Organization hopes to open 13 more area stores
More good will has come to Taylor with Goodwill Central Texas debuting its 37th location on the city’s north side.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce took place prior to the store opening its doors at 3100 N. Main St., Suite 137.
The thrift-type store is located in the same shopping center as Starbucks, Bealls and a Panda Express still under construction.
Prior to last week, the only Goodwill store in East Williamson County was in Hutto. According to Nick Adams, senior vicepresident of retail operations, the process to open the Taylor location took a year.
“The planning phase took about six months and the physical work began in the spring,” Adams said.
According to Adams, there weren’t too many Goodwill locations east of Georgetown. Goodwill Central Texas serves Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, Travis and Hays counties.
“Taylor is good because of geography. We have a gap in population in where people live and shop,” Adams said. “With the growth of Taylor, it was a good opportunity for us to meet the demand of a place to donate and shop.”
Taylor is the second community to see the debut of a Goodwill store this year. Goodwill Central Texas opened a store in Liberty Hill in June.
The retail stores are an outgrowth of Goodwill Industries International Inc., a U.S. business providing career training, employment placement and local programs to help job-seekers overcome barriers. Goodwill grew out of a charitable Boston ministry in 1902, according to a history of the enterprise.
“We’re looking at other communities to open a store, donate, shop and have fun,” Adams said. “When you shop and donate, those proceeds are used for job training and education services. This isn’t possible without our retail stores.”
According to Adams, the Taylor store is more than 18,000 square feet. He said the store has a “different look and feel.”
“Taylor and Liberty Hill look and feel significantly different than the other stores,” Adams said. “It makes shopping better for the customers. The Taylor community has been fantastic.”
Adams said his company wants to build more locations in the next four years.
“We’re looking to expand in our area. This is one of the top growth markets in the state and we’ve been underserving this market,” he said. “We’re looking to build another 13 stores by 2029. It takes a lot of planning and investing to build a store.”
Local dignitaries heralding the store’s opening Sept. 26 included Mayor Dwayne Ariola.
“Outstanding organization. Welcome to Taylor. We really appreciate it,” he told the crowd.
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When you shop and donate, those proceeds are used for job training and education services.”
— Nick Adams, Goodwill Central Texas
