Barb’s Place opens in Zuni

Published 9:58 am Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Sharon Telle, left, opened Barb's Place Thrift Store and Coffee Shop in Zuni in memory of her mother Barbara Powell, who died in 2005. Telle's sister, Susan Millett of Carrsville volunteers at the shop. DALE LIESCH/TIDEWATER NEWS

ZUNI—It’s almost like there’s a yard sale in Zuni every day.

That’s because Sharon Telle has opened Barb’s Place Thrift Store and Coffee Shop, or commonly referred to as “the yard sale store.” She gets help from her sister, Susan Millett of Carrsville.

The store, which sells mostly donated items at “yard sale” prices, was named in memory of their mother, Barbara Powell, who died in May 2005.

“She was always giving to the community in some way,” Millett said of the foster mother and church volunteer. “Our way of honoring her is to have this store to support the community with low-cost, quality used goods.”

The store at 5495 Windsor Blvd. offers clothing for a $1 and has a three-piece Lane living room set with a sleeper sofa for $100.

Telle, a single mother of four now-grown children, thought the shop could help those in similar situations.

“I worked and raised four kids by myself, which is why I think a store like this is a good idea,” she said. “I drive in from Dinwiddie and would like to make gas money, pay my bills and pay rent here, but I also want to help the community.”

The store offers baked goods on weekends.

“We hope to expand it to a place where people can come in, sit down and have a cup of coffee while they shop,” she said. “We’re taking baby steps since we’ve only been open two months.”

Barb’s Place is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week and can be reached at 434-532-5444.