By BEN LUNDIN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Frugal residents of St. John Parish were left with a void when the LaPlace Goodwill closed in 2005, but the thrift store giant could return soon, as long as the store that often supports the homeless can find a home of its own.

Since the Goodwill lost its lease shortly before Hurricane Katrina representatives of the company have been unable to find a cost efficient building.

&#8220LaPlace is high priority on our list. We very much want to open a store, it’s just finding a store is our challenge,” said Bill Jesse, CEO of Goodwill in the Southeastern Louisiana Region.

&#8220We’ve been trying to identify a location that would be appropriate – we’re constantly looking for good locations. The high end shopping centers are a little bit expensive for us,” he added.

Hurricane Katrina took some of Goodwill’s focus away from matters in the River Parishes, when its destruction closed four of the 11 store locations in Southeastern Louisiana, in Chalmette, Slidell and New Orleans. Two of those stores have reopened, but the Chalmette and Robert E. Lee locations remained closed.

&#8220One of the challenges is it becomes a business decision – do you open a store when there are no people?” Jesse said.

LaPlace has the residents, and as its population continues to boom Goodwill will pursue possible locations for a store, but Jesse could not give a time frame for the business’ return.

Two independent non-profit thrift stores have remained strong in LaPlace, and although the amount of donated goods pales in comparison to Goodwill, their offerings are the same.

St. Joan of Arc Thrift Shop and New Life Thrift Store, both near the St. John Rehabilitation Hospital on West Fifth Street, sell donated goods similar to Goodwill, but offer several services not available with the thrift store giant. Both stores accept clothing, furniture and other household items.

New Life Thrift Store, a fixture in LaPlace since June 7, 2003, is an extension of a community center operated by the New Life Women’s Center. The Healing Place Community Center offers services to elderly and physically and mentally challenged residents, including telephone use, fax and internet services and help completing documents. Beverages and snacks are also available free of charge during open hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

All proceeds earned at the store are given to victims of domestic violence to help them pay for legal services, housing and family reconciliation, according to Bertha Bell, Executive Director of the New Life Thrift Store.

St. Joan of Arc Thrift Store, behind the St. Joan of Arc Church, is a non-profit extension of the church that accepts and donates items from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m., Monday through Friday.