Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: The Verge

Charleston Community Thrift, located at 655 Castle Drive, offers clothing as well as other items at an affordable rate. (All photos by Cari Wafford/The Daily Eastern News)

Doris Linder checks for sizes on shoes at the Charleston Community Thrift Store while shopping with her sister.

"Twice is nice when they have a sell," says Mary Tucker, a frequent shopper of the Charleston Community Thift Store. "We couldn't afford to shop anywhere else," she said.

All products within the store are donated and they include everything from furniture and clothing to entertainment centers and workout equipment.

During this current time of economic decline, many businesses are struggling to make money, while consumers are struggling to find ways to save money.

That is where the Charleston Community Thrift Store comes in.

Located at 655 Castle Drive in the Northwest Business Park of Charleston, the tiled, white-walled store offers clothing and other items at an affordable rate.

Owner Brenda Duzan said that one of her main motivations for buying the store was to give people a place to come and purchase items that are lower than what they would pay at more high-end stores.

"Every day, we have 50 percent off certain items, where you can end up getting a pair of jeans for $1.63 or a top for a $1.48," Duzan said. "We really try to make it as affordable as possible for people to shop here."

Pastors Jerry and Linda Jones of the Praise Assembly of God church, who sold the store to Duzan's sister, first owned the thrift store.

Duzan's sister soon decided that she was going to sell the thrift store and Duzan asked if she could have the first bid on the store.

Duzan's sister immediately sold the store to her and soon, Duzan took ownership on Nov. 15, 2005.

The store's religious affiliations have continued with the changes of ownership with Duzan instituting a prayer list and an environment that is family friendly.

Duzan said she tries very hard to make sure that there are no offensive products or clothing that is sold by the store.

All products within the store are donated and they include everything from furniture and clothing to entertainment centers and workout equipment.

The Charleston Community Thrift Store only gets rid of items that are stained, torn or offensive in nature, which is evident by the large back room of the store that is stacked to the ceiling with items that don't fit in the store.

Other items include vintage vests and slacks, as well as other outdated clothes.

There are sections of the store dedicated to men's, women's, and children's items. There is also a little area in the back left corner for knick-knacks and appliances.

Duzan said that with the variety of products sold at the store it allows a lot of different types of customers to come in and purchase the items.

The store's biggest financial month of business is October.

Duzan explained that a lot of college students come in during this month to buy costumes for Halloween as well as for other themed parties.

"If I could have a month like that every month, it would be phenomenal," Duzan said. "We make a point to keep older '70s and '80s clothes so that the college students can have a variety to choose from."

Duzan admitted that the store has felt the effects of the struggling economy.

"We have our good days, and we have our bad days," Duzan said. "We are currently holding our own during these economic times, but I do expect things to get better."

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