City officials assembled at 58 Pulaski St. Friday morning for the grand opening of Bridge Works Boutique.
The 10,000 sq. ft. space was strategically filled with vintage furniture items for sale. Every product was donated by people who no longer need them, while all the proceeds from their eventual purchase will directly benefit Lifebridge North Shore in their fight against homelessness. The nonprofit organization has homeless shelters in Salem and Beverly, numerous case managers who work with people in an effort to improve their lives, and affordable housing opportunities for those who were once homeless.
“From January until now, we’ve helped just about 150 people who came through the shelter find housing which is pretty awesome,” Lifebridge President Jason Etheridge said.
Etheridge added that he feels his organization’s work is essential during both a housing shortage and mental health crisis.
Bridge Works Boutique is the second venue opened through Lifebridge as a means of fundraising. The Lifebridge thrift store in Salem offers more traditional clothing as its main product. He expressed gratitude for the amount of donated items both locations have received as they are integral to their operation.
“We have two trucks that go out into the community and do pickups and we can’t keep them off the road,” Etheridge said.
Etheridge gave a large portion of the credit to Peter Ahearn and Derek Bergman, who co-manage both store locations. The pair was at the forefront of the five-month process of making the boutique a reality. They explained why they felt its Peabody location was a fitting spot.
“It’s the greatest neighborhood to be in where you’re in this sort of upcycled industrial part in a lofty building where all the furniture is emulating that,” Ahearn said.
Bergman credited their volunteers who assist in the restoration of the furniture items so that they can be adequately improved for sale. While Ahearn and Bergman acknowledged the large amount of work that was required by them and the Lifebridge team, they asserted that their passion is what drove them to complete this process.
“Lifebridge is easily the most satisfying work I’ve ever done,” Ahearn said. I’ve had some cool jobs but this is the one that makes me wake up in the morning and say ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this every single day.”
During the formal ribbon cutting ceremony, numerous City Council members in attendance were recognized along with the Lifebridge Board of Directors. State Rep. Tom Walsh shared a citation of congratulations from the House of Representatives.
Bridge Works Boutique is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
