Goodwill of the Finger Lakes will open its first Cortland County retail store July 17 at Riverside Plaza, adding a 25,000-square-foot thrift store and donation site in the former Ames department store.
The store at 160 Clinton Avenue will open to the public at 9 a.m. after a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the first 100 shoppers in line who are 16 or older will receive a $10 Goodwill gift card while supplies last.
The Cortland store will be located between Ollie's Bargain Outlet and Family Dollar. Goodwill said the location will carry a rotating selection of secondhand items, new goods and other merchandise, including clothing, electronics, household products and seasonal items.
The new site is part of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes' continued expansion across the Finger Lakes region and Central New York. The Rochester-based organization serves more than 20 counties from Greater Rochester to Syracuse and will operate 17 retail locations once the Cortland store opens.
"Opening our first store in Cortland is an exciting milestone for Goodwill of the Finger Lakes," President and CEO Jennifer Lake said in the announcement. "As part of the Goodwill Northeast Circularity Hub and our mission to elevate people, community and the planet, this new location expands access to affordable shopping while creating more opportunities for the Cortland community to participate in sustainable reuse and recycling."
Lake said the organization looks forward to welcoming shoppers and donors from Cortland and working with local organizations across the region.
Goodwill said the store will also serve as a donation hub for gently used or unwanted items. The organization said it kept nearly 29 million pounds of donated goods in circulation in 2025 through its stores, donation centers and reuse operations.
Hiring is underway for the Cortland location, with openings for donor greeters, cashiers and sales floor associates. Applications are being accepted online through Goodwill of the Finger Lakes.
Regular store and donation hours will begin July 17. The Cortland location will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Goodwill of the Finger Lakes said it reaches more than 171,000 people each year through programs including Goodwill Vision Enterprises, 211/LIFE LINE, workforce development, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and Goodwill Learning Academy.
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