By Joanie Morris
Salisbury Post
KANNAPOLIS ó The opening of a new Goodwill store created quite a stir Wednesday morning as shoppers lined up outside before the ribbon cutting.
Cars packed the parking lot and lined the street at the newest Goodwill location in Kannapolis, 2303 Coldwater Ridge Drive, just off Dale Earnhardt Boulevard. Many came for the bargains Goodwill offers.
Dr. Thomas Clark, a sculptor best known for his whimsical gnomes and woodspirits, visited the store later in the day to autograph art pieces he donated to Goodwill Industries. Goodwill named Clark donor of the year in 2006.
John Cunningham, vice president of retail operations for Goodwill of Northwest North Carolina, said the Kannapolis store and all of the Northwest North Carolina stores focus on customers, from the drive-through donation center to the checkout counter.
“We really focus on customer service,” Cunningham said. “The average customer spends hours here. It’s not like going to Wal-Mart, where you have a list of what you need.”
The newest store boasts 12,000 square feet and offers a large inventory of clothing, furniture, shoes, toys and housewares. The center also offers a covered donation drive-through. The store is the second in Kannapolis. The other store is located at 1806 S. Cannon Blvd.
In addition to theusual Goodwill items for sale and the Tom Clark gnomes and woodspirits, the newest Kannapolis Goodwill also offers special buys and a silent auction on certain collectible and electronic goods. Soon it will offer biodegradable shopping bags, which are only offered at one other Goodwill store in the United States.
Contact Joanie Morris at 704-932-3336 or jmorris@salisburypost.com.