‘It’s Hartlepool at its best’: Poolie Time Exchange to open second shop after being flooded with donations
Support group Poolie Time Exchange is set to open a second and larger furniture shop in Hartlepool to cope with the generosity of residents.
A 7,500 square feet warehouse in the town’s Usworth Road has been transformed into a furniture shop filled with countless donations from people in the town.
Poolie Time Empire will offer furniture, bric-a-brac and DVDs with proceeds poured into ongoing community work done by Poolie Time Exchange.
It will operate alongside Poolie Time Exchange’s existing store in Victoria Road, which opened in August last year.
Project co-ordinator Stephen Picton has said so many donations were coming into the town centre shop that they had no more space to take them and started looking for second premises elsewhere in town.
Stephen, who will be running the new shop, said: "We were turning down furniture, because we just couldn’t take everything in.
"It was a shame to turn items down when we could be selling it on and the money goes back into the community, helping the people of Hartlepool ”
Speaking of the new premises, he added: "It’s a giant unit. It’s a massive, massive place.
"Everything has been donated by the people of Hartlepool. We have a cracking bunch of volunteers here.
"It’s an open and friendly atmosphere when you walk through the door and you’ll be greeted with a smile.
"We have loads of couches, DVDs, bric-a-brac, tables, chairs, wardrobes.
"Everything within the building has been donated. Even a friend came in and made the counter for where the till is.”
Poolie Time Empire is set to open on Monday, June 21, and will be staffed almost entirely by volunteers.
Ahead of the opening, Stephen has praised the town for all the donations which have been coming in.
He said: "It’s absolutely unreal. It’s Hartlepool at its best once again.”
Thanking Ian Cowley, who set up Poolie Time Exchange, Stephen added: "We’re all truly excited.”
Poolie Time Empire will be open seven days a week, from 10am until 5pm from Mondays–Fridays, 10am-4pm on Saturdays and 10am-3pm on Sundays.
If you’d like to donate, message Poolie Time Exchange on Facebook.