Goodwill of Orange County opened its second retail store in Orange on Friday, Dec. 8, replacing a shuttered Big Lots store on N. Tustin Street.
The nonprofit said it took just three months to complete the transformation from one bargain store to another.
The 13,156-square-foot store at 1821 N. Tustin St. is in the same shopping center as Home Depot and Chuck E. Cheese.
Goodwill OC said around 250 people were on-hand to celebrate the ribbon-cutting.
“We are so excited to open this new location and be able to offer greater convenience to residents in North Orange, Villa Park and Anaheim Hills,” said Corrine Allen, chief operating officer at Goodwill OC. “It’s been a dream of Goodwill of Orange County to open a second store in Orange. We would like to thank the Tustin Center Properties, LLC Family for helping us make this new store a reality and bringing us one step closer to our goal of doubling our retail footprint by 2033.”
The thrift store features a variety of used goods from shoes to clothing, housewares and furniture. Donations will be accepted at the new Orange location. Those hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
Store hours (which could expand, Goodwill says) are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
The other Orange Goodwill is 3 miles south on Tustin Street at the border with Santa Ana (849 S Tustin St.).
If you’re looking for work, Goodwill is also hiring across all departments throughout the county. Go to ocgoodwill.org/careers for more details.
On the move
Cindy Racco is the new managing director at Balboa Bay Resort & Club in Newport Beach. She has 25 years of experience in the industry, including the opening of the Ritz-Carlton in Puerto Rico, and 17 years in management roles at several Four Seasons hotels.
On board
Families Forward in Irvine has added seven people to its board of directors. They are:.
Mark Abbasi, senior vice president of finance responsible for Edwards Lifesciences’ global critical care and vascular business.
Carissa Bechtloff, senior director of business development at City of Hope Orange County.
Mark E. Engstrom, professor at Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economic Master of Accountancy program.
Nickeya Hannah, CEO and creator of Hygiene First and a former client of Families Forward.
Danni Remington Smithson, veteran in banking, coaching and mentoring.
Jacqueline Erickson Russell, founder and CEO of Social Impact Advising Group.
Kate Starr, group vice president for communications at Golden State Foods.
Good works
Girls Inc. of Orange County raised a record-setting $340,000 at its annual College Bound Luncheon held Nov. 10 at the Marriott Irvine Spectrum. Money will provide at least 150 girls with tools to overcome obstacles, access resources, connect with peers, engage with mentors, and gain hands-on experiences.
Grants
Kaiser Permanente Orange County leaders recently awarded the nonprofit Project Kinship with a community health grant of more than $32,000 in support of its Arts and Healing Mental and Behavioral Health Program. This program provides support and promotes healing for local youth who have experienced trauma and violence. Project Kinship provides services that offer emotional support, advocacy and guidance to help at-risk youth through personal growth and change.
Appointments
June Jee An has been appointed as a judge in the Orange County Superior Court. She has served as a commissioner at the Orange County Superior Court since 2022 and served as a deputy general counsel at the Orange County Superior Court from 2016 to 2022. An fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kim R. Hubbard. She is a Democrat.
Huy Nguyen has been appointed as a judge in the Orange County Superior Court. He has served as a senior deputy alternate defender at the Orange County Alternate Defender’s Office since 2018, and he served as a senior deputy public defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2003 to 2018. Nguyen fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gerald G. Johnston. He is a Democrat.
Kunthavi Watson has been appointed as a judge in the Orange County Superior Court. She has served as a commissioner at the Orange County Superior Court since 2023, and served in several roles at the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office from 2008 to 2023, including supervising deputy city prosecutor and deputy city prosecutor. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Dennis J. Keough. Watson is a Democrat.
