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A new business that recently opened at the Upper Valley Mall will focus on selling everything from reused home decor and clothes to computers and other electronics.
Rachel Redmon and Cliff Nelson recently opened New 2 U, a thrift store at the Upper Valley Mall. A portion of their proceeds are donated to Dayton Children’s Hospital for programs that helps cover costs for families while their children are seeking treatment.
The couple had been collecting used clothing and other items at a warehouse in Dayton, but wanted to open their own retail store. The Upper Valley Mall seemed like a good option because of its reasonable lease rates and location, Redmon said.
“Being in the mall, you get exposed to a lot more people,” she said.
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The mall has been working to attract new tenants and mall leaders said the new store is a good fit.
The newest store started several years ago with Charitable Recycling, a small business Nelson started to recycle used toner cartridges and other similar items. But as demand grew, he and Redmon began recycling everything from electronics to furniture.
The business has been donating a portion of its profits to Dayton Children’s Hospital for several years, said Bethany Deines, director of annual giving at Dayton Children’s. The money supports a program that provides money for families who are financially strapped, and pays for everything from parking passes to grocery and food cards and in some cases, even rent.
“I’d encourage people to go out there,” Deines said. “He’s got a great assortment of items and I think he’s providing a great service to people who need to buy some good used items.”
A separate business is also hosting an event this weekend hoping to draw residents to the mall. Raven Books will host a Harry Potter-themed party from noon to 6 p.m. this Sunday.
The book store is celebrating the release of the newest book by J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” The book store will accept pre-orders for the new book, and will be playing Harry Potter movies at the store through the day. The store will also have about 15 copies of the book Sunday, although some have already been reserved.
There will also be Harry Potter merchandise available for purchase and games and other activities throughout the event.
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