American Veterans Thrift Store moving to new Route 24 location

American Veterans Thrift Store is opening a new location north of Rehoboth, on Route 24.

The business was started by Army veterans Liz and Gene Cooley in 2014 to help homeless veterans. It operates as a nonprofit and provides necessities such as clothing, shoes, bedding, dishes, furniture and household items. Money made from the sale of those items goes toward Home of the Brave, a homeless shelter for male and female veterans in Milford.

Haley Jugler is the store manager at the new location, which was most recently a Family Dollar. She has been with the company since 2018, when she was hired to help with opening the thrift store’s Peddlers Village location.

“I applied to be a truck driver and a mover, but when I interviewed for the job, Liz said, ‘I got a better idea for you,’” said Jugler, adding she’s excited about the new location. “This place is double the size of the Rehoboth location; there’s a lot of traffic and there’s a red light at the intersection.”

This is the fourth American Veterans Thrift Store. However, Jugler said, about the time the new store opens, the store in Peddlers Village will be closing. It’s just not that busy, and the two-year lease is coming to an end, she said.

The store’s remaining two locations are along Route 1 near Lewes in Tenley Court and in the Rehoboth Marketplace shopping center on Miller Road near Pete’s Steak Shop and Weis Markets.

Jugler said the plan is to open the new Rehoboth location by May 1, and they are actively taking donations. About the only things not accepted, she said, are used mattresses and box springs, cribs, car seats, playpens, pressed board furniture, old printers and analog TVs.

Jugler said there will be a Facebook page dedicated to the Rehoboth location, 35524 Hudson Way, set up soon. She said store hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday. For more information on American Veterans Thrift Store, go to americanveteransthriftstore.org.