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By Steve Morris
Second Hand Treasures is North Branch's newest business to grace the downtown streets.
The
thrift store opened Jan. 8 in the old library building and is looking
to serve a need in the community by collecting people's unwanted items
and then selling them to the public.
The store is co-owned by
Lisa Cotter, a 1990 North Branch High School graduate, and Jamie Hovey,
a mother of three who resides in Lindstrom.
Hovey, who grew up
in Lakeville, purchased the building in November with her husband and
has been busy with Cotter getting the store to operational mode ever
since.
Slowly but surely, and with the help of family and friends, the two entrepreneurs collected items to fill the store.
A
quick walk through the aisles and you notice Cotter and Hovey either
have a lot of friends and family or both. Clothes, household items,
antiques and more fill 5,000 square feet of space on the main level.
Cotter said all items are reasonably priced.
"We have had a lot of people who have said our prices are really good here," Cotter said.
The
store accepts most items except mattresses and large appliances such as
TVs and refrigerators. Other than that, there isn't much they don't
accept, explained Hovey.
Hovey said the store also fills a
niche market for people looking to "go green" by finding an alternative
home for unwanted belongings.
Hovey wants to give back to the
community by offering special programs for foster families and as a
resource center where people can find local happenings via a bulletin
board.
On Wednesdays, Second Hand Treasures offers a 10 percent
discount to seniors. The store's grand opening is set for Feb. 1-2. To
celebrate, they are having 50 percent off all winter coats.
The store accepts major credit cards and checks. For more information, contact Second Hand Treasures at (651) 277-HAND.
"This
is something I have wanted to do for a long time," Cotter said while
standing behind the cash register in her new business. "Everything has
just fallen into place."
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