FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Blue Jacket announced on Thursday that it will now operate in the Renew Resale store in Georgetown Plaza.
Announcing the purchase, Blue Jacket said that the store will continue to sell and accept the same donations but that the store will now be called “Renew By Blue Jacket”.
Renew Upscale Resale operated in the space for 12 years before announcing its closure in the summer of 2022.
That is when they approached Blue Jacket.
Blue Jacket says not much will be different for patrons of the former store. However, said it hopes to blend its high-quality services with the store while also providing employment opportunities for those graduating from the Blue Jacket Academy.
To see more on the store and Blue Jacket’s mission, click here
Blue Jacket released the following:
Blue Jacket, Inc. has purchased Renew Upscale Resale from the nonprofit BCS Foundation and will continue Renew’s 12-year legacy of quality items at thrift prices.
Blue Jacket will blend their experience in providing high-quality retail services (e.g. Blue Jacket Clothing Co. and Tall Rabbit Café + Community) and their mission of providing in-house employment opportunities for graduates of the Blue Jacket Academy.
The beloved thrift store sells high quality furniture, housewares, clothing, jewelry, books, and many other secondhand items. It will continue to operate in Georgetown Plaza in northeast Fort Wayne and will retain many Renew employees to continue providing the same great service to which its shoppers have become accustomed. Patrons may still shop for their favorite products in an organized setting.
Donors who wish to contribute their gently used items to the mission of Blue Jacket, Inc., will be able to do so just as before. Blue Jacket, Inc. will operate the thrift store using the name Renew by Blue Jacket.
Renew Upscale Resale announced their closure in the summer of 2022 and approached Blue Jacket, Inc. in the late fall to acquire and keep it operational. The BSC Foundation managed Renew Upscale Resale to provide scholarships to students at Blackhawk Christian School. In a similar fashion, proceeds from Renew by Blue Jacket will support Blue Jacket’s training and transitional employment of its clients.
Kevin Newbry, Head of Schools for Blackhawk Christian School stated, “We are excited at BCS for the next phase of the Renew store offering a continued need of product and service in the Georgetown area and beyond. Blue Jacket has a great mission impacting and employing future generations for years to come.”
“We are excited to make an impact in the Georgetown area,” said Tony Hudson, Blue Jacket’s Executive Director. “There is a lot of risk in a new venture like this, but we felt the opportunity to hire more of our clients in-house was big and this has always been our strategic direction.”
This month is the 10-year anniversary of the Blue Jacket Clothing Co., and it celebrates high ratings in its niche business professional clothing line, a strong customer and donor base, and 100% operated by clients of the Blue Jacket Academy, including the newly promoted store manager.
New hours for Renew are Mon-Thurs 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Donations can be received during any of those times. Renew by Blue Jacket can also be found on Instagram, Facebook, and Google.
More about Blue Jacket Inc.: Blue Jacket, Inc. believes that no adult should have a barrier to employment and is working toward an audacious goal to have 100% of all clients, no matter how extreme the barrier, to be working with three months of graduating the Blue Jacket Academy. Blue Jacket’s mission is to provide training and opportunities to anyone with a barrier who is striving to earn gainful employment and has been in operation since 2005. The Blue Jacket Clothing Co, Blue Jacket Staffing, Cleaning Services, Tall Rabbit Café + Community, and even Fantasy of Lights are social enterprises designed to transitionally hire clients needing a chance to earn a wage, experience, and on-the-job support from the Blue Jacket team.
More about Renew by Blue Jacket: It is located at 6406 E State Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46815 in Georgetown Plaza near the Kroger Store. Donation drop offs occur in the back of the building.
