The Jumble Store Celebrates 80th Anniversary

The Jumble Store, owned and operated by the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

The store is a non-profit thrift shop that aims to raise funds for the League’s charitable programs.

When The Jumble Store opened in 1933, it used profits to provide welfare to local residents for food, rent and medical bills. Now, the store’s funds go towards the League’s service projects and programs, which focus on helping Union County families in need.

Back in 1933, the store’s receipts for the year totaled $1,358.56, according to the organization and in 2012, they totaled $69,491.

It all began with a semi-annual “old clothes sales,” which became so successful that the League turned it into a year-round shop.  During its original inception, the shop was called “The Nearly New Shop” located at 13 Eastman Street. The name changed when a member’s Scottish maid referred to it as the “The Jumble Store,” because that is what such shops were called in her homeland.

The store moved to its current location at 110 Walnut Avenue in 1976. In 1984, the League put an addition on the space nearly doubling it in size.

An anniversary sale will run from Oct. 22-26 at The Jumble Store to commemorate the occasion. The event will feature special discounts, sales and contests with a “Sip-n-Shop” on Oct. 24. A holiday kick-off party will be held on Oct. 26.