SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A new thrift store is set to open in Sioux Falls, providing a new option for those west of I-29 in the area.
Scott Ausland is the general manager for the St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) thrift stores in Sioux Falls, and he says the society is excited to open its west-side branch.
“We’re looking to move forward with this side of town that has been kind of a long time neglected as far as the ability to have a place to bring their donations and their generous gifts,” said Ausland.
He pointed out that while there are a number of thrift stores in Sioux Falls, such as Savers, Goodwill and the other SVDP store, this will be the only one west of I-29.
Ausland gave a quick explanation of what exactly the SVDP is outside of its thrift stores.
“The society is here to help their friends in need or their neighbors in need right here in Sioux Falls,” said Ausland. “Our monies are nearly all collected through donation of items. We sell them through the thrift store and those monies then are returned back to people with payroll, plus they also have a helpline where people can go to that is svdpsd.com and request help.”
Ausland said that about 80-90% of requests to that helpline are for rent assistance, “which means that yes, we do need to generate funds and that’s what the thrift store is helping them to do.”
The new SVDP store was built with the future in mind, with the plans dating back to the early 2020s. Now the shop is built, staffed and full of merchandise, ready to serve the community.
The new SVPD store began taking donations in late November and has since filled the store.
“They’ve been coming in, 40-50 car loads a day,” said Ausland, which he said turns into 400-500 bags of merchandise per day, whether that be dishes, household goods, clothing, or even artwork.
“There is no end to what you might find,” Ausland said. “It’s all about finding that buried treasure. Sometimes you’ve got to dig a little bit, but the gold is out here. You’ve just got to come find it.”
There is some curation to what is put out on the racks. Ausland explained that while not everything can be sold, very little goes to waste, as the SVPD has partners outside Sioux Falls who will take things not fit the store and either repurpose or recycle them.
As for what does make it to the shelves, Ausland says that is informed by what people want.
“We learn what people are excited to buy, and what they might just want to sit on the shelf for a while,” Ausland said. “We do have a point of sale system that allows me to track favorite items — items that move very rapidly.”
Ausland appreciates the thrift store industry, having come to it prior to his experience with the SVDP. “I always refer to my wife and myself. We were longtime thrifters before I ever came to SVDP,” he said. “We kind of learned it back when our children were three or four and coming in to find that Halloween costume. We thought thrifting was only for Halloween — well as we were digging through things to put their costumes together, we found brand new items, brand new, you know, never worn items. Items of household furniture that would just fit what we needed.”
Ausland said he and his wife quickly became wise to the ways of thrifting and were able to raise their kids on thrift. “People work hard for their money and they deserve to find that treasure,” he said.
With the shop set to open soon, Ausland is thankful for those who have made it possible. “We’re a society of volunteers for the most part, other than the employees that I have here with the thrift stores,” he said. “We just want to give them a shout-out for all their hard work that they do within the community to help their neighbors in need, whether it be rent assistance or utility bills or whatever hardship that they’ve come across.”
The new SVDP thrift store openson January 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Store hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. The shop will be closed on Sundays.
Donation hours will be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
