About Platteville Thrift Shop
October 1972
Founders Audrey Bullis, Esther Dugdale, Vera Nodorf, Eleanor Thulin, and Jean Sanders planned a non-profit 501c3 thrift shop to provide free and low-cost clothing to Grant County residents. The group began as The Concerned Church Women of Platteville, The Platteville Thrift Shop.
April 27, 1973
Opening day in the basement of the Platteville Municipal Building at 75 Bonson Street. Sales totaled 338.13 dollars.
1979 to 1981
The shop relocated to Main Street Platteville. First moved into the former Shangri La building in 1979, then into the former Ben Franklin building in 1981.
August 2000
The shop moved to 950 Lancaster Street into the former Jerry’s Flowers building with eight thousand square feet of space.
2007
The Thrift Shop Board voted to purchase the building.
2017
Plans drawn for a 2,095 square-foot expansion. Additions included bathrooms, larger sorting and pricing areas, storage for donations, antiques and collectibles storage, and a book sorting area. The community donated toward the cost.
December 2021
Jean Sanders, the last original founder, retired after 45 years. She received the Hero Award in April 2016. Her service and staff, volunteers, and donors are credited for the shop’s success.
Today
Annual sales exceed 300,000 dollars. Clothing is sold along with many other items. The Board of Directors includes representatives from local churches and non-profit groups. The mission focuses on helping children and families in need.