New Goodwill Opens with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. - Nov. 13, 2019 - PRLog -- Doors open on a brand new Punta Gorda Goodwill Retail and Donation Center at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21st.  A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. just before shoppers are let into the new store, located at 3415 Tamiami Trail the former Laishley Marine store. Charlotte County's newest Goodwill offers thrifters expanded retail space and will bring new life back to the Florida-style building, which was custom built by the Laishley's in 2002 as their nearly half century Taylor Road plant nursery business expanded into marine supplies.

"The Punta Gorda store will be unlike any other Goodwill," remarked John Nadeau the CEO of Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida.  "We have customized it specifically for the Punta Gorda community with a whole new look and feel, better selection, and a more convenient location and donation experience.  We are really excited to bring this to our customers."

The Grand Opening will carry on through the weekend with 25% off all donated goods on Saturday, Nov. 23, and the opportunity for shoppers to register to win a large screen Smart TV throughout the four days.  The winner to be drawn at end of business day on Sunday, Nov 24^th. The existing Goodwill location will close permanently on Sunday, November 17^th at 6 p.m.

The new Punta Gorda store will also be a collection site for new teddy bears for the "Very Beary" tree which will be one of the decorated trees at this year's Festival of Trees.  The Festival of Trees event, which runs Dec. 6-8 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers, is in its 13^th year as a family-friendly event that ushers in the holiday in Southwest Florida.  After Festival, the "Very Beary" tree, loaded with about 300 teddy bears, will be delivered to the lobby of the Golisano Children's Hospital and distributed to children in the hospital during the holidays.  Bears will be collected until December 3^rd.  www.GoodwillTrees.com