This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

No Longer Bursting at the Seams

Hole in the Wall, Guilford’s only non-profit consignment and resale shop, which donates all its profits to Guilford ABC (A Better Chance), has been bursting at the seams for years. We’ve searched for more space on the Green, unsuccessfully, until our good-hearted landlord, Craig Helmrich, offered us newly available space adjacent to our shop at 35 Boston Street, across from Guilford Savings Bank. Thanks to the vision of our amazing manager Patty Sullivan and her dedicated staff, we figured out how to make this addition work.

Our biggest hurdle was renovating the space quickly and inexpensively. Doug Baldwin (Baldwin & Baldwin Contractors) and his amazing team of Tom Hull and Eric Madenski offered to donate their time and expertise to tear down existing walls, create a wide passageway between old and new space, build a storage room for out-of-season goods, convert a kitchenette into men’s dressing rooms, build shelves, patch floors, and clean up behind themselves spotlessly. Doug brought in Fred Allen of FMA Electric in Madison to handle the electrical work, and Bud Beauvais of George Beauvais & Sons resolved plumbing issues.

Within four weeks, this miraculous team transformed former office space into an open display area now full of wonderful paintings, rugs, small furniture, an entire men’s department, books, CDs, and other decorations.

Guilford ABC is enormously grateful to all who gave their time and talents to make this expansion happen. Many thanks especially go to our landlord, Craig Helmrich, and to Doug Baldwin and his team, as well as to the Hole in the Wall staff and volunteers for their cheerful and significant contributions.

Charlene Blake, PresidentGuilford ABC