Customers from all walks of life could be found browsing and chatting excitedly at the grand opening of Magpie Thrift this past Saturday. Blessed by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Magpie is ready to establish itself as a thrift store and community space, with a focus on sustainability in conjunction with the new nonprofit: Everly.
The space was formerly Lifelong Thrift, a nonprofit store dedicated to helping community members with HIV or AIDS. Lifelong will be shifting to focus fully on meal delivery services at a new location in Georgetown. However, the bones of the longtime fixture of Capitol Hill will remain the same, with former Director of Lifelong Thrift Tamara Asakawa stepping up as the owner of Magpie and the majority of staff remaining. Most of the decor has been kept as well, maintaining the welcoming atmosphere and overt queerness of the space.
Assistant Store Manager Alexandra Eden was excited about the future of Magpie at their grand opening.
“I really do believe in thrifting and sustainability and buying things secondhand.
I’ve been a thrifter since I was a kid,” Eden said, holding firmly to a bunch of multicolored balloons. “But I also just think it’s a really fun place to work and I have a really good time here.”
A major focus of Magpie will be sponsoring and working in tandem with Everly, a new nonprofit focused on sustainability and community care. Through Everly’s “Downsize with Dignity” program, the organization will help senior citizens sort, clean, move and recycle or donate items they no longer want, with a particular focus on queer seniors. The program plans to partner with local establishments to ensure donated items can go to good use, such as ReCreative, a nonprofit and community art center.
Store Manager Mia Krist expressed the importance of helping seniors with both the physical and mental challenges of downsizing.
“It can be really hard for one person to go through all their stuff and to downsize, and it’s also super emotionally draining,” Krist said. “So we just really wanted to offer a way that it’s like: ‘we can figure it out, and we’ll get rid of this stuff for you if you don’t want it, and so that you don’t have to worry about it.’ But also, just making sure that things don’t end up in the landfill, and that they can be moved on to the next spot.”
Everly also has a volunteer program, where volunteers get the opportunity to learn about everything from the environmental dangers of fast fashion to refinishing wood to disposing of hazardous waste, depending on their interests. Volunteers can also assist with the Downsizing with Dignity program.
Magpie hopes to eventually offer upcycling and sewing workshops, open mics, shows and support groups, as well as to bring back the art market formerly hosted by Lifelong. The sustainability focus shines through in the store’s eclectic, affordable and expertly curated stock. The store even features an “As Is” section, with items that require a bit of extra love, but are far too good to go to waste.
Rhys Hutton, programs manager at Everly, emphasized the community focus of Magpie and Everly.
“Everly is very new, but we’re really, really dedicated and passionate about growing alongside the community, like we are here for this space for Capitol Hill for the people that are here. And whatever we grow into, even though we’re something new, and we’re still changing, it will always be for the community first,” Hutton said.
With an ethos of sustainability and Lifelong’s original enthusiastic team, Magpie is already becoming a notable part of Capitol Hill. Between volunteer opportunities, a vast and ever-changing variety of merchandise and a focus on community building and nonprofit work, Magpie and Everly are off to a strong start.
