St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s landmark Drake store has reopened after a top-to-toe refit, and its transformation is stopping city centre shoppers in their tracks.
With a bright, contemporary redesign and beautifully curated displays, the rejuvenated store on Cornwall Street has striking window displays, a stylish monochrome theme – with splashes of purple – an easy, spacious layout and a polished finish that is beckoning people to slow down and browse its well-stocked rails and shelves.
“It’s so smart that you forget it’s a charity shop,” remarked one of the first customers through the doors.
Our city centre Drake store is known for its affordable wedding dresses, prom dresses and evening wear.
Renowned for its wide range of quality ladies and gents wear, party outfits, ballgowns and wedding dresses, all generously donated by well-wishers, Drake has long been one of St Luke’s busiest and most successful retail locations.
It is one of our charity’s three stores in the city centre, complementing the newly opened furniture shop at Charles Cross and smaller premises at the other end of town in New George Street.
Investment in the shop’s much-anticipated redesign aims to increase both footfall and revenue to continue supporting the compassionate end of life care St Luke’s provides for patients and their families in the local community.
Shop manager Susan Walker and full time shop assistant Maria Barlow (centre) with some of the shop volunteers.
“It’s wonderful to be open again. Browsing is going to be so much easier for our customers,” said manager Susan Walker who is supported by Maria Barlow, a shop assistant at Drake for nearly 15 years, plus part-time assistants Linda Dudley, Amelia Benstead and Emily Evans.
The team are backed up by 28 part-time volunteers who kindly devote precious time to help with all aspects of sorting and selling donated clothing, as well as shoes, homeware, bric-a-brac, puzzles and books.
Longest-serving volunteer Viv.
Longstanding volunteer Viv, who has worked at the Drake store two afternoons a week for over 10 years, was proud to cut the purple ribbon to declare the doors open on Tuesday morning.
She said: “It’s fabulous. It looks so modern and welcoming now. It’s sure to draw even more people in.”
A special shout-out goes to St Luke’s retail van driver Gary Evans for putting together and installing all the shop’s new fittings, shelves and clothes rails with record speed.
St Luke’s Retail van driver Gary Evans
St Luke’s Drake charity shop is open seven days a week: Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
The shop is full to the brim of evening and occasion wear, including accessories.
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