Watauga Humane Society Thrift Store Holds Grand Opening April 17 By Mike Shands Animals lovers can find a bargain and help the Watauga Humane Society at the same time this weekend. The thrift store’s women’s room boasts a wide variety of ladies’ apparel and accessories. Photo by Mike Shands. The humane society’s Bare Bones Boutique Thrift Store will hold its grand opening celebration Saturday, April 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located about four miles from Boone on Old Highway 421 South, the thrift shop is replacing the society’s existing boutique at 200 Casey Lane in Boone. The new shop, near the intersection of Old 421 and Don Hayes Road, is located on a portion of 13 acres the humane society purchased last summer to serve as the site of its future facility. Saturday’s grand opening festivities will feature food donated by area grocery stores and restaurants, raffles, drawings for gift certificate door prizes, balloons and possibly some entertainment. Pets will be welcome. Penny Gamblin, the boutique’s manager, said the new thrift shop, which is located in a multi-room farmhouse, easily triples or quadruples the space provided by the existing shop at 200 Casey Lane. “The other one’s so small,” she said. “That little one, you have to paw through everything to find something. “This is just going to be so much bigger and so much more. You’re going to find more quantity and variety here. “Everything here has not been over at that other store. This is all new stuff over here.” The existing thrift shop will remain open for at least another few weeks, Gamblin said. “For at least the next two weeks we’ll have dollar bags at the old one,” she said. “Whatever will fit in a bag – if it’s a toaster and it will fit in that bag – it’s a dollar.” Gamblin said she and a variety of volunteers have been busy putting the finishing touches on the new boutique in preparation for its grand opening. “I took the house and did every room differently,” she said. “One’s a women’s room. One’s a kitchen room. We have a men’s room with sports and a kid’s room with toys. “Our main front room is linens, knickknacks and living room stuff. The whole downstairs is furniture, lawn mowers and computer stuff.” The shop also features book and music areas plus household items and electronics. “We have people that check out appliances and some that check out the computers to make sure they’re working,” Gamblin said. “We’ve just got some very good stuff here. You would not believe the stuff we’ve got. We have everything, and it’s all very reasonably priced because everything is donated from the community.” All proceeds from the thrift shop sales directly benefit the humane society. The new thrift shop will also remain open for more hours each day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Anyone wishing to donate items to the thrift shop can drop them off at the sheds next to the existing shop for the next few weeks, or Gamblin will arrange for a pickup service. “I’m trying to get the word out that we are picking up donations now,” she said. “If they can’t make it in, we can pick it up.” Anyone visiting the new boutique will have the chance to meet Pippi, the shop’s black cat mascot. “She came in to the humane society last September,” Gamblin said. “She lost her eye to a bad infection. She’s just a sweety. She just loves it here.” To attract more customers Gamblin is offering a variety of discounts at the boutique. Local High Country residents receive a 10 percent discount every Monday, all students receive a 10 percent discount every Tuesday and senior citizens receive a 10 percent discount every Wednesday. “We also have super saver cards, where every time you spend $5 we’ll stamp it, and then once you spend $50 you’ll get $5 off your next purchase,” Gamblin said. “Starting in June we’re going to run a cutest dog contest, and you can vote with quarters. “We’re just trying to get everybody in here.” For more information about the thrift shop call (828) 264-7339.