1975: St. Christopher’s Thrift and Gift Shop opened in September of 1975. It opened in the white shop on Main Street across from Drew’s Bait and Tackle Shop. Tom and Jamie Openshaw were the first managers. It was started to help fund the building of a new parish hall and chapel.
1976: St. Christopher’s Thrift and Gift Shop moved to the red house at 746 Main Street (which is now the Red Nun) amidst much fanfare! Georde and Emily Dannenberg were the managers.
1979: The shop moved to the undercroft of the church. Mrs. Elsa McDonald was the manager and served for the next 20 years.
1999: Priscilla Chick became manager of St. Christopher’s Thrift and Gift Shop.
2007: Barbara Cromarty became manager of St. Christopher’s Thrift and Gift Shop.
2009: St. Christopher’s Thrift and Gift Shop moved to 637c Main Street behind the Orpheum Theatre. It was renamed St. Christopher’s Gift and Consignment Shop.
2015: A paid manager was hired to manage St. Christopher’s Gift and Consignment Shop. Rick Franklin held this position for one year and Barbara Cromarty volunteered as interim manager in 2016 until Judy Stella was hired.
2020: Louise Montross, as manager, and an expanded group of volunteers took on the running of St Christopher’s Gift and Consignment Shop despite the limitations and challenges of operating a retail business in the midst of a pandemic. The shop no longer took consignments, but donations were plentiful, and the shop ended the year on a strong financial footing.
2021: The shop changed its name to Uncommon Thrift at St Christopher’s, Always the Unexpected. Social Media, an email newsletter, and online sales took on a more prominent role.