New Goodwill location in Longboat Key

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Goodwill Manasota is expanding its footprint into Longboat Key. The nonprofit opened its first location on the barrier island on Thursday. The store is creating new jobs, while the organization hopes it will become a major donation hub.

A new store means a new job for Pru Davis.

“So far, I love it. It’s nice and relaxing,” she said.

Davis was hired in September as a keyholder for Goodwill Manasota.

“Everything. Production, which is what I’m doing right now—pricing the books and getting ready to shelve them. We also do shelving and reorganizing the section, alphabetizing, the whole nine,” she said.

She went through training and will now work full time at the Longboat Key store, which opened today.

“I’m excited about this new location being out on the key. You never know what’s going to happen, so it’s an adventure for everybody,” she said.

The location is on Gulf of Mexico Drive at the newly built Brista Commons shopping center. Inside the 3,500-square-foot building are a donation center and a bookstore.

A Florida TaxWatch report from last year showed Goodwill Manasota was responsible for nearly $150 million in economic output. Donn Githens, the CEO and president, said the new store is in a prime spot that will help increase revenue.

“So our mission is funded by the donations we collect and the revenues we generate in our stores and our bookstores,” he said. “Donations are driven by convenience, and this location on Gulf of Mexico Drive is just so convenient. People can drive in and drop off.”

Opening the facility also created seven new jobs. Davis said she is hopeful the store will prosper.

“That it stays here and that we do exceedingly well,” she said.

Any and all donations are being accepted. Goodwill Manasota’s operating hours at the Longboat Key location are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.