By Dylan McCament, KnoxPages.com Reporter
FREDERICKTOWN – A new Goodwill store will be opening in the old Fredericktown Farm and Garden building early next year.
Lisa Baker, a spokeswoman for Licking/Knox Goodwill Industries, said the inside of the 10,800 square foot building at 16482 Village Parkway (just off S.R. 95) is currently being renovated, and the goal is to open in early February. She said that the new store will be known as Goodwill Plus and will be Licking/Knox Goodwill’s third in Knox County, in addition to seven in Licking County.
The building at 16482 Village Parkway in Fredericktown will be the new home of Goodwill Plus. Renovations on the building are already underway. Licking/Knox Goodwill Industries officials plan to open the store in February. KP photo by Dylan McCament
“The current Knox County stores are doing great and we saw an opportunity to serve a community slightly farther away from Mount Vernon,” Baker said. “We are always looking for other opportunities.”
She said the opening of the Fredericktown store will create 12 jobs, and hiring for these jobs is underway.
“We work with several agencies in Licking and Knox counties,” Baker said. “Primarily we work with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities who refer Knox County residents for our Career Services. One way we meet our mission is by creating employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.”
She said Licking/Knox Goodwill officials are awaiting permits to complete the renovations on the building, adding that the exterior will be painted when the weather breaks in spring. At 10,800 square feet, Baker added, the building is larger than the 6,500 square foot Goodwill store on Coshocton Avenue but smaller than the 14,000 square foot Goodwill store on Parrot Street.
Baker said the Fredericktown location will offer customers similar retail products as the other two stores in Knox County, including specialty items such as propane refills and birdseed. She said that Licking/Knox Goodwill stores offer new items in addition to used ones.
“We started selling new goods in our stores about five years ago in order to provide the products our customers were seeking to purchase,” Baker said.
