The former Athena Grand movie theater in Athens has Goodwill as a new tenant
By: Lena Donatelli
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Goodwill celebrated the grand opening of its second Athens location, in the shuttered movie theater on East State Street, marking a significant expansion of its services in the region.
The nearly 13,000-square-foot store is Goodwill of South Central Ohio’s 12th retail location and its largest within its eight-county service area.
Bill Parker, vice president of community engagement for Goodwill of South Central Ohio, said the new store will improve convenience for both shoppers and donors while helping advance the organization’s mission.
The new location occupies half of building space, formerly The Athena Grand movie theater, which closed a year and half ago. The other section remains up for lease.
The new store features a retail shopping area, a drive-through donation center, and dedicated processing spaces where donated items are sorted before reaching the sales floor.
Parker explained that donations are categorized into hard goods, clothing and recyclable materials. When donations exceed what one store can handle, items are redistributed to other Goodwill locations within the organization’s eight-county region.
Goodwill already operates a store on Columbus Road just a few miles away from the new East State Street location. The decision to open a second Athens location followed approximately a year of demographic research and planning.
“When you look at the demographics of Athens County, especially when Ohio University is in session, we saw a need for another convenient location,” Parker said. “Having stores on opposite sides of town makes it easier for people to shop and donate.”
The building itself underwent significant renovations before opening. Originally constructed as a grocery store and later converted into a movie theater, the space required substantial modifications, including leveling its sloped theater floor to create a functional retail environment.
Athens Mayor Steve Patterson welcomed the addition, noting both its size and its community impact.
“As I understand it, this is the largest Goodwill in this region,” Patterson said. “Looking around the store and seeing how many items are available for people to use is heartwarming because it’s serving everybody.”
He added that Athens serves as a regional hub for southeast Ohio, attracting visitors who come for groceries, home improvement supplies and now affordable gently used household goods and clothing.
Community members attending the grand opening also expressed enthusiasm for the new location.
Jill Scott, who shops at Goodwill’s Columbus Road store, said the new facility will be especially beneficial for Ohio University students and local families.
“This is one of the better Goodwill stores I’ve been in,” Scott said. “I think it’s going to help a lot of people from the surrounding areas who need a nice facility like this.”
Goodwill leaders said they hope the new store will strengthen partnerships with the city of Athens, Athens County, the Chamber of Commerce and Ohio University while generating additional support for the organization’s employment and community service programs.