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LW new & used opens in Koblerville
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Posted on Apr 04 2023
LW new & used is located along Chalan Monsignor Martinez just before the road leading to Paradiso Hotel in Koblerville. (MARK RABAGO)
A new thrift shop owned by former travel agents has sprouted in Koblerville.
LW new & used, as its name already suggests, however, doesn’t just sell second-hand items as the store is slowly building up its inventory of new items like spanking new beds and furniture from China.
Steven Wang, co-owner of LW new & used, said the store opened last January to serve the segment of the local community that can’t afford new items but are pretty content with used ones.
LW new & used’s more popular items are beds and dining tables. (MARK RABAGO)
The 48-year-old former garment worker, who has made Saipan his home for the past 20 years, said they also opened LW new & used to have income.
“We also opened because we used to work at a tour company but it closed due to COVID-19 because of a lack of tourists. We had to open a business to survive,” said Wang.
Among the items sold at LW new & used are second-hand furniture, microwaves, refrigerators, shelves, aquariums, coolers, tents, cabinets, desks, office chairs, patio furniture, decorative pieces, pet cages (cat, dog, birds), and other items like power tools, etc.
LW new & used also had an extensive inventory of power tools for sale. (MARK RABAGO)
Wang, who hails from Chengjiang, China, said they fill up their inventory by usually scouring weekly garage sales. Their biggest score, however, came when one of the bigger houseware stores on Saipan closed down recently and they bought most of their items.
LW new & used averages around 10-15 customers a day and Wang said they come from everywhere on the island. Their more popular items are beds and dining tables.
Asked whether they will keep the store open if tourists return, Wang said they will cross the bridge when they get there.
LW new & used is located along Chalan Monsignor Martinez just before the road leading to Paradiso Hotel in Koblerville. It is open from Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm, Saturday, 2pm-6pm, and Sunday, 10pm-3pm. For more information, call (670) 288-8606.
