New thrift shop in Coopersburg features mission that’s purrfect
From vintage hats fit for the Kentucky Derby, to seashorethemed kitchen decor and shoes for all occasions, Nine Lives Thrift Store in Coopersburg has just about anything a shopper’s heart desires. Plus kittens.
Spurred by a mission to help local cat rescues, shopkeeper Samantha Malone, 30, of Bethlehem shares a percentage of her profits with people who take care of vulnerable cats. In return, the energetic felines entertain customers with their adorable antics.
“People come in and they’re excited to treasure hunt, but then they see the kittens and run over there to look at them,” said Malone, holding a tiny ginger furball named Pua on Saturday. “The kittens definitely steal the show.”
Malone opened Nine Lives Thrift at the end of January in a strip mall on North Third Street/ Route 309. Though it may seem a risky endeavor to start a business in the middle of a pandemic, Malone, who worked in the retail and consignment scene for more than six years before opening the store, saw an opportunity.
“The one thing I noticed was that although people were struggling, a lot of thrift stores were becoming overwhelmed by the number of items they were getting. Instead of going out, or going on trips, people were home and were cleaning up and redoing rooms, and there was this surge in items that they were looking to pass along.”
It’s a trend other second-hand businesses are seeing too. Goodwill Keystone, which operates several donation centers in the Lehigh Valley, announced in January that they were temporarily suspending donations because the stores were too full.
Malone previously worked with Last Chance Ranch in Quakertown, which also operates a thrift store. There, she fielded frequent requests from people trying to find homes for stray and unwanted cats. Though the Lehigh Valley is home to dozens of small cat rescues, Malone found that many people didn’t know they existed.
“There’s a tremendous need for cat rescue in this area,” Malone said. “While the South has more of a stray dog problem, in the Northeast, we have an explosion of homeless cats.”
The stray and feral cat population swells each spring, as mother cats give birth. This year’s “kitten season” is already underway and rescues are struggling to raise donations because of the pandemic.
Nine Lives Thrift benefits a different cat rescue each quarter. Once she recoups her startup costs, Malone hopes to be able to donate at least 25% of profits to the featured rescue. Cat groups
may put out a donation jar and host adoption events at the store, and Malone posts wish lists to encourage customers to donate supplies directly to the rescues.
Malone said she’ll leave it up to each organization to determine how often they want to bring animals in. The current group the store’s supporting, A Bigger Purpose Kitten Rescue of Hellertown, shows kittens at the thrift store on Saturdays, taking them out of cages to show shoppers and potential adopters.
“It’s really nice here,” said Riley Craig, director of A Bigger Purpose Kitten Rescue. “I love that we have a physical place for a few months to bring kittens so that adopters can come and meet them.”
Craig, 14, is a ninth grader at Saucon Valley High School who started rescuing cats when she was 12. Her organization, which relies on foster homes, has saved 124 cats to date.
“I love having cats at the store because it really helps in getting them adopted,” Malone said. “Pictures and video online are great, but when you can see a cat and get to know their personality, it really makes a difference.”
The brightly lit, four-room store features a little bit of everything, including clothing for men, women and children, household goods, toys and books. Cat-themed items are scattered throughout, and felines grace signs directing shoppers to different areas of merchandise. Malone often posts photos and videos of new items on the store’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Malone encourages customers to donate pet supplies, since those items can make a difference for cat and dog parents who are struggling.
“I do my best to keep prices low, because a lot of my customers are out of work because of COVID and I want to be a resource for the community,” she said.
Animals have always been Malone’s passion, cats especially. Her own cat, a 10-year-old tuxedo named Romeo, is a bit miffed over her new business.
“He’s not pleased that I’m leaving the house so often to work on the store,” she said. “I tell him I’m helping cats, but he just gives me an eye roll. He’s jealous.”
Nine Lives Thrift is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday at 201 S. Third St., Coopersburg. There’s a contactless donation bin at the rear of the store. Nine Lives accepts most items, except large furniture and tube TVs. Donations can be dropped off during store hours only. The store is a private thrift store, not a nonprofit, so donations are not tax deductible.
For more information, contact Malone at 484-863-9022 or ninelivesthriftstore@gmail.com