Goodwill to open computer store with donation center in Bainbridge Friday

BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP — Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio will open a new attended donation center and Wired Up computer store Friday (Oct. 28) at 8575 Tanglewood Square.

It’s a new concept for Goodwill, according to Maureen Ater, the local organization’s vice president of marketing and development.

This will be Goodwill of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio’s first Wired Up computer store that is not located within a traditional retail store, Ater said.

The purpose of the donation center, which will be staffed by Goodwill employees, is to drop off and receive donations, she explained. It’s not a Goodwill retail store with in-store shopping — except for computer equipment.

“The only thing we’re selling here is computers and computer equipment,” she said. “We’ve never had a standalone store dedicated to computer equipment before.”

Goodwill’s Wired Up stores feature previously owned desktop computers, laptops, tablets, phones and technology accessories that have been accepted from individual donors or area businesses, Ater said.

These items are all evaluated and cleared of any data by Goodwill information technology specialists prior to being sold, she said. Accessories include adapters and cables.

“Our staff refurbishes (the computers and equipment) and resells them at a discounted rate to the community,” she said.

There are two Wired Up computer stores within traditional Goodwill retail stores in Northeast Ohio: in North Olmsted and New Philadelphia.

“We are excited to open our very first computer store to the Bainbridge Township/Chagrin Falls communities,” Ater said. “The store will offer tremendous savings on computers and tech accessories, all while supporting local outreach programs.”

And folks can drop off traditional donations at the new center as well.

Goodwill donation centers are drop-off sites staffed by Goodwill employees. These locations are a primary source of goods that are sold in Goodwill retail stores.

At the center, donations of gently used clothing will be accepted, as well as common household items such as dishes, small appliances and home décor. Furniture, books, movies, games and toys will also be accepted.

Material donations to this donation center will help support Goodwill’s 28 community outreach programs, according to a news release.

Last year, more than 14,000 people were served by the local Goodwill’s mission work, including job training and placement for people who have disabilities and other barriers to employment, parenting programs, rape crisis services and more, the release stated.

“Donations are our lifeblood at Goodwill,” Ater said. “Donation centers like this provide much-needed material for our area stores.

“Sales from those stores go directly back into the local community through our mission work.”

Goodwill currently has a tremendous need for household items, she said.

As to why this location was chosen for the new store, Ater said, “We’ve wanted to expand our impact throughout the Greater Cleveland area for some time.

“This is part of a greater plan to expand our impact in Greater Cleveland,” she said. “The more we can expand our donation and retail opportunities, the more we can expand the mission work we’re doing in the community.”

The closest Goodwill store to this new location is the Mayfield Heights store at 6605 Mayfield Road. That’s a traditional Goodwill retail store and donor site.

Ater said Goodwill’s Wired Up concept was launched about three years ago.

“It’s a new idea for us, but when we have opened Wired Up stores (in traditional Goodwill retail stores), they have been wildly successful,” she said. “This is an exciting venture for us, and we think it will be very successful.”

While the front of the building will be a dedicated Wired Up storefront, the door for donation drop-offs is along the side of the building. Donors can drive up and an attendant will come out to unload their donations, Ater said.

The new center is located at Tanglewood Square, next to Verizon and across from Coyote’s Mexican Grill.

Donations will be accepted from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am to 5 pm Sundays. The hours for the Wired Up store are the same.

The corporate office for Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio is in Canton. The organization covers 10 counties, including two in West Virginia.

A complete list of Goodwill’s retail stores and attended donation centers can be found online at GoodwillGoodSkills.org.

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