Mission-focused retailer opens in Downtown

Downtown Albany is now home to a mission-based retailer as The Vandy Thrift Shoppe was welcomed with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 29. Located at 412 Broadway, the store is operated by Vanderheyden, an organization with a mission to empower youth, adults, and families to build brighter futures. 

Providing an opportunity to shop for clothing, shoes, toys/games, and household items donated by community members, purchases support Vanderheyden's vocational programs. The space also provides an opportunity for the organization's Albany community outreach team to connect with the City. Vanderheyden students, team members, clients, and other agency members work collaboratively to operate and manage the thrift store, resulting in the teaching of valuable transferable and work-specific skills that can be applied to a variety of industries later in personal working experiences.