MADISON – For Maj. Mark Satterlee, the Salvation Army Thrift Store “lights up like a jewel” when he drives by at night. “I can’t believe that’s our building.”

(CONTRIBUTED)

Opening on Dec. 2, the thrift store at 385 Hughes Road has occupied the building that formerly housed the Madison Post Office.

“The Salvation Army has never had a presence in western Madison County,” Satterlee said. “With Madison being such a growing area, we wanted to bring our services here.”

Covering 5,000 square feet, the thrift store has clothing for men, women and children. The inventory includes shoes, pictures, white goods, furniture, mattresses, kitchenware, books, decorating accessories and jewelry.

“We did not want a ‘thrift-store mentality,'” Satterlee said. “We wanted the store to be upscale and ’boutique-ish.'”

In planning for the store, Salvation Army officers first organized a committee with their advisory board to locate a piece of property and to study feasibility. “After looking for a while, we engaged a realtor to find the property, negotiated the lease and made a five-year commitment to the property,” he said.

Owner Joe Fleming completed extensive renovations by removing walls, adding a sprinkler system and other improvements. “Mr. Fleming did a lot of work to get it ready,” Satterlee said.

A diverse clientele can take advantage of the Salvation Army Thrift store. “Low-income people need our store for good items at a reduced price. Also, it’s a good place to shop for college students, newlyweds and people moving into an apartment,” Satterlee said.

Moreover, the store’s revenue will fund the Salvation Army’s alcohol and drug rehabilitation program, meals 365 days each year and other year-round services.

The store’s staff includes a store manager, full-time and part-time cashiers and “our ‘back-door man’ to take people’s donations and give receipts,” Satterlee said. “Our staff did an incredible job getting the store set up as quickly as they did.”

Call the store at 256-325-2398. The Salvation Army’s address in Huntsville is 2114 Oakwood Ave. For information, call 256-536-5576 or visit salvationarmyhuntsville.org.