I wonder when Goodwill agreed to occupy the building. If it was pre-pandemic, it would be surprising someone else wasn’t willing to outbid Goodwill. It happened in the last six weeks, though, all bets would be off. With crowded bars, dance clubs, and musics venues all likely to be among the last businesses to return to normal operations, Goodwill might have suddenly become the most viable prospect.

Would be interesting with this ’urban concept’ if they integrated multiple tenants into the building along with Goodwill. So while Goodwill remains the interior anchor, the patio caters to a coffee place or cafe/bookseller like the Strand in Central Park. Downtown will benefit having more retail. Not everyone wanted that corner to be a nightclub, but I’m glad it gave those who wanted the option to zone out to EDM and sugary cocktails had the choice in downtown instead of a generic strip mall.

And I’m all for a Goodwill’ in this location IF they don’t do something reckless, however unlikely, to that corner such as convert it to surface parking or something equally harmful. Maybe they’ll extend the building to the corner and nix the patio entirely?

Just throwing ideas out there...

Imagine if they took the Desoto Market concept and turned it into a Vintage Mall of sorts. All the kids could buy their vintage thrift clothes and have several store operators in the building. I've no clue if that's a viable idea but it might be neat.

The space needs an 'anchor' type tenant that could really maximize the large space. It's also far enough away from the other establishments, that it really requires something 'iconic' to drive drive foot traffic.


I always thought Blanco's would be awesome and successful there. Before the B23 location obviously.



But a Goodwill it is... :shrug:

Apparently someone prefers a low quality retail concept in an iconic historical building on a prominent street corner that is pretty much the "Welcome" intersection into Downtown PHX. :yuck:

Fixed it for you. :cheers:

:worship:

What did you fix?

I am all for a cool Goodwill!!! Roosevelt Row will embrace it! :)

I'm not against Goodwill, but I'm not for it either. Its just a for-profit corporation that takes advantage of people's generosity. So take that to the bank.

Goodwill is technically a 5013c. They are not "for profit" but there are many ways in which one can circumvent the rules. Invest back in the company, raise salaries, etc.

https://www.goodwillncw.org/facts-about-goodwill/

This is an urban concept store that I wager will have higher prices than the regular stores and probably feature some of the best smaller items that are donated.

There are Goodwills *everywhere,* including North Scottsdale so I don't know why we're discriminating against them downtown. If crime is the issue more bars and clubs are not an option.

I do agree that they should be closer to the 7th but maybe they'll do something with the space that works, stay open later, be a destination, etc. I can imagine that they will incorporate a lot of feedback to not be just another goodwill but have a flagship location. This will probably be a win for downtown in the long run. There are many other sites downtown that need revitalization (eg, get the crummy auto shops in historic buildings out) and can fit a club or brewpub or whatever. A club would work better there to complement the burgeoning West Van Buren scene.

You are absolutely correct! There is an Edgar and James Goodwill Specialty Store at PCH and Torrance Blvd. - a block from the Redondo Beach pier. I used to go in there and get some nice things...not clothes. When I retired and moved to Prescott last November, I donated five carloads of stuff to them. There is a regular Goodwill Store in Manhattan Beach. Towards the end of my career, I would go and get a few slacks, etc., from there. No need to continue spending way too much money at Nordstrom's for something just as good that I could get for a fraction at that Goodwill Store. They would have to be in decent condition - and I would take to the cleaners - no problem. There is nothing in Arizona that is remotely close to Manhattan Beach - $$$$ - and that includes Paradise Valley and north Scottsdale. That store is at the corner of Artesia and PCH - near Mira Costa High School. No problem shopping there.:) When I moved here, I took some stuff to the Goodwill on Iron Springs Rd. There were some homeless/street folks there. There are homeless everywhere. There were homeless on the streets in Redondo. Downtown L.A. (Don't get me started - please - on that part of town). A police officer actually contracted typhus from the filth (fecal matter, etc.) in the streets. Downtown L.A. is exploding with high rise construction and L.A. Live.

Agreed

The correct non-profit status is 501 (c) 3. They most certainly can make money - and non-profits NEED to make money to survive. This is a tax exempt status more than about making money. They are exempt from paying certain taxes - (they still have to pay payroll taxes). They are given many tax advantages - wouldn't advise circumventing any rules - if you don't want to have the I.R.S. breathing down your neck.

LOL :cheers:

Civil is clearly not my middle name! He just makes it too easy sometimes

I'm really interested in seeing how Goodwill executes this concept, if it comes to fruition. Buffalo Exchange was an anchor to Tempe and Mill Avenue's development when it was hopping back in the days of The Plantation Coffeehouse (or whatever Joe of Joe's Farm Grill called it back then). We would all pile in to our cars and go out to Tempe to go thrifting and people watching. It was a really important additional thing to do. Now it seems like Mill Ave is about vape juice and cheap beer (which I think will actually change with all of the new construction coming to fruition).

Time will tell, I guess.

https://www.businessinsider.com/good...-photos-2018-7

One of these is currently under construction at 702 W Dunlap. We'll see how that one goes.

I'ld make a trip to shop there!

So I noticed the office building at Oak and 44th St. is being torn down. Does anyone know what's replacing it? I know there are apartments under construction behind it. While architecturally it wasn't anything significant...it did sit on the hard corner with no set backs. A rarity in this town. It will be too bad if what ever replaces it has surface parking on the hard corner.