Former Toys “R” Us Space To Include Career Solutions Center

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee is expanding with a new store, Goodwill Career Solutions center and covered, drive-through Donation Express Center in the former Toys “R” Us location in Nashville’s Bellevue community.

The thoroughly remodeled, 35,091-square-foot building at 7663 U.S. Highway 70 South will open in early June. The facility is expected to create 45-50 new jobs.

“We’re excited to bring the full complement of Goodwill’s employment and training services to the Bellevue area and to increase our longstanding investment in the community,” said Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee President and CEO Matthew Bourlakas. “Community residents will now be able to donate their gently used items, get help finding a job and enjoy a top-notch shopping experience at the reasonable prices Goodwill is known for, all in a single location.”

Goodwill first established a presence in the Bellevue Community in 1997 with a donations site. In December of 2006, Goodwill chose 247 Old Hickory Blvd. in Bellevue as the site of its first free-standing, drive-through Donations Express Center. There is another Donations Express Center at 8056 Highway 100 in the Shoppes on the Harpeth.

“The Bellevue Harpeth Chamber is excited for the opportunity that Goodwill has taken to fill the retail space formerly occupied by Toys-R-Us,” said Jad A. Duncan, president of the Bellevue Harpeth Chamber of Commerce. “Our excitement seems to match the sentiment of the Bellevue community as well.

“Goodwill is an excellent organization that truly embraces the spirit of our community by giving back to our citizens,” he added. “With two other locations in Bellevue, Goodwill expanding its footprint in the community makes perfect sense, and we look forward to years of partnering together.”

Goodwill Career Solutions offers free one-on-one job training and placement services to people who need help getting a job. In 2014, Goodwill assisted 28,159 people at its 29 Career Solutions centers in Middle and West Tennessee. Of those, 9,558 landed jobs. Goodwill offers these free services through the generosity of its donors and shoppers. The funds used to deliver Career Solutions services are generated through the sale of donated items.

The new Goodwill store and Career Solutions Center are a reflection of Goodwill’s commitment to the community and an outgrowth of Bellevue’s support over the years for Goodwill’s mission, Goodwill Vice President of Retail David Jenkins said.

“This is not your typical Goodwill,” he said. “Our average store sales floor is 17,000 square feet. Bellevue’s store will have a sales floor of 25,000 square feet, making it the second-largest in our 48-county area.”

About Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.
For more than 55 years Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee has provided job training and job placement free of charge to people with disabilities or other barriers to employment through the sale of donated items. In 2014, Goodwill served 28,159 people in Middle and West Tennessee and placed 9.558 people in jobs. More information about Goodwill’s Career Solutions, retail stores and donation centers can be obtained online at  www.giveit2goodwill.org or by calling 1-800-545-9231.