Smithville’s Born Again Emporium will be relocating to bigger facility
The community-run resale shop Born Again Emporium will move to a new location in September after having outgrown its space.
The emporium, a nonprofit established to help those in need, will shift operations 14 blocks east along Loop 230 from its current location to a newly built 8,000-square-foot building. The new facility will increase the shop’s space by almost 6,000 square feet.
The emporium recently obtained a mortgage on the 5 acres at 1642 NE Loop 230, and plans to move as soon as the large parking lot is paved.
With so little room, most clothes are being processed off site and space restrictions limit donations, shopkeepers said.
“We’ve outgrown our space twice and are truly busting at the seams now,” said Jan Rodwick, one of two lead coordinators.
The whole idea started with a multichurch garage sale three years ago at Central School. Representatives from La Grange Ministerial Alliance and Second Chance resale store in La Grange, which is also run by churches, came and spoke to the Smithville Ministerial Alliance about how to run a store.
Local Smithville churches banded together and created the store.
Any money made by the emporium does not go to the church congregations; it all goes back into the community, Rodwick said. All proceeds go to fund human services nonprofits within the 78957 ZIP code. More than $133,000 has been given out in grants since 2015.
People from nine different churches volunteer each week receiving donations, sorting, cleaning, pricing, stocking and assisting customers during the sale period. Each of the nine churches takes a week on an eight-week rotation to volunteer, with the two smaller churches sharing their week of volunteer work.
In 2016, volunteers worked over 13,000 man hours, coordinators said.
“It’s a very rewarding job and God has blessed us greatly,” Rodwick said. “We’re selling a lot of quality items, and we’re giving that money right back into the community.”
“And we’re keeping it out of the landfill,” added Susan Guedry, the shop’s second lead coordinator.
Rodwick encourages anyone to volunteer.
“A lot of people think they can’t work here because they don’t belong to a church, but that’s not right. Anyone can volunteer,” she said. “We are looking for more help. With our new building, we’ll need more. And not all of the churches are members of the Ministerial Alliance.”
Still at 200 NW Loop 230, donation times are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The emporium asks people to only donate during those times due to weather, assistance in unloading and theft. The shop provides the donor with a receipt for tax purposes.
The emporium accepts donations of new and gently-used clothing, household goods, small appliances and furniture in good working condition. It is unable to accept large appliances, TVs, computers or printers.
The store is open for sales Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It only accepts cash. To find out more, call 512-237-2060.