CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) – Albemarle Rio District Supervisor Ned Galloway said it was a bad day when the old occupant of the Gander Mountain store on 29 North vacated, and it’s a good day when Goodwill said it was planning to move in. The Albemarle board chair was among those attending what Goodwill calls a “tie-cutting” — instead of a “ribbon-cutting” — Wednesday at the 15,000 square-foot store. A line of persons stretched long, waiting for the doors to open at 9am.

Line of people waiting for the new Goodwill opening

Goodwill Industries of the Valley President and CEO Bruce Phipps praised the hard work employees put in closing the stores at Pantop and 29-and-Rio and getting this store ready to open. The architectural features remain from the old private company. Phipps said 47,000 people came to Goodwill last year, and 3300 are now working competitively. This year, they’ve seen more than 12,000 people come to Goodwill. He says two-thirds of Goodwill’s support comes from people donating their items.

Charlottesville Albemarle Chamber of Commerce President Elizabeth Cromwell says they welcome the effort who provides workforce training to area businesses. She says Goodwill also employs a lot of people itself in the area.