A new Arc Thrift Store is set to open Thursday, Dec. 4, in Glenwood Springs, bringing fresh opportunities to local job seekers and thrifters alike. 

The store will occupy the former Safeway building at 2001 Grand Ave.  The old Safeway, which closed in 2019, has now been split into two retail spaces — an Arc and Harbor Freight. 

The 20,000-square-foot store will employ roughly 50 people. Arc has signed a 10-year lease for the site and will officially open its doors after a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on opening day.

The ceremony will feature Arc CEO and President ​​Lloyd Lewis, Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association CEO Angie Anderson, Arc Colorado Executive Director Elizabeth Moran, Arc of the Central Mountains Executive Director Jill Pidcock and more.

The new location marks Arc’s 38th store in Colorado. Proceeds will support the Arc of the Central Mountains, a community-based organization advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties.

“​​Every new store helps us create more job opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and helps us create more funding for advocacy for people with development disabilities,” Lewis said.

Since 1968, the Colorado nonprofit has worked to expand employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Arc Thrift Stores also help fund local Arc chapters, which offer services including advocacy, public education and assistance with applications for education, Social Security and Medicaid programs.

“We will be providing wonderful options for shopping in Glenwood Springs…clothing, home goods, books, furniture, many thousands and thousands of unique items,” Lewis told the Post Independent. “We will be supporting the Arc of the Central Mountains, and their great work in doing advocacy for people with development disabilities.

“The 15 chapters in Colorado that we support help people with development disabilities find jobs, housing, medical services, and schools,” he added.

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One of Colorado’s largest employers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Arc reports that around 20% of its employees have such disabilities. The organization has also provided more than $200 million in funding for employment-related advocacy for people with developmental disabilities, according to Lewis. 

“I got involved in this work because I have a wonderful 22 year old son with Down Syndrome who’s an amazing part of our family and inspired me to become involved in this work and try to help others with development disabilities,” Lewis said. “Now we are the largest funder of advocacy for people with development disabilities in Colorado, we are the largest employer for people with development disabilities in Colorado and we have wonderful supplemental programs for those individuals.”