Goodwill to Open Retail Stores in Downers Grove, Lombard

Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago will open two new retail and donation centers in Downers Grove and Lombard in early 2013.

The Downers Grove store will be located at 110 W. Ogden Ave., next to Office Depot in the Downers Grove Plaza Shopping Center, according to Cheryl Lightholder, spokesperson for Goodwill.

The 18,000 square-foot store is tentatively scheduled to open in early February 2013, Lightholder said.

The Lombard Goodwill store will be located at 351 E. Roosevelt Road in a new, 19,000 square-foot facility. Though the date is subject to change, Lightholder expects the store will open by mid- to late-February.

In addition to being a retail and donation drop-off, the Lombard store will also have a Goodwill Workforce Connection Center, which offers free job search assistance. Services include computer and Internet access, resume preparation and on-site interviews.

"It's a great resource for people in the community who are having trouble finding a job," Lightholder said.

Goodwill stores sell previously donated items such as clothing, kitchen accessories and household decorations. Retail stores also features donation centers for residents to drop off used items, Lightholder said.

"One of the things that we're interested in is providing high-quality products at a great value, but we also promote responsible recycling of household textiles," she said.

Goodwill currently has 48 stores—28 in Illinois and 20 in Wisconsin.

According to Goodwill's website, 84 percent of revenue from all retail centers go toward the company's mission of providing training, employment and supportive services for people with disabilities or disadvantages.

Lightholder said the company hires an average of 45 employees for retail stores and donation centers.

Goodwill is seeking part-time team members for the Downers Grove and Lombard locations. Available jobs include cashier, donation attendant, merchandise pricer and stocker.

A job fair will be held for the Downers Grove store on Thursday, Dec. 27, from noon to 6 p.m., and Friday, Dec. 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Willowbrook Goodwill, 6300 Kingery Highway.

Times and dates for the Lombard job fair have yet to be set, said Dale DeTrempe, an employment representative for Goodwill.

Those interested in applying should visit www.amazinggoodwill.com.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

There are plenty of ways to keep up on Downers Grove news:

• Sign up for our daily email newsletter

• Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take