The Sunnyvale American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop has reopened its doors nearly two months after a four-door sedan drove through it.
On Feb. 8, a car crashed through the front of the retail store in Loehmann’s Plaza and came to a stop in the middle of the shop.
The driver, identified as a 62-year-old woman, was attempting to park in a stall in front of the shop and accelerated, sending the vehicle into the shop, Sunnyvale DPS Capt. Jeff Hunter told The Sun. The driver suffered minor injuries, and two other women, ages 58 and 67, who were in the shop also suffered minor injuries.
According to witnesses, one of the women was pinned underneath the car and some cabinets, but she was helped up and treated by paramedics.
While waiting for the repairs to be completed, the store continued to accept donations at the back of the store but was not able to sell any items.
“We had no sales for weeks, but now we’re back and everybody’s happy to see us again,” said Carol Arnett, a Discovery Shop volunteer since 2000. “We’ve had a lot of people say they’ve missed us.”
The Sunnyvale Discovery Shop has been at the 1659 Hollenbeck Ave. location since 1998.
The all-volunteer run shop officially reopened its doors on April 4 with a special grand reopening event. The store has new floors and paint and a reconfigured layout.
“It looks really fresh,” Arnett added.
The Discovery Shop is a resale store that sells gently used donated items, with sales benefiting the American Cancer Society, according to the organization’s website. There are more than 35 Discovery Shops all over California.
For more than 40 years, the American Cancer Society has owned and operated the speciality stores, which offer items such as clothing, accessories, jewelry, furniture, artwork, antiques, collectibles and other household items.
Nearby Discovery Shop locations include the Los Altos store at 243 Main St. and the Los Gatos shop at 39 E. Main St.
The Sunnyvale store will be having a special home decor sale May 16-17 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Items for sale include lamps, mirrors, vases, artwork and dishes.
For more information about the Discovery Shop in Sunnyvale, visit discoveryshop-sunnyvale.org.
