Our Thrift Store finds home in Williamson County

By COURTNEY WATSON
Staff Writer

FRANKLIN — The county that's best known for its big houses and big incomes is now home to what looks like a big oxymoron: a growing number of thrift stores.

The arrival of Goodwill Industries to Independence Square today comes just after the opening of Our Thrift Store on Columbia Avenue, and they're both stirring up a fair amount of interest.

''I've been with Goodwill a long time, and we've never had the interest in a store that we've had in this one,'' said David Lifsey, president of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. ''I think there are a lot of closet Goodwill shoppers in Williamson County.''

Until a few weeks ago, thrift store shoppers here had exactly one option: Graceworks, the shop supported by a network of churches in the county.

But consignment stores and teen resale shops like Planet Xchange and Plato's Closet have been gaining steam in the area, helping to form new attitudes about secondhand shopping, according to Dave Krikac, proprietor of Our Thrift Store.

''Rich or poor, everybody likes a deal,'' he said. ''George Carlin said it: People got stuff. And in Williamson County, people got more stuff. We're slammed every day.''

All three stores encourage shoppers of every income level to visit. At Graceworks and Our Thrift Store, lower-income families come in to stretch their dollars while upscale antiques dealers buy items to resell them at higher prices.

''The race is to the swift,'' Krikac said. ''But the average selling price is under three dollars. I didn't expect that, and I think it validates that the community needs something like this.''

In fact, staff at all three stores are working to dispel the stereotype that people in Williamson County don't need secondhand shops.

''We're hitting this target of people who absolutely need to get a break,'' Krikac said. ''There are a lot of folks that do not have a lot of money in the area.''

Graceworks assistant manager Ellen Maddux said the misconception has always been there.

''There's a huge need here,'' she said. ''Certainly a lot of people here know about it, but there is a misconception. Even people who have a lot at one time never know what's going to happen to them in the future.''

Lifsey said Williamson County has long been a draw for Goodwill donations ''because of demographics and income level,'' but he also had a feeling there was a retail market, too. The problem was finding the right place.

''Cool Springs is clearly not our market, and Highway 96 might have done if we could find a place, but we think Independence Square is going to be the best of both worlds,'' he said. ''There's a wide income spread within a few miles of it.''

According to Maddux, Goodwill's presence could create a niche area for bargain-hunting enthusiasts.

''We're really excited that they're here,'' she said. ''Sometimes people who live further out don't want to drive in just for one store. If they know there's several in the area, people who are interested in this kind of store will come a little further out.''

Krikac echoed the enthusiasm, musing that ''a rising tide floats all boats.''

''I think you could have 10 thrift stores in Williamson County,'' he said. ''I plan on partnering with Goodwill. I want to go introduce myself. If they have some clothing racks, I could really use 'em.''