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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
A steady stream of people walked out of the Unitarian Universalist Area Church with armfuls of goods. Some juggled vases, picture frames, and trinkets as they walked down steps, while others carried out bags of clothes. As it turns out, every Wednesday is like this at Sherborn’s UUAC as visitors pour in and out of the Good As New Shop in the church basement from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to shop for weekly steals.
The volunteer-based shop originally opened 54 years ago to raise money for Sunday school materials. Now, some of the shop’s proceeds benefit the church, while the rest is donated to organizations that empower and uplift women. The shop has five seasons, rather than the calendar year’s four, and at the end of each season, they conduct a half-priced sale. At the end of the sale, the shop donates the remaining wares to charity and begins a new season of fresh donations.
Every Wednesday, shoppers come to the Unitarian Universalist Area Church for the Good As New Shop to find brand name clothes at bargain prices.
“The fact is we do get rid of everything and we start fresh,” began Barbara Allen, one of the Good As New Shop volunteers. “It doesn’t take long for this to fill up. It’s pretty amazing. So, in terms of sustainability, it’s great.”
Members of the community are welcome to donate or consign their gently loved clothing or housewares. Most of the items were designer brand clothes for the lowest prices imaginable. Some clothes, which still had their original tags securely attached, were marked to just five dollars.
The Good As New Shop also served as a place for members of Sherborn’s community to reconnect with friends as they shopped together. Women met up with their girlfriends and browsed the tables full of half priced bargains. Coffee and cookies were also available to purchase as patrons perused the store for goodies.
Two thrift shoppers sift through the tables at the Good As New Shop’s half price sale.
“We have a very loyal group of shoppers who come every week,” said Barbara. “It’s kind of like a social group, too.”
The Good As New Shop was true to its name. The clothes were in impeccable quality at bargain prices, providing the community with some of the best deals in town. While some patrons were kicking themselves for passing on a good bargain, they were sure to find more in the next coming weeks of the shop’s new season.
