Anchorage thrift store gets a makeover (a thread)

The Salvation Army thrift store on Northern Lights Boulevard in Anchorage has undergone a renovation (a thread). 1/8

The store held a grand reopening event on April 30 to highlight some repairs and upgrades to the store, including the addition of a new reading nook that includes a pair of comfy chairs and new shelves. 2/8

The nook includes a plaque recognizing the late Richard Wayne “Dick” Nyman “for his loyal and generous support…and for his legacy gift to renovate” the store in Midtown Anchorage. 3/8

Curious about Mr. Nyman, I went online and found out he was a local resident who used to stop by the store every chance he got. He was also a pretty well-known businessman who had been in Alaska since 1952. 4/8

Nyman’s story reads like a montage of postwar Alaska history: He worked on the DEW line in the early 50s, fished in Bristol Bay, barely survived the 1964 quake, helped build North Slope ice roads and founded his own oilfield service company in the early 1980s. 5/8

He sounds like a pretty good dude. According to his obituary, Nyman’s “contracts were often written on the back of envelopes and sealed with a handshake. He was known for his kindness, his mild temperament and generosity.” 6/8

Nyman’s wife, Janice Blanchard, attended the Salvation Army’s April 30 ceremony and grand reopening ceremony. The interior of the store has a fresh coat of paint, new racks and a fresher feel and I suggest you check it out if you’re in the area of 300 W. Northern Lights. 7/8

There are some good deals there. I found an old Weavers album and also this: a home-taped VHS recording of a week’s worth of “Murder She Wrote” episodes — complete with a handwritten note detailing each episode. But that’s a story for another thread… 8/8

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