DULUTH — A new thrift store recently opened to serve the communities of Morgan Park and Gary-New Duluth.
Renew Thrift Store is located at 1074 88th Ave. W. Its hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ADVERTISEMENT
The new volunteer-run nonprofit aims to offer clothing and household items at an affordable rate that overseers Rob and Brenda Skutevik said is significantly lower than that of Savers and Goodwill, as well as free nonperishable food and clothing options.
“We're hoping to move our church into this community,” said Rob Skutevik, pastor of the Renew Church for the past 13 years. “In the meantime, we thought, 'Let's offer something that can be helpful to the people.'”
The idea for Renew Thrift was inspired by the Skuteviks’ visit to a thrift store with a similar concept in South Padre, Texas. Once presented, the idea was quickly accepted by their 300-member congregation. All the pieces began to fall into place within three months.
“It's more than a thrift store. It's really a ministry,” Rob Skutevik said. “All that money goes right back into the community.”
Proceeds from sales help support families in need and children's programming. A benevolence fund is also available to further assist eligible shoppers with purchases.
“A man who needed a coat — he needed a size 6X, and we didn't have that,” said Brenda Skutevik. “But we had already made enough coming in over that first week that we were able to go on Amazon and order a new coat. That's pretty cool.”
Renew Thrift occupies three units within the building, including the store, office space and a future expansion area. The spaces were formerly a post office and hair salon.
ADVERTISEMENT
The building is owned by Paul and Brandon Johnson, who previously operated Custom Carpet Maynard Flooring there by appointment only until transitioning their business to an online platform .
Renew Church is located in the Fond du Lac neighborhood at 521 131st Ave. W. The community has shrunk since the original church was established over 100 years ago, whereas the Morgan Park neighborhood is seeing growth, said Rob Skutevik.
Even so, Morgan Park residents face economic issues such as securing employment and transportation, as well as struggles with mental health and addiction. The Skuteviks are aware of many Morgan Park residents who struggle with economic insecurities due to inflation and high food and housing costs.
The thrift store serves as an outreach effort to familiarize the people of the community with the church before it eventually relocates.
“I've noticed a lot of people who come to the store walk to the store,” said Brenda Skutevik. “They're really appreciative of being able to just walk over.”
A shelf within the thrift store is dedicated to offering community resources for customers to learn more about various shelters, food shelves and other services in the area.
On Saturdays from noon to 2 p.m., Renew Church Duluth accepts donations of gently used clothing, footwear, linens, tools, toys, games, jewelry, accessories, household items, kitchenware, furniture, athletic and outdoor equipment, musical instruments, books, records, CDS, DVDs and craft supplies.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We've gotten some really great donations,” Brenda Skutevik said. “We've been able to kind of set it up so it doesn't feel like a dark, dingy sort of charity sort of thing.”
The Trust Project
