Signal Tribune Newspaper

Sales from the store will help fund outreach programs in the community.

By Steven Piper
Editorial Intern

Generating its first dollars for outreach programs such as the Emergency Family Shelter Program, Men’s Advancement Program and the Circle V Ranch Camp Program, the new St. Vincent De Paul thrift store at 2750 E. Pacific Coast Highway unlocked its doors Monday morning for a soft opening.
Long Beach resident Juan Lozano, who became the store’s first customer by purchasing a china set for his wife, said he was patronizing the second-hand store because of the prices. “You find good deals,” he said. “It is cheaper, especially in this economy and especially with kids.”
Marsinah Trujillo, another customer, seemed to have a more specific shopping goal in mind. “They have a lot of new items, but I have not found a vintage thing yet,” she said.
Perhaps echoing more of the general public’s needs right now, public relations coordinator Brian Pickering focused on the timing of the store’s opening. “It is nice to know we can open in a time when the economy is bad and that we can give the public an outlet for items at a bargain price,” he said.

Juan Lozano became the store’s first customer with the purchase of a china set for his wife.

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