Article and Photos By Laurel Hogge
This column is a look at two brave souls who took a leap of faith to open their own business. What follows is a personal profile of Josh and Jen Maxam who are following their dreams and thriving despite the odds—and Covid.
The Thrift Depot
19 East Cross St.
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Tuesday 12 p.m. – 7 p.m., Wednesday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.,
Saturday morning from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
thriftdepot.com
(734) 516-1405
Let’s talk about the word “thrift” for a minute. For most people it simply implies spending less and saving more. But being thrifty is about more than fiscal responsibility. The definition of thrift tells us that it all comes down to not being wasteful with resources. That describes the business model of a thrift store in a nutshell. People bring usable everyday items that they no longer want, and the store puts them in the hands of people that can use them. This translates to a win for finances and a win for the environment. If you shop at, and/or donate to, The Thrift Depot (TTD) in Ypsilanti, it’s also a big win for the community.
One of the first things you may notice when you walk into TTD is the long shelf in front of the cash register. On it are food items, home care products, and personal hygiene kits put together by the owner, Josh Maxam, and his family of five. Also visible is a sign that reads “FREE ESSENTIALS. Please take a care kit or food item if you’re in need.”
During my visit, I asked Maxam about the shelf. He explained that TTD partners with several non-profit programs to circulate donations that are brought in. Organizations such as A Brighter Way, Our House, Ypsilanti Community Schools, and many others send individuals to the store to do carefree, supplemented shopping. Maxam notes that, “There are more people experiencing financial need due to the pandemic. We have been grateful to be able to help these people with our voucher system and free essentials table.” A full list of partners working with TTD is available on their website.
Whether someone experiences hardship due to Covid, employment loss, natural disaster, health crisis, or any number of reasons, Maxam is glad he can be there for his community members. He tells me one of his favorite things about working at the store is seeing people relaxed and shopping, and realizing his store gives someone a spark of relief during difficult times.
As I continue looking around the store, I pick up a nice pair of name brand shoes and rifle through boxes of vintage records. As you might expect from a thrift store, there are rows and rows of clothing and household goods in great condition. What you might not expect is the modern vibe of TTD. The architecture is undoubtedly Depot Town chic with its exposed brick, large archway, and stained-glass windows.
It’s clear why the demographic of TTD is broad. The store offers a variety of goods. In addition to those seeking basic essentials, shoppers include college students searching for the perfect fashion statement piece as well as families with young kids who outgrow toys and clothes quickly. As I selected a group of glass vases for my plants and a sturdy note board for my entryway, I looked twice at the price tags to make sure I was reading them right. The note board still had its name brand and original price tag attached, letting me know I saved $36 by purchasing it lightly used. So, yes, it’s clear that TTD is also for people like me who are always on the lookout for a steal on home decor.
The price of items is consistently low, even for a thrift store, reenforcing what I’ve already gathered from my visit and interview with Maxam. There is a balance Maxam tries to strike between funds coming in to meet the needs of the store and his family, and as much as possible going back out to the community. He describes this balance by saying, “I did not just want to have a job that provided for my family financially, but also helped others. When opening The Thrift Depot, I wanted to have a place for people to buy the things they need at reasonable prices. I also wanted to help those in need, especially those experiencing hardship, to receive items for free.”
So how does it all work? Maxam first explained that due to space restrictions, the store accepts everything but large furniture. So mostly he finds at the donation window a myriad of clothing and everyday items generously left by those who no longer need them. As you can imagine, there is a lot of processing to do in this business. Items that are unusable are recycled.
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What tips does Maxam have for those wanting to donate? “As a rule, only donate items that you would feel comfortable giving to a friend or neighbor. If the condition is too poor to share with a friend, a community member in need may not want the item as well.”
Successfully creating and keeping a clean, organized thrift shop takes a lot of helping hands. Oftentimes family members help out with moving, sorting, and placing products. It’s an extra treat when Josh’s wife Jen, and their three young kids, can be with him at the store on weekends. He admits the 3-year-old, 2-year-old, and 11-month-old mostly help with testing products in the toy section of the store.
How was Maxam able to fill the shelves and racks during the pandemic, considering the store depends entirely on donations? With so many Michigan households sitting with the uncertainty of their financial stability, I was surprised and relieved to hear that TTD saw an increase in donations.
Maxam says there’s a simple reason the store made it through Michigan’s order to stay home to help stop the spread of Covid. “Because of all the extra time that people have had at home due to Covid, many people had time to declutter their homes. Many thrift stores were experiencing a surplus of donations at the time that we opened. Thankfully, we were able to fully stock the store within a couple weeks with very generous donations from the community when we opened in September.” That’s something that is not lost on Maxam. He adds, “We are so grateful for the generosity of the community during these last few months.”
Now, as shoppers and diners venture back into Depot Town’s iconic strip of Cross Street, Maxam hopes more people will stumble upon The Thrift Depot. I hope so too, so that another wonderful business can continue to contribute to the great Ypsilanti community. If you are eager to support The Thrift Depot and its partners, Josh suggests “One of the biggest ways you can support us is to not only donate, but also to shop and tell your friends.”
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