residents aware of and involved with their community at the same time recognizing these same individuals for their committed efforts in assisting others,” she added.
Chris and Cindy Johnson’s new business supports the true meaning of family owned and operated with the couple’s children — Sphen, Rebekah, Paige, Kaleb and Aaron each helping out in many ways.
Cubby’s accepts donation during regular business hours which are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The new thrift shop also offers pick up service regarding the donated items. Anyone who has items they wish to donate or have picked up should call Cubby’s at 496-0600.
For more information regarding Cubby’s go to wwthriftandmore.com.
