Bowling Green thrifters will get a bigger, better Goodwill starting tomorrow.

The North Main Street store, which was recently renovated, will open its doors at 9 a.m.

Goodwill closed in the middle of August to allow workers time to make the new additions, said Amy Wachob, vice president of retail.

For about eight weeks, the store was moved to a smaller space in the back of the shopping center where it is located.

Now it will return to its original location.

More space – approximately 2,500 square feet of it – was added to one side of the store to be used as part of the sales floor. This will make room for more items.

On the opposite side of the store, 8,400 square feet was added. This new space will be used partially as a donations area.

The reasoning for adding a separate area for donations was because of growth in the business, Wachob said.

“Donations have increased so much that we wanted to offer the donor a separate area,” she said.

The 8,400 square feet will also be used to help Goodwill train and assist individuals with employment needs.

Employment assistance, rather than sales, is actually the main purpose of Goodwill Industries, Wachob said.

According to Goodwill Web site, the group of stores make up a “non-profit organization providing assessment, job training, and placement that assists people with disabilities and other work-related disadvantages to become independent.”

The sale of clothing and other merchandise are simply a way to make the employment training and assistance possible.

“Clothing funds our mission,” Wachob said.

On Oct. 17, Bowling Green’s Goodwill will be “literally unlocking the doors,” Wachob said. The ribbon cutting and other ceremonial events will take place during the following week.

University students had positive opinions of Goodwill.

Freshman Becky Tener said she shops at Goodwill because of the low prices and unique merchandise.

“Nobody else is going to have the stuff you find at Goodwill,” Tener said.

Tener also supported the fact Goodwill assists those with employment needs.

“Goodwill provides in so many ways,” she said.

Freshman Jared Miller said he also enjoys shopping at Goodwill and looks forward to the bigger store.

“I get a lot of retro/vintage articles of clothing there,” Miller said.

Miller added he especially likes looking at Goodwill for things like high school T-shirts or costumes he needs for the film aspect of his major. He said the variety available at Goodwill makes that easy.

“There is something for absolutely everyone,” Miller said.