Plywood covered part of the front of the SPCA Thrift Store in Aiken on Monday. There also were orange traffic cones, yellow caution tape and a crumbled wall near the entrance.
Even so, the Canine Corral shopping party went on as scheduled, three days after a car crashed into the business in the Mitchell Shopping Center.
“We have bounced back,” said Thom Tate, who manages the store that generates money to support the efforts of the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare.
Prior to the start of the Canine Corral event, Tate spoke to SPCA board members, staff and volunteers about the April 29 automobile accident.
“My heart was broken,” said Tate of his reaction to the damage to the store. “Everybody who was here could see the emotion in my face. I had a breakdown [later] on my way home from work. I cried for like 20 minutes because my heart and soul are in this place.”
A black Nissan Altima slammed into the store prior to 7:15 a.m. The driver was charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence, according to Aiken Department of Public Safety Lt. Jennifer Hayes.
He escaped injury and so did an adoptable cat, named California Roll, who was in the store.
No SPCA employees were inside when the crash occurred, but one was sitting in his truck in the Mitchell Shopping Center parking lot before starting work and he witnessed the incident.
The automobile “was flying,” J.R. Voldness told the Aiken Standard.
Jennifer Richardson, an SPCA board member, was shocked when she saw what had happened.
“I was trembling,” she said.
Fortunately, the thrift store was able to resume operations quickly after being closed all day April 19.
Staff, volunteers and board members all pitched in to help clean up and get the store ready for the Canine Corral shopping party.
“Our property manager sent over somebody to put up the plywood and things like that,” Tate said.
In addition, there were many phone calls from the community offering assistance.
Those who reached out included “all the managers from the shopping center,” Tate said. “It was amazing how everyone came together.”
The thrift store was able to reopen from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20. It was closed again Monday during the day, as planned, to prepare for the Canine Corral event from 6 to 8 p.m.
Tate dressed as sheriff for the Western-themed shopping party. The food served included pulled pork sliders and cowboy caviar.
Beverages also were available.
Tate said more than 200 tickets, which cost $10 apiece, had been sold before the Canine Corral shopping party.
Their buyers, who formed a long line outside the store prior to the event’s start, rushed inside and eagerly grabbed pairs of boots, sculptures of horses, pottery, plastic longhorn cattle figures, hats, scarves, clothing and a variety of other items.
Steve Harrison of Beech Island and Larry Yonce of Aiken were first in line, after arriving at the thrift store around 4:15 p.m.
“I’m looking for bargains, looking for deals,” said Harrison, who added that he has attended “about every one” of the shopping parties, which traditionally has been held in the spring and also late in the fall prior to the holidays.
Other themes have included The Great Catsby, Twisted Whiskers and Tiki Bow Wow.
The news of the April 19 car crash didn’t concern Harrison too much because “I figured they would reschedule it,” he said of the Canine Corral event.
But Harrison was happy that the thrift store was able to hold the event as scheduled.
“I’m glad it wasn’t next Monday because I was going to be out of town,” he said.
Richardson, wearing Mexican attire, welcomed shoppers.
“We’re ready,” she said. “The show must go on. We’re broken, but not gone.”
