In 2001, four members of the Wimberley community saw the need for a community thrift shop that would give additional shopping opportunities to residents while raising funds to support the Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity.
They purchased the building at 300 River Road and went to work to set up what is today a thriving store with three buildings, including the Lillie Dobie House.
The first step was to become certified as a 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS. This certification would benefit donors who could claim their donations.
Then the partners recruited volunteers to operate the store and soon realized donor and customer demand required additional resources. They made a decision to expand the scope of the store's fundraising to other local non-profit organizations. Today, the store support five organizations: EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens, Keep Wimberley Beautiful, PAWS of Central Texas, Wimberley Habitat for Humanity, and Wimberley Players.
After years of planning, in 2016 the store moved to its current location at 450 River Road with three shopping locations: the Builders' Barn, the Main Store, and the Boutique (Lillie Dobie House). We are open for sales and receive donations five days a week.
In 2024, we are fortunate to have 90 volunteers who donate their time to support the five non-profit charities. We also now have a full time manager.
We distribute 100% of our net profits each month to our partners. Each volunteer selects the charity they would like to support and the hours they work are recorded daily. Once all expenses are paid and we have the total hours for the month, we calculate an hourly rate and each charity receives its share based on this rate times the number of hours donated by volunteers.
We continue to add new features to the store! Our themed center display welcomes customers every week with special merchandise. The Dobie House holds many unique items, from fine jewelry to "sometimes odd" antiques. The Builders' Barn goes beyond its name with medical equipment, outdoor equipment, gardening supplies, and large appliances.
Our work continues, and we have begun planning for our 25th anniversary in 2026. We invite you to shop with us, but we also invite you to consider volunteering on behalf of one of our non-profits. The Wimberley Valley has thrived because of the generous spirit of its residents, and we are proud to be part of this spirit!