Altadena thrift store reopens after Eaton Fire: 'It’s a bit of hope, a bit of normal'

Shortly after Alma Ayala, operations manager at Full Circle Thrift, posted on social media about the store reopening Wednesday, the customers started flowing in.

“ It's just heartwarming because we didn't really publicize much… I literally just posted this morning and people showed up and we had lines,” she said. “They really showed up for us.”

The nonprofit thrift store, housed in a historic brick building on Lake Avenue, was one of only a few businesses left standing on the block after the Eaton Fire ravaged Altadena in January. The floral shop next door is gone — so is the grocery store across the street.

Full Circle Thrift had to throw out all of their inventory because of smoke damage.

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Elly Yu

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LAist

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The nonprofit thrift store is housed in a historic brick building on Lake Avenue.

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Elly Yu

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LAist

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Jean Robison, an Altadena resident, was among the first customers. She also lost her home.

“ It's a little surreal, I have to admit. It feels a little weird to walk up for the first time after so much that has happened. But I will say it feels really nice,” she said. “Things won’t be the same, but it feels like there’s some kind of hope.”

After the fires, the shop lost all of its inventory to smoke damage and had to go under months of remediation and repairs. Paul Netherton, the shop’s general manager, said he was initially concerned about how to fill the store back up with items to sell.

To his surprise, the donations came quickly, many from families who had lost everything in the fire. There are now racks of brand-name clothing. Vintage glassware and wooden tchotchkes line the shelves.

“They are actually donating things that people donated to them after they lost their home,” he said.

The shop's managers says they've filled their inventory up over the last several weeks from donations from the community.

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Elly Yu

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The day has been full of emotional reunions for both Netherton and Ayala, as they’ve seen members of the community they hadn’t seen in months and shared stories about how they’ve survived the fires.

“ When they walk in, they're just so happy to be back to a normal place in their city…so the fact that we're still standing, I think just means everything to them as well because this is their little piece of normalcy,” she said.

Courage Escamilla, who lives nearby, described Full Circle Thrift as more than a thrift shop, but a community hub, where there are chairs to read books and welcoming staff to talk with.

“ When you have a store open up that was part of your daily routine back in the day, it's like the biggest gift in the world,” he said.

Courage Escamilla, an Altadena resident, was among the first customers to return to the store.

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Elly Yu

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