Bargain Box re-opens, new location

The Bargain Box began in 1963, as the brainchild of five women from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. The women included Nancy Pitzer, Bea Walton, Cecil Tolle, Anna Kime and Gussie Holland.

Initially, the women held rummage sales each year to benefit the church.

The idea for the store came about after heavy rain put a damper on their spring fundraiser. The ladies talked about opening a second-hand store and that was an ideal time since they had all the items from their canceled Garage Sale fundraiser that was rained out.

As a result, the second-hand store began as the Bargain Box, right from the start, on W. Williams St., but it burned out. The women had to start again, from scratch.

By 1980, the Bargain Box was located at 124 W. Williams St., opposite side of the U.S. Post Office, with gently worn clothing for those who didn’t want to accept charity, but could purchase at a good price.

The Bargain Box also offered a spiritual and financial boost to members of the congregation of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.

Here it is 2020 and the Bargain Box re-located to a new home on S. Breckenridge Ave., just off the main intersection of Walker St. Everyone can see the big sign on the wall while resting at the light at the main north-south and east-west intersection of Breckenridge.

The new priest at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church was on hand, Father Don Sackett, with the St. Andrew’s ladies that included Becky Payne, Paula Anderson, Cassi Griffith, Jan McMillan and Bonnie McClymond.

The new site offers great natural light and the gently worn clothes are arranged and organized for the shopper in mind, with a special house-hold section.

The Bargain Box is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m