Carole McCarthy, volunteer manager of St. Andrews Thrift Store in Boothbay Harbor since 2018, said she is proud of its new premises. The store moved a few doors down in the Meadow Mall to the old Radio Shack.

“It took us about two or three weeks,” said McCarthy, who works five, sometimes six, days a week for at least six hours at the store. “It was unbelievable,” she said of the move. “We moved everything ourselves. We had people offering to do anything and everything. We had men in their 80s painting, youngsters carrying heavy items. Hannaford loaned us shopping carts to transport things…nothing was broken! It was wonderful. This community is wonderful, people just want to contribute.”

McCarthy and the other volunteers are thrilled with the new premises. “It works,” she said. “It flows. I’m very proud of it. We have more space, the different departments are more defined, we have proper walkways and it’s all less confined. We have more items – more furniture, sporting goods, hardware, electronics.”

The day of the grand opening, “20 to 30 people (were) waiting outside and it went on being busy all day,” McCarthy said. “Since then sales have continued to be phenomenal. There’ve been a lot of tourists, a lot of young people. It seemed like perfect timing. People were ready to be out and about and to be doing something different. Plus we have something for everyone. We’re a cut below Neiman Marcus but a cut above J.C. Penney!”

The store is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations are always welcome and proceeds go to community causes including the St Andrews Auxiliary Scholarship Fund, Boothbay Region Ambulance Service, New Hope for Women, Community Paramedicine, the Gregory Wing Hoverjack Lift, and more.