Good As New offers items at bargain prices

Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
BARGAINS — Jerry Thomas, left, manager of the Good As New Shop, along with assistant manager Carolyn Young are ready for customers to stop by their new location on upper Main Street in Houlton to check out their bargains. Most items are $5 or less, including clothes, shoes and other items in stock.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — In today’s society, the catchword is bargain. And, the Good As New Shop on upper Main Street in Houlton is just the place to go.
    “We offer a wide variety of merchandise at a reasonable price — below reasonable,” laughed Jerry Thomas of Smyrna Mills, manager of the store.
    The Good As New Shop, which was located at the former Parkview Terrace, resells donated clothing and other items.
    “All proceeds go to St. Mary’s Church to be used for its food pantry and all the other activities the church does,” explained Thomas. “But, overall, what is charged for the clothing and goods is what it takes to maintain the store.”
    Though many people aren’t concerned with its church affiliation, the one thing that continues to draw customers are the prices.
    “The interesting thing is that you’d think people who are really needy would  come in, but that is not the case,” explained Thomas. “They do come in, but we get all types of people who come in. People are always looking for a bargain.”
    A staff of volunteers go through each of the belongings that are donated, pulling out the more usable items for the retail store.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
ON THE SHELF — Carolyn Young arranges clothing on a rack at the Good as New store.
    “What we do is when things are donated to us, we take the best out,” explained Thomas. “It is good, clean merchandise. Many times people get birthday gifts or Christmas gifts that they never use. So, they donate it to us.”
    Good As New is a spacious open room filled with quality merchandise from LL Bean caliber to similar brand names. Thomas noted that 90 percent of the items in the store cost only $2, while coats range from $3 to $5. Shoes are a $1 a pair and boots, $2 a pair. Dishes and knickknacks are priced anywhere from a quarter to 50 cents.  The store also offers a $5 bag sale on children’s clothing.
    “It’s a really good deal,” said Houlton Assistant Manager Carolyn Young. “The prices have been pretty much the same since we opened the store.”
    The Good As New Shop was started in 1989 as a way for parents to offset expenses at St. Mary’s School, said Young, who was manager of the store until she stepped down to take care of her mother.
    The first store was located on Broadway Street then it moved to another downtown location before settling in at the former Parkview Terrace. The new location wasn’t driven by any other reason than the fact the building was sold.
     “Business was good up there, but it has also been good here,” said Thomas.
    A major force driving the business climate in Houlton is the Canadian exchange.
    “For everybody in town, Canadians are a major part of business,” said Thomas. “We do find we get more Canadians down here, but we’ve also gotten a lot of new people in here, as well. There has been a kind of change of customers. We’ve got the people who were going up there, not all of them, some still haven’t come down here yet. But, we almost have a new clientele down here.”
    “We still have a few regulars,” added Young.
     When going into the store this time of year, the racks are filled with wintertime things and holiday gift ideas.
    “We have quite a variety really,” said Young.
    “People can buy low-cost clothing and other types of things that are in good shape,” added Thomas.
    Never forgetting the Christian mission of serving others, the Good As New Shop also has a free clothing box available, as well.
    Right now, the store is staffed by seven volunteers who work Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    “We are very fortunate to have volunteers work here,” said Young.
    However, the store’s name “Good As New” implies the shape of goods provided.
    “Oddly enough, we get younger people with families who buy here,” said Thomas. “We have nice clothing in here. Most people are just looking for a bargain. It isn’t that they need to go to a thrift store to buy something. It’s the fact they are looking for a cheaper price on something they can get that looks good and the price is right.”
    Items can be donated by dropping them off at the store location.