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Spring Into Action

Tribune photo by JIM REED

Volunteers Linda Brewer, left, and Linda Lawson put lights on a Christmas tree at the thrift store in Plant City. The store opened Oct. 8, selling new and high-quality used clothes and furniture at discounted prices.

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: December 3, 2008

PLANT CITY - A thrift store with a unique mission will kick off its holiday season Tuesday with a shopping extravaganza.

Profits from Simply Spring II help victims of domestic violence. The thrift shop is one of three stores operated by The Spring of Tampa Bay.

Simply Spring II, 1417 S. Collins St., is located near Big Lots in the Plant City Plaza shopping center. The store opened Oct. 8 selling new and high-quality used clothes and furniture at heavily discounted prices.

"The store has been going great guns since we opened," said Kat Alley, The Spring's retail operations manager.

Tuesday's event from 6 to 9 p.m. will include refreshments, such as wine, and appetizers and Christmas items for sale, along with the regular merchandise. The extravaganza is open to the public, and there's no admission charge.

Members of East Hillsborough Friends of The Spring, such as Hal and Lynn Brewer, Vicki Hawthorne, Linda Lawson and her grandson, Blake Stafford, spent a recent afternoon decorating the store for Christmas.

"You could consider that the thrift store's grand opening," said Hawthorne, president of the East Hillsborough organization. "We have loaded the store with high-quality clothes and furniture that is priced unbelievably low."

The normal operating schedule for the shop is Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

As part of the normal pricing, the store sells all children's clothes at $1.99 per item; T-shirts are 99 cents; jeans, regardless of brand name or size are $3.99.

"The quality and variety is extraordinary," Hawthorne said.

"It took a lot of work to get the store ready to open," Alley said. "East Hillsborough Friends of The Spring and other individuals who live in Plant City were instrumental in getting this project off the ground."

Hal Brewer, a retired physician, has been supporting the effort to get the thrift store operational.

"Once we found this location, the work began in earnest to get it ready as a retail store," Brewer said.

Linda Hess, community relations specialist in The Spring's Tampa offices and her staff members "did a lot of the physical labor transforming the interior of the building; the Tampa office also helps stock the store with clothes, furniture and other items that give us depth and variety to the inventory," Brewer said.

Alley, Hess and Brewer credit builder Don Stine, contractor Bill Dean and the Rotary Club Foundation for helping make the thrift store a reality. Stine and Dean were instrumental in the technical and more difficult labor needed, including permitting. The foundation donated money to pay for the necessary architectural work involved. An anonymous donor provided the money to purchase two handicap accessible water fountains, Brewer said.

Hess credits Brewer's efforts, calling him a "real trouper," to help transform the space into a thrift store.

Since 1977, The Spring of Tampa Bay has provided sanctuary and services to more than 32,000 abused adults and their children. Its services include an emergency shelter with an on-site school and child care center, a transitional housing apartment complex and three thrift stores, including two in Tampa, Simply Spring thrift store-donation warehouse at 209 N. Willow St. and Spring Vintage Boutique, 3418 W. Swann Ave.

The Spring also has an outreach center in Plant City off Walden Woods Drive. The Plant City center offers counseling, information and referrals for assistance. Its phone number is (813) 759-0000.

Individuals or companies that would like to donate to Simply Spring II should call the store at (813) 754-1260.

"Local companies donate clothes and furniture that is taken off their inventory for various reasons. Much of it is brand new and without any noticeable faults," Alley said. "We receive some new furniture and small appliances that are scratched or dented. Much of it is like new."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Simply Spring II thrift store's holiday shopping extravaganza

WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: 1417 S. Collins St., Plant City

FEATURES: Free wine, appetizers, soda and other refreshments; Christmas items and other merchandise available for purchase

COST: No admission charge

INFORMATION: (813) 754-1260

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451.

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