news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Forget what you might have heard about Salvation Army thrift stores. This one breaks the mold.

Stylish track lighting. Spacious, uncluttered aisles filled with higher quality clothing. Four — count 'em four — dressing rooms. Mannequins, too.

Welcome to the Salvation Army of Greensboro's newest thrift store. It opens in the Lake Jeanette Station shopping center off North Elm Street in Greensboro in mid-October.

The nonprofit hopes a stylish, boutique-style shop influenced by the look and feel of, say, an Anthropology or Timberland store will be a better fit for northern Greensboro shoppers who have more disposable income but are still looking for deals and steals.

If you like the design, you have UNCG's interior architecture department to thank.

The department, at the Salvation Army's request, agreed to design the store, which is about 5,000 square feet.

"It's incredibly exciting to be able to be part of a project from beginning to end," said UNCG student Debbie Nestvogel who shared lead designer duties with Matt Jones.

"It's a completely different aesthetic," Nestvogel said. "It's not a whole bunch of smorgasbord of stuff that's going to be displayed. It's going to have order."

UNCG's department of consumer, apparel and retail studies also did merchandise consulting work for the new store.

Lake Jeanette area resident Jo Kennedy, a longtime supporter of the Salvation Army, is looking forward to its opening.

"It will not be crowded," Kennedy said. "It will be laid out beautifully. I just think it makes such a difference."

Another bonus for Kennedy and other shoppers, the Salvation Army believes, is knowing they'll get more bang for their buck when donating higher-quality items versus dropping them off at a low-end thrift store.

That's because bigger sales tags means more revenue for the store, which in turns means more money to worthy causes the Salvation Army supports such as the Boys & Girls Club.

Although pricing hasn't been set, the Salvation Army stresses that the merchandise will include big values for shoppers on a tight budget.

More details about the store are expected to be unveiled during a Salvation Army news conference in September. The date has not been set.

The Salvation Army is accepting donations for the new store, which will be at 3610 N. Elm St. Call 273-5572.

You can also donate your stuff at a Salvation Army truck that's parked outside the store on Saturdays from about 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. until it opens.

Check out a slideshow featuring architectural drawings of the store.

You can also find the locations of the 15 Salvation Army thrift stores in the Piedmont Triad.

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Tickets at the Natural Science Center's OmniSphere Theater in Greensboro just got a little cheaper.

The center recently cut prices for shows in its 40-foot dome theater by $2, so they're now $3 each. The 3-D shows are now $4, regular $6.

Deal ends Nov. 22.

The Natural Science Center is at 4301 Lawndale Drive.

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If you're looking to buy or looking to sell, you might want to mark your calendar for a huge community yard sale in downtown Greensboro.

It will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 12 in the News & Record's parking lot at the corner of Church and South Washington streets across from the train depot.

Proceeds will benefit the News & Record's Newspaper in Education program and the United Way of Greater Greensboro.

If you're looking to sell, it's a $30 donation for a regular booth, or two parking spaces, and $50 for three parking spaces. A limited number of spaces will be available for free for those who do not wish to donate.

To reserve a space, register online with your credit card by midnight Sept. 6 at www.news-record.com/NIE.

Looking to buy? Event coordinators are asking for a $1 donation to get in.

Contact Jaye Webb at 373-7294 for more information or e-mail him at jaye.webb@news-record.com.

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A reminder: I'm adding stores I've featured in Savvy Shopper on Google Maps.

Are there other bargain- loving stores in the Triad people should know about?

Shoot me an e-mail at michael.fuchs@news-record. com.

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Become Web savvy. Check out the Bargain Blog.

Also, subscribe to the weekly Bargain Bytes e-newsletter, which is free, at www.news-record.com/bargains. You can also sign up for my Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/bargainblog.

Contact Mike Fuchs at 373-3465 or michael.fuchs@news-record.com