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Tonganoxie’s City of Angels Thrift Store settling into historic venue

By Shawn Linenberger - | Oct 21, 2014

A customer brings in a table soccer game.

He has no use for it, but hopes Deb Stanwix at City of Angels Thrift Store might be able to sell it.

Stanwix helps the man carry in the table game. The man assembles it in the toy room, an area that was home to the ticket office for Tonganoxie’s historic train depot years ago.

Saturdays are busy at City of Angels, whether it’s walk-in customer traffic or folks dropping off items.

The business is starting its seventh year this month, but has been at its new locale, 429 S. Main, about two months.

“Saturdays sometimes are crazy,” Stanwix said. “During the week it’s not busy until 10 some days.

“Everyone wants to see the train depot.”

The store was in the 600 block of Fourth Street until making the move to the depot, which was built in 1868 and is the last standing wooden depot in Kansas still in its original location.

Stanwix said she moved the business because the new spot offered more space. There also is additional storage space beyond the sale floor, which she said was a big plus.

Proceeds from sales at the store go to the local battered women’s shelter. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, the store provides food and gifts to three or four families in need.

“In all sincerity, I love to help people,” Stanwix said. “I think everyone tries to do their part.”

Stanwix also volunteers at Tonganoxie Elementary School when she’s not working at the store. Her husband works at Cerner in Kansas City, Kan.

They have a son, Tyler, a third-grader at TES.

The couple also is taking care of their six nieces and nephews after Deb’s sister-in-law died last December.

“That actually takes up all my spare time now,” Stanwix said.

The family purchased the house in which Deb’s grandparents used to live a couple blocks from the store. They are fixing up the house themselves.

They bought the house the first day of school in August. The next day they moved the store to the former depot.

“We don’t slow down for anything,” Stanwix said.

The store offers shoes, clothes, jewelry, children’s toys, DVDs and games. The business also features furniture, as well as clothing donated by Peruvian Connection.

The store generally is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. If school is not in session a certain day or there is a family emergency, Stanwix has to shut down shop.

With a family operated business, you have to “expect the unexpected,” she said.

Donations are welcome at City of Angels. Stanwix said people can call or stop by with items. There is a driveway southeast of the depot where people can drop off their donations. The store’s number is 913-908-9891.