A van rammed through the side wall of West End Thrift in Richmond this week, tearing a large hole into the building and scattering damage across merchandise inside the store. Staff say no one was hurt in the crash, and the thrift shop has been working to recover ever since.
The store shared the news in a Facebook post on Tuesday, saying a van rammed into their building, causing significant damage, according to WRIC ABC 8News. West End Thrift also posted video clips showing the moment of impact, along with footage of the large hole the crash caused and damage to products inside, the station reported.
In the post, the store described the incident bluntly, saying the van rammed through its side wall and into the store. Despite the force of the crash, the station's report notes that staff later confirmed there was minimal loss of merchandise and no one was hurt.
Store Closes Temporarily to Recover
Following the crash, West End Thrift announced it would shut its doors while workers dealt with the aftermath. The thrift shop said in a statement that the store is temporarily closed as staff work to recover from this incident, per the same account relayed by WRIC.
As of Wednesday evening, management said they hoped to reopen on Friday, October 30, according to WRIC ABC 8News, giving the community a timeline for when shelves and shoppers might return to normal. The thrift store is run as a ministry, and is a thrift store and ministry of West End Assembly of God, according to the station's report.
A Message of Gratitude Amid the Cleanup
Even while dealing with the damage, the store took a moment to acknowledge the support pouring in from its community. West End Thrift thanked customers for their patience, encouragement, and prayers while staff worked to restore the shop, as reported by WRIC ABC 8News.
Details about what caused the van to crash into the building have not been confirmed. West End Thrift continues to post updates on its Facebook page, where the ministry regularly shares that proceeds raised through the store go toward funding missions work, as noted by West End Assembly of God.
