Shoppers in Caledonia Township will soon have a thrift store closer to home. Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids announced Thursday that it will open a new retail location in Caledonia, with construction scheduled to begin this fall and a grand opening planned for 2027.

The new store will be built at 6459 Cherry Meadow Drive SE, near the intersection of Broadmoor Avenue and 84th Street SE, according to a statement from the nonprofit.

A family donation makes it possible

The project was made possible by a land donation from the William Shurlow family, who gave the parcel to Goodwill to support the expansion.

"We are deeply grateful for the generous donation made by the William Shurlow Family," said Jill Wallace, President and CEO of Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids. "While this land will allow us to build a store, the impact of this donation will extend far beyond the walls of our building."

Goodwill is partnering with Pinnacle Construction Group on planning and development for the new retail location, according to WOODTV.

More than a thrift store

Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids currently operates 18 stores across the region. The Caledonia location will be its newest, and the organization says it will serve as a model for future improvements at existing locations, according to WZZM13.

The nonprofit says 90 cents of every dollar spent at its stores goes toward employment services. Those services include:

• Skills assessment
• Interview preparation
• Job search and placement assistance
• Employer and community resource connections
• Job retention support

Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids serves over 2,150 participants annually through its Employment Center, the organization said.

Honoring the Shurlow family

Goodwill is commemorating the Shurlow family's donation by naming the largest training room at the Goodwill Employment Center in their honor, according to WZZM13.

"The William Shurlow Family's donation is not just giving us land to open a new store. It's helping us further our mission of providing support services and training to people who face barriers to employment," Wallace said. "Goodwill is a great place to shop, and it's an even better place to improve the trajectory of your life."

Residents of Caledonia Township currently drive to Grand Rapids or Hastings for the nearest Goodwill store for shopping and donation drop-offs, according to WGRD. The new Caledonia location will change that.

A grand opening date has not yet been announced.