Goodwill hunting for donations at new Hillcrest store

Goodwill Industries of San Diego has leased space previously occupied by Legends Home Furnishings, at 1219 University Avenue. While not open for business, the store is accepting donations at the back door from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Renovations are well under way. Workers are putting up new drywall and turning some open space into rooms. The interior is larger than it appears from the entrance. Goodwill spokesperson Sharon Corrigan told the Reader the sales floor will comprise 3000 square feet of the 5000-square-foot building.

Corrigan expects the store will fill about 25 positions. She indicated the store will probably open sometime in the fall. An onsite donation worker said some donations arriving now are going to San Ysidro, particularly older, large TVs. Customers from Mexico like to buy those, he said.

Goodwill Industries has come under fire recently, with national news reports about underpaying its store and warehouse employees — sometimes less than a dollar per hour. Corrigan did not respond to a Reader question about average wages to be paid at the Hillcrest store.

The Goodwill store will face competition for donations and customers. A thrift store nearby is Revivals (owned by Desert AIDS Project in Palm Springs), at 1644 University. It occupies another space once leased by Legends furniture. Goodwill will also compete with Baras Foundation Thrift Shop at 1455 University and Assistance League Thrift Shop at 108 University. There are also at least three nonprofit thrift shops in North Park.