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Goodwill opens specialty record store in downtown Matthews, North Carolina. September 8, 2026 Goodwill Industries is betting that vinyl records, cassette tapes, and vintage audio gear still have a market, and it's putting a brand-new specialty store called "Rewind" at the center of that wager in a small-town North Carolina downtown. The store opens September 4 at 10 a.m. at 100 W. Matthews St. in Matthews, a town of roughly 30,000 about ten miles southeast of Charlotte. The location previously served as a Goodwill donation drop-off site. Now it will stock second-hand and vintage vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes, music-themed apparel and collectibles, vintage audio equipment, game systems, boom boxes, turntables, and record players. A listening room will let customers test media before buying. The first 50 people in line get a limited-edition Rewind tote bag. A prize wheel will also be on hand for the grand opening, though Goodwill has not disclosed what prizes are available. On opening day, the store will keep extended hours until 8 p.m. Goodwill pitches "the thrill of the hunt" for physical media. A Goodwill spokesperson framed the store as part of a broader push into specialty retail, telling The Sun: "As Goodwill continues to expand its lineup of specialty stores, we're excited to invest even further in the Matthews community and create a destination where the timeless appeal of physical media lives on." The spokesperson also leaned into the treasure-hunt angle that thrift shoppers know well: "Whether you're searching for a nostalgic favorite, building your collection, or discovering something completely unexpected, Rewind offers the thrill of the hunt and the chance to uncover hidden treasures." Rewind is the latest example of Goodwill affiliates across the country moving beyond the traditional thrift-store model. The nonprofit has recently launched a first-ever hardware store concept in South Carolina, signaling that the organization sees room to compete in niche retail categories where second-hand goods carry real value. The Matthews location will continue accepting donations of all items except furniture, keeping its original community function alongside the new retail concept. Physical media keeps finding buyers even as streaming dominates. Vinyl records have staged a well-documented comeback over the past decade, and thrift stores sit at the center of that market for collectors hunting bargains. Goodwill's move to dedicate an entire storefront to records, tapes, and vintage gear suggests the organization sees enough demand, and enough donated inventory, to justify a standalone shop rather than a bin in the corner of a regular store. That strategy fits a pattern. Goodwill affiliates have been experimenting with specialty formats and aggressive promotions to drive foot traffic. Some locations have dropped clothing prices to two dollars for single-day promotions, while others have invested heavily in modernizing their retail operations. One affiliate in Texas, for instance, has been revamping stores and expanding AI-driven pricing as part of a broader makeover. And in Cleveland, Goodwill has confirmed plans for a grocery store inside a $40 million opportunity center, a project that stretches the nonprofit's retail ambitions well past donated sweaters and paperback novels. Rewind is a smaller bet than a grocery store or a multimillion-dollar community center. But the logic is the same: find a category where donated goods have real resale value, put them in a dedicated space, and give shoppers a reason to walk through the door. Community reaction suggests pent-up demand. Local response, at least among the comments Goodwill has highlighted, ran enthusiastic. One person said they planned to skip work for the opening: "Man I wish the Grand Opening was Saturday, instead of Friday. I have to work on Friday, but I plan on being there anyway." Another simply called it "epic." Goodwill has not said whether Rewind is a one-off experiment or the start of a multi-location rollout. The nonprofit also hasn't disclosed the store's square footage or its regular operating hours beyond the extended opening-day schedule. Those details will matter if the concept is going to scale. For now, the pitch is straightforward: show up early on September 4, dig through the crates, and maybe walk out with a first pressing you didn't know existed. In a retail landscape dominated by algorithms and subscription fees, there's something refreshingly simple about a store that just puts used records on a shelf and lets you flip through them.

ICYMI: CKF's Demarse on how employers, educators can work together to create a better future or work. Why do talent gaps exist in the United States? Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) Vice President for Future of Work Laura Demarse gives a surprising answer on a new episode of SchermCo's Square Pizza podcast. "There are millions of Americans who are currently not connected to the workforce," says Demarse. "[But] it's not because they don't have talent and ability. It's because there's a visibility problem into where these opportunities are." To solve that challenge, all system stakeholders need to work together. Employers must take the lead Addressing talent shortages begins by employers communicating with educators and training providers. Schools, bootcamps, and job readiness programs cannot offer the right courses if they do not know what the marketplace is eventually going to demand of their learners. "We have found when we bring employers around this challenge earlier, have them really working through the solutions... it helps us boil down what exactly are the skills and attributes that this individual needs in order to be successful in the job," says Demarse. "We're able to pare it down to get it to what exactly the solution is for the employer." Demarse also argues employers, educators, and training providers need to create new and different pathways toward meaningful work - particularly since skilled trades are experiencing a major resurgence. "[W]hat's really exciting is that there are so many now opportunities for people to contribute outside of getting a four-year degree," says Demarse. "For decades, the primary signal of potential has been a four-year degree. And while we agree that's a really important signal, we don't think it should be the only signal." Philanthropies help de-risk experimentation and scale solutions Demarse also discusses how CKF approaches partnership and social entrepreneurship. "We have the capacity and scale as a large philanthropic community to bring in partners not just around capital," Demarse says. "[It's] really about how can we give [social entrepreneurs] capacity training or leadership development training or introduce you to others that can help you scale and connect to other people that might be better to help enable growth beyond the initial catalytic funding that we do." Stakeholders in North Carolina provide an excellent example of this model at work. In Charlotte, philanthropies like CKF and the Lennar Foundation have partnered with nonprofits like Goodwill and Beatties Ford Road Vocational Training Center to de-risk experimentation, scale training programs that are working, and bring new funders to the table. The Square Pizza podcast focuses on the intersection of education, innovation, and diversity, hosting innovators who are working to ensure all students have access to an equitable education. Demarse has spent nearly 20 years working at the intersection of higher education, workforce development, industry, and philanthropy. At CKF, she is focused on helping more people connect to purpose, opportunity, and economic mobility.

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