One of two new Thrift Depot thrift stores is now officially open for business at 1450 E. Prater Way in Sparks in the Hacienda Plaza Shopping Center (corner of Prater and Sparks Boulevard).

Like the other Thrift Depots, the new 3,500-square-foot store features new and used furniture, refrigerators, washers and dryers, televisions and other electronics, knick-knacks and plenty of excellent name brand clothing. It is located in Suites 105-106 next to Rigo’s Mexican restaurant. Phone number 775.331.5528.

The Mission will open another 5,000-square-foot store in July at 5105 Sun Valley Blvd. in Sun Valley. The additional stores will increase the Mission’s thrift store operations to six stores (see Contact for locations and hours).

Tammie Nevins, the Mission’s manager of thrift store operations, credited Luis Santoni, director of development, for working hard to establish partnerships with local businesses to supply the Mission with thousands of items for bargain shoppers.

“He gets it all,” she said. “Brand new furniture that’s on clearance or ones with slight blemishes. Hotels that are remodeling. Stores going out of business. Big retailers who want to help out.

“It’s incredible the quality and quantity of items we’re getting. We have things that nobody else has – and we haven’t even started our peak season with donations from the community. And, as we head into recession, we get more cost-conscious customers looking for bargains on items that they would normally pay full price.”

The Mission expanded its operating hours to 6 p.m. at all thrift stores in the Reno-Sparks area and is highlighting that it charges no sales tax in efforts to bring in more bargain-savvy customers.

All proceeds go to direct aid for the homeless and needy.