Clarksville’s Ajax Turner Senior Center opens new Thrift Store

City of Clarksville funded expansion provides space for The Shoppe

Clarksville, TN – Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan and Ajax Turner Senior Center officials on Friday dedicated The Shoppe, a thrift store that offers high-quality donated and consigned clothing and household goods to center patrons and the public.

Space for The Shoppe was created as part of a major City-funded $2.5 million expansion of the Ajax Turner Senior Citizens Center that was completed in January.

The expansion provided more space for programs and services for the center’s growing number of seniors who drop in for meals, activities, classes and recreation.

“This is a wonderful day. The Shoppe is beautiful, and full of great items that make for good shopping,” Mayor McMillan said. “This is another example of why I was so committed to expanding the Senior Center and ensuring quality of life improvements for our citizens.”

Glenda Rohner is general manager of The Shoppe, which is open from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the Senior Center, 953 Clark Street.

The large room is full of neatly displayed clothing and household goods, such as dishes, small appliances and decorative glassware.

“This is the best day ever,” Rohner said. “In the past we tried to run a small thrift store out of a corner of the lobby, but this gives adequate room to stock some really interesting and valuable items. This allows us to offer a top-notch shopping experience.”

The dedication event also was attended by Senior Center patrons and staff; Melinda Shepard, Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce director; and Ginna Holleman, local United Way executive.

The Senior Center was chartered as a non-profit agency in 1965. It moved to its current location, which is owed by the City of Clarksville, in 1983. The center’s Board of Directors operates it with a combination of City, state, federal and United Way funding, and donations and modest program fees.