Ecclectic resale shops reopens in downtown Benton Harbor

You never know what you will find when you’re shopping at 6 Degrees Retail Shop. Merchandise changes daily at the funky, eclectic resale shop that employs women who have been through various programs offered by Emergency Shelter Services Inc.

The store has moved to a new location and opened its doors this week in the Historic Kitchen Mart Building along Main Street in downtown Benton Harbor. The 14,000-square-foot shop employs about 10 people, both full- and part-time.

Proceeds of the store go back into wages for the employees, says Emergency Shelter Services, Inc. Executive Director Alysia Babcock. Ideally, someday the shop could help fund programs offered by the shelter, but Babcock says that creating income for the store’s employees will always be the priority.

By working at 6 Degrees employees get training and build skills needed to succeed in life, Babcock says.

All the goods sold at the store are donated by the community, and Babcock says donations have been generous. In the front room shoppers will find antiques, collectibles, as well as other one of a kind items. Low-cost items are available throughout the store. Shoppers are also will find recycled, re-used and repurposed items all created by staff and volunteers.

Babcock says that if a donated items cannot be sold the way it came in it often is repurposed. For example, candles are melted down to make new candles.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave
Source: Alysia Babcock, Emergency Shelter Services, Inc.