By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Cindy and Chris Johnson of Caribou recently celebrated the grand opening of their second thrift shop. Located at 157 State Street in Presque Isle, at the former site of the Salvation Army, the 4,500 square foot retail shop offers everything from shoes to refrigerators.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
The Cubby, a second-hand shop located at 157 State St. in Presque Isle at the former site of the Salvation Army, opened for business this month, offering everything from clothing to housewares. Pictured at the ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce, from left, are: Courtney Caron; PIACC members Floyd Rockholt and Stacy Shaw; owners Cindy and Chris Johnson, with their son, Kalib “Cubby” Johnson; Theresa Fowler, PIACC executive director; and PIACC member Billie Brodsky.
“We felt it was the right time to reach out and sustain our cause due mainly to the fact that the Caribou shop has been so well received and supported by all the surrounding communities,” said Cindy Johnson. “We are so pleased to be part of the downtown revitalization in Presque Isle and our landlords, Glenn Capps and Tony Burgess (who operate the Yarn/Glass shop in the downtown mall) have been incredibly accommodating.”
Johnson said that she and her husband and others, spent month renovating the space, refurbishing the oak floors and exposing the original tin in the walls. Other changes included the addition of two changing rooms and a work area. “Although there is limited parking in front, there is additional space to park in the rear of the building and this summer we have plans to build a rear entrance,” said Johnson.
The Cubby, named after Kalib Johnson, the son of the owners, isn’t just a thrift shop. When the proprietors opened their flagship shop in Caribou last fall, their biggest goal was to give back to the community which has shown continuous support to their family. Kalib has met the challenges of living with a life-threatening disease and the Johnson family has learned first-hand the emotional, physical and financial issues that must be dealt with.
Through their business, the Johnsons puts aside a percentage of each sale into the “Cubby Fund,” in turn recognizing families with severlyl ill children, helping any way they can. A Cubby Hero of the Month is also determined by the owners, who award the child with a $50 check. the Cubby also continues to work closely with a wide variety of local organizations seeking to assist families who are juggling travel to medical appointments, child care for other siblings and other everyday necessities.
“There are so many families facing these problems who never say a word — yet they are struggling just the same,” said Johnson. “We are just trying to help to make things a little bit easier if we can.”
“The renovation on this space was definitely a labor of love,” said Johnson, “but things are going very well.”
The Cubby is not a consignment shop, all items are donated and resold at very reasonable prices. “Items may be dropped off anytime, it’s not necessary to call ahead and we do offer free pickup, if necessary,” stated Johnson. “We accept everything including clothing, footwear, appliances, electronics, furniture and home decor items, big or small,” she added.
The Johnsons and The Cubby in Caribou recently received the Caribou Chamber of Commerce 2010 Spirit Award, presented at the Chamber’s annual recognition dinner.
Anyone aware of a family who has a child with a life threatening illness is encouraged to contact the Johnsons at either of the Cubby locations.
The Presque Isle location is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call 768-6200.
