The increasingly bustling strip of Columbia Avenue in Chapin welcomed a new face with familiar ties Dec. 6. 

Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina opened its first Auten’s Loft, a thrift boutique experience, right next to the town’s year-old Goodwill. 

Jarid Munsch, the group’s marketing and public relations director, said the Chapin community has been great when it comes to shopping and donating since the store there opened in October. 2021.

Munsch said the location had some available space that wasn’t being utilized, so the team decided to add the boutique thrift store concept, a first for the Upstate/Midlands Goodwill.

The store is named for Lloyd Auten, who founded the Goodwill Industries of the Upstate/Midlands SC, and the logo is based on her signature.

Munsch said they were able to track down his signature from old documents, which she described as a fun Easter egg hunt.

Auten came to South Carolina from out West and saw how lives could be changed, which is how he came to found Goodwill in the state. While he passed away in 1991, his memory and name lives on as the namesake for the boutique as well as achievement awards handed out to employees for their service.

Munsch said Goodwill employs about 750 employees across its 40 retail stores in the Midlands and Upstate area. Next May will be the 50th anniversary of the Upstate/Midlands Goodwill.

Auten’s Loft will sell name-brand and designer clothes and accessories for men and women, with employees who have a keen eye looking out for items to go into the boutique, Munsch said.

Items will be priced depending on market values and what’s trending, but shoppers can expect to see items in the $4 to $30 range. Only cards are accepted at the boutique.

In addition to the Goodwill store, Columbia Avenue continues to see growth, including an ongoing expansion of the Chapin Commons shopping center across from Chapin High School.

Paul Sadler, president of the Chapin Chamber, said he is ecstatic to welcome the boutique thrift to Chapin. We are delighted that Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina chose Chapin, SC to open the first Auten's Loft, a luxury thrift boutique.  To be the first at anything is always great.”

Auten’s Loft is located at 524 Columbia Ave and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.