New thrift store in south Rockford aims to offer good deals while “changing lives in our city’

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new thrift store with tens of thousands of pieces of merchandise and a mission to help people rebuild their lives after homelessness has opened in the Alpine Village shopping center.

Carpenter’s Corner Alpine, 2512 S. Alpine Road, opens to the public Friday. The nonprofit celebrated a ribbon-cutting Thursday afternoon with the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Tom McNamara, Alderman Mark Bonne and other supporters.

The 18,000-square-foot retail floor is stocked with 30,000 items, ranging from clothing, jewelry, toys, hats and shoes to large and small pieces of furniture and other household items.

All the items were donated to Carpenter’s Place at its original thrift store location, Carpenter’s Corner Thrift and More, which opened two years ago at 1715 Rural St. in the former Schnucks and Hilander grocery store. The donations were so plentiful there that the nonprofit decided it needed a second location.

“We are here today because of the generosity of this community,” said Alberto Carrión, executive director of Carpenter’s Place. “All of the items that people donate to us, we put to good use. So we felt the need to open a second location so we could move that product, because at the end of the day really it’s all about serving the people who come through our doors.”

Proceeds from the sales at the store go toward Carpenter’s Place’s programs that serve people who have faced homelessness and other families in crisis.

“What makes this most special is that the dollars that are raised here and the revenue that comes from this store will be put right back into the mission of Carpenter’s Place, which is providing absolutely incredibly needed services to those residents in our community who need it the most,” McNamara said. “But beyond the services that the amazing staff provide, they provide a tremendous amount of hope and new opportunities for our residents.”

Kim Schenk checked out the new space on Thursday. She had previously shopped at the location on Rural, where she’s found everything from clothes to furniture and seasonal items. The new location is closer to home for Schenk.

“We don’t just buy, we also donate,” she said. “It’s fun to shop and it’s nice to know that it’s going to someone to help them.”

Bonne, who represents the 14th Ward where the shopping center is located, said he has been coming to Alpine Village since he would get his hair cut here as a young man.

“This, like a lot of shopping centers in Rockford and around the country, the glory days were awhile back,” Bonne said. “This was a really vibrant shopping center at one time. … I have a lot of confidence that this particular shopping center is on the way back up.”

Bonne said thrift and resale stores have had a resurgence in popularity, and he expects Carpenter’s Corner to bring people into the shopping center.

“It’s going to be a great addition,” he said. “I think it’s going to bring people from outside the neighborhood, into the neighborhood.”

Carpenter’s Corner filled the space  that was occupied by Eyram Furniture and Mattress. Eyram moved a few doors down to 2452 S. Alpine Road in the same complex and downsized to focus on mattress sales without the larger inventory of furniture in house.

Carpenter’s Corner moved quickly to open its doors, holding its grand opening a little less than three months after Eyram moved out. Its inventory so far all came from the Rural Street site, but the availability of merchandise is expected to grow as it now accepts donations at both locations.

“We’re changing lives in our city,” said Kelly Whitham, director of retail operations for Carpenter’s Place. “Every donation, every sale is affecting a life in our city.”

Hours & location | Carpenter’s Corner Alpine

Where: 2512 S. Alpine Road, Rockford

Grand opening hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15

Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday

Online: carpentersplace.org

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas