NORTH RIDGEVILLE — Goodwill plans to leave its location on Center Ridge Road and move a half-mile down the street into a portion of the much-larger building that formerly housed Pat Catan’s craft store.
The nonprofit secondhand chain is hoping to open the new store in October, Craig Grugel, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Lorain County, confirmed in an email.
“For quite some time, we have been seeking the right space in North Ridgeville to expand, knowing that it was the fastest-growing city in Lorain County, and one of the fastest-growing communities in the state,” Grugel said. “The road construction project slowed the site selection process until the Pat Catan’s space became available after their exit from the market.”
A deal to lease the property was reached a few weeks ago. The building, part of “The Shoppes at North Ridgeville” plaza, is owned by Eidi Properties, a Toledo-based real estate company.
Goodwill’s current North Ridgeville location, in the plaza housing Giant Eagle and several other businesses, is 1,850 square feet. The new location is set to occupy nearly 17,000 square feet, giving it more than nine times the space for additional inventory, as well as a drive-up donation process.
Grugel said the increased operations will bring an additional 17 to 27 jobs to the city, with a full staff of 25 to 35 people including existing employees when the new store is opened.
Unlike the other six Goodwills in Lorain County, the existing North Ridgeville location has not reopened after the state-mandated shutdown due to size concerns — “it simply cannot support enough customer space post-COVID to be successful,” Grugel said — and staff have been reassigned to other area stores.
Pat Catan’s was closed last year as parent company Michaels Companies shuttered all the chain’s locations or converted them into Michaels stores. Since then, the future of the vacant building had become the subject of speculation for many residents who are eager to see more businesses come to North Ridgeville.
Goodwill is not seeking any tax abatements from the city.
Written By Dylan Reynolds as published in The Chronicle Telegram