The Emporium accepting donations now, will reopen July 9

The Emporium is again accepting donations and will reopen to the public on Thursday, July 9, said Heather Pollard and Joanne Achen, who are among the 12 volunteers who operate the antiques and gift shop at 106 S. Water St. in downtown Las Cruces.

The store, like many others in Las Cruces and across the country, closed temporarily in March in accordance with state public health orders.

The Emporium opened in late June 2015 and generates about $6,000 a month for Mesilla Valley Hospice, which receives 100 percent of its proceeds. During the past five years, Achen said, The Emporium has generated about $300,000.

The inventory is made up entirely of donations The Emporium receives, including antiques, collectibles and mint-condition furniture, Pollard said.

Anyone with furniture to donate can call the Hospice at 575-523-4700 to arrange for pick up of furniture donations. Or call Pollard at 575-525-1235 to arrange a meeting at The Emporium to deliver other donations. Pollard and Achen said The Emporium does not accept donations of electronics or household appliances.

To prepare for the re-opening, Pollard and Achen said the entire store will be cleaned and disinfected, and all donations will also be disinfected before being placed on display.

“We’re going to follow all the rules,” Achen said, including staff and customers wearing face coverings and social distancing. Parking is available behind the store, but the only entrance will be at the front of the store, where a personal sanitizing station will be located, she said.

“We had a thorough training with the hospice compliance nurse and we are following every safety mechanism possible,” Pollard said.

When it reopens, The Emporium hours will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

 For more information, visit www.mvhospice.org/the-emporium.