By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The America’s Thrift Store in Alabaster is looking to reopen “shortly after Memorial Day” after water damaged the inside of the store during heavy rainfalls in early April, according to the store’s chief financial officer.

The thrift store, which is at 2018 Second St. S.W., closed in early April for renovations, and has remained closed for the past several weeks. During a May 5 phone interview, America’s Thrift Stores CFO Brian White said the Alabaster store was undergoing roof repairs when heavy rains hit in early April and damaged parts of the store’s interior.

“We had some water issues. We had a lot of water in the store, and you can imagine what kind of problems that caused,” White said. “When the water came down into the sales floor, it caused some of the floor tiles to peel back.”

White said the store closed to repair the water damage out of an abundance of caution for its employees and patrons.

“It was too much for us to try to do the renovations while keeping the store open,” White said, noting water got on ceiling tiles, light fixtures and other parts of the store. “We just decided to be extra careful and close the store while those renovations are being completed.”

White said the Alabaster store is one of America’s Thrift Stores’ strongest locations, and said the store will hold outdoor tent sales each Thursday, Friday and Saturday leading up to the store’s reopening.

“It’s a great store for us. We are excited about reopening,” White said. “We don’t have a definite date yet, but it will be shortly after Memorial Day.”