Downtown Depot Adds New WV Potters

It’s not your grandmother’s Goodwill anymore. In May 2007, Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA opened their newest retail venture featuring the work of West Virginia juried artisans, snacks and hard to find sundry items at 401  9^th Street on the Plaza in the middle of downtown Huntington.  Work from juried artisans such as potter Susan Maslowski, shaker box maker Ervin Jones, jewelers Leona Mackey, Mary Ellen Shank and Don Miller makes this store look like a junior Tamarack.  In fact, it's the best selection of fine handcrafts this side of its big brother in Beckley. West Virginia food producers such as Blue Smoke Salsa, Up the Creek Mustard, Thistle Dew Farms, and Appalachian Specialty Foods are available at the Depot as well.

Recently the work of several new potters has been added to the inventory: wildlife pottery from artisan Susan Boyce, the colorful functional work of Jo St. Myers and the handsome stoneware of Paul Latos are now on the shelves.

West Virginia note cards from Wolf Creek Printery, Teresa and Aaron Yeager, or Maury Mufson, post cards by Frank Cavallo, Ric MacDowell and Betty Rivard, and framed or unframed photographs by MacDowell, Rivard and David Fattelah are available for gift giving or home decorating. Products also include several lines of bath and body products, candles and music CDs – all by West Virginians. New artisans continually are being added, so each visit offers a new shopping experience.

For those who need a quick snack, aspirin or panty hose, The Downtown Depot has that too. In fact, it marks the return of these necessary convenience items to the downtown, missing in large part since the last drugstore closed. Breakfast snacks, water, soft drinks and ice cream are available, as well.

The Downtown Depot is more than just another store; it also serves as a training ground for Goodwill’s retail skills and hospitality training programs. The Downtown Depot is open Monday – Saturday from 9:30am – 6pm. For more information contact Carter Seaton @ 304.525.7034 or ctseaton@goodwillhunting.org