WATSONVILLE — Watsonville’s newest thrift store is set to open in mid to late February, a company spokesman said Monday.
Hope Thrift will occupy the building vacated about one year ago by Orchard Supply Hardware at 1060 South Green Valley Road.
The 27,000-square-foot store will offer new and reused items, and will also serve as an outlet for Hope Craft, which will sell crafts made by clients, and Hope Bikes, which will sell refurbished bicycles.
The store will offer “name-brand merchandise at deeply discounted prices,” said Dan Orloff, Vice President of Development of Hope Services, which will run the store.
Based in San Jose, Hope Services provides support for people with developmental disabilities.
Orloff said that every purchase at Hope Thrift supports the organization’s work, which covers Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Clara and three other counties around the Bay Area.
Donations of household items, toys and other things are tax deductible.
The store will employ 30-35 people, about 15 of which are the organization’s clients, Orloff said.
Harbor Freight Tools will also take up part of the building.
That 15,000-square-foot store is tentatively scheduled to open on April 10.
The company bills itself as the leading discount tool retailer in the U.S., selling “high-quality tools at ridiculously low prices” in more than 800 stores nationwide.
Harbor Freight will employ 35-40 people.
“We’re thrilled to be opening our 104th Harbor Freight Tools store in California and very pleased by the warm welcome we’ve received in Watsonville,” said Harbor Freight Tools President Eric Smidt.
