Salvation Army Family Store to open in Hackettstown

HACKETTSTOWN – A Salvation Army Family Store is scheduled to open soon in a vacant Mountain Avenue building owned by Rite Aid.

A sneak peek into the 10,000-square-foot store revealed neatly stocked racks of clothing, accessories, linens, furniture, and electronics.

Initially, The Salvation Army will sublet the property for four years, with a three-year option to extend the lease, according to Capt. Brian Merchant, who oversees The Salvation Army in Northern New Jersey. If the store performs well, a discussion to purchase may be placed on the table.

"It's a win-win," Merchant said. "The store doesn't sit vacant and become on eyesore for the next seven years."

The store will employ three full-time managers, who will receive benefits, and six to eight part-timers.

Proceeds from sales will provide for store operations and also help fund one of the cornerstone services of The Salvation Army—a 76-bed adult residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation center in Paterson. The nine-month program is free to participants.

The family store model is part of a rebranding to remove the stigma associated with thrift stores, though the family stores offer the value to which Salvation Army customers have become accustomed.

The Hackettstown store soon will begin taking public donations of gently or lightly used clothing and furniture as well as appliances and electronics in working order, Merchant said.

"(We are) reusing, reselling, and giving items a second chance," he said. "We were green before green was a fad."

In North Jersey, The Salvation Army owns other family stores in Dover, Paterson, and Passaic, as well as in Englewood and Jersey City.

"The Salvation Army goes where they see a need," said Jim Sheldon, executive director of the Hackettstown Business Improvement District, "and they see a need here."

For more information, visit www.satruck.org .

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story said the store would open April 9.

Salvation Army's Paterson Director of Operations Stephen Taylor said they are still in the process of finalizing paperwork to open the story.

Taylor said he will make an announcement when there is an official opening date and that he hopes to open the store soon.