What was once an abandoned building in Frankfort is now being transformed into a place filled with life, purpose and community spirit. Bridge Thrift Home & Restoration, the newest addition to The Bridge Teen Center family, will open its doors Saturday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m., offering shoppers a unique blend of home décor, furniture and meaningful impact.
Located at 21420 S. Harlem Ave., just south of Route 30, the store will provide more than great finds. It will also directly support free programs for teens at The Bridge Teen Center in Orland Park.
“This expansion is about deepening our impact,” said Priscilla Steinmetz, founder and executive director of The Bridge Teen Center, The Bridge Thrift Store and the new Bridge Thrift Home & Restoration. “It’s not just growth in size; it’s growth in purpose, reach and community impact.”
The decision to open the new store in Frankfort was an easy one, Steinmetz said.
The community’s strong sense of connection, active involvement and steady growth made it a perfect fit for The Bridge’s mission.
“Since 2010, The Bridge Teen Center has served over 14,000 teens from 128 communities, including many from Frankfort,” she said. “Expanding here allows us to reach even more young people while providing affordable, quality goods that support a meaningful local cause.”
The store will also serve as a bridge—literally and figuratively—between Orland Park and the Frankfort community. At just seven miles south of the original thrift store and teen center, the location allows The Bridge to offer more volunteer, leadership and job readiness opportunities to teens in the area.
Bridge Thrift Home & Restoration will be a curated thrift experience designed to inspire creativity and community connection.
Shoppers will find everything from stylish furniture and home goods to a live plant boutique called “Taking Root Plant Shop.” The store will also include a rotating pop-up shop featuring local artisans, a dedicated jewelry section, a beloved “Antiques & Cool Junk” area and a creative corner for repurposing and craft projects.
Beyond the shelves and displays, the store will feature a first-of-its-kind Job Readiness and Leadership Training Center. This space will enhance The Bridge Teen Center’s existing Thriftastic Job Readiness program, which helps teens develop confidence and practical skills through real-world experience.
“This new store allows us to create more opportunities for job readiness, leadership and community service,” Steinmetz said. “It also helps The Bridge become more self-sustaining while offering the community a new way to get involved.”
Although the store financially supports The Bridge Teen Center, all teen programs and social events will continue to take place exclusively at the Orland Park facility.
The journey to opening the Frankfort location began in early 2022 when Steinmetz and her team discovered a long-abandoned 9,000-square-foot building on a 4.5-acre property. “Despite its leaky roof, gravel floor and overgrown landscape, we saw potential,” she said. “With the support of many generous donors, we purchased the property in November 2022 and began a two-year transformation.” What once stood as a neglected building will soon open as a warm, inviting space that symbolizes new beginnings—not only for the property but also for the lives it will touch.
In preparation for the grand opening, the store is hosting a “Stock the Store” donation drive. Donations can be dropped off Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the north side of the building.
Donations of furniture, home décor, clothing, books, small kitchen appliances, jewelry and live houseplants are welcome, though some larger items such as mattresses, firearms and pianos cannot be accepted. Once open, the store and donation hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The store will be closed Sundays and Mondays.
For Steinmetz, the new Frankfort store reflects what The Bridge has always stood for—hope, growth and community.
“Our presence in Frankfort allows us to build strong relationships with residents, schools and volunteers,” she said. “It’s a chance to engage new people who want to make a difference and to strengthen the mission that began 15 years ago.”
Founded in 2010, The Bridge Teen Center has served more than 14,000 students from across the suburbs through free programs in art, music, STEM, culinary, life skills and more. The Bridge Thrift Store, established in 2016 in Orland Park, helps fund those programs while giving teens hands-on training and leadership opportunities.