DEARBORN, Mich. – The Dearborn Planning Commission has voted to allow a plan for a Goodwill store in the city to go ahead.
Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit wants to put the resale stole in building that's been vacant for years at Michigan and Military.
"You see all the empty spaces. We want to be a benefit to Dearborn and want Dearborn to be a benefit to us," said Goodwill Detroit Director of Donated Goods Jeffery Ukrainec.
Ukrainec said the store would employ 25 people and be patterned after an upscale resale shop that recently opened in Canton Township. But the organization had tried and failed three times to get approval from the Dearborn Planning Commission.
Ukrainec said some commissioners said the area has too much discount retail already and there and they have concerns about the kind of shoppers the store would attract.
Sam Berro runs a Coney island near the proposed site. He said he needs the foot traffic the Goodwill store would generate.
"I don't care if you're green, white, orange purple, you're going to come spend money? My door is open for you," Berro said.
The measure passed 5-4 and now moves to the Zoning Board of Appeals for approval.