WabiSabi, Moab’s popular thrift store and nonprofit, has seen a few homes in its more than 20 years. Now, as its current space on 100 South is for sale, we sat down with WabiSabi Executive Director Leah Bear to find out what the future holds for the organization, plans for a move, and to hear details about Wabi’s new forever home.
Moab Sun News: Thanks for speaking with us, Leah, and congratulations on the exciting developments for WabiSabi! Could you tell us about your current situation?
Leah Bear: Thanks! It’s definitely an exciting time for us. We have a verbal commitment for a new interim location and planning for our long-term new home.
Moab Sun News: Where’s the new temporary location?
Bear: It’s behind the Eagle’s Chateau [Located at 1040 S. Highway 191. – ed.] and it’s a very accessible space on the south side of town. A third of our patrons come by wheelchair, bikes, or walk, so keeping it accessible was a priority. The space is half the size of our current one.
Moab Sun News: Are there any concerns with downsizing?
Bear: Downsizing comes with its challenges, but we’re working through them. For example, we won’t be able to accept large furniture donations, and we’ll likely have to be more selective about what donations we do take. We’ll also need to figure out storage for the five sea containers we use to store bulk items that get recycled. Still, I’m confident we can make it work, and I’m proud that we’ve kept over 64,000 pounds out of the landfill each year.
Moab Sun News: What’s the timeline for the move?
Bear: We need to be out of our current location by March, but the new lease starts on January 1. That gives us time to host some big volunteer weekends in January and February to help with the move, and we’re also recruiting community support to help clear out and organize.
Moab Sun News: It sounds like a lot of careful planning. How is the community responding to the move?
Bear: The community has been so supportive. We’ve been working on this for a while, and people understand that change is necessary. Our focus is continuing our mission, even if it means adjusting our operations. We’re planning to host our community Thanksgiving meal this year, and we’ll use that opportunity to spread the word about the move and recruit volunteers.
Moab Sun News: Are there plans for a permanent space?
Bear: Yes! We’re so excited to be working with Campbell Associates on a new building on a parcel of land next to the Community Resource Center. Other nonprofits are already located inside the center and the building will be next to the Moab Free Health Clinic. It’s going to be a metal building kit, which is more cost-effective and time-efficient than traditional construction. There’s still a lot to figure out, like raising the building out of the floodplain and possibly adding a retaining wall, but we’re taking it step by step.
Moab Sun News: How is fundraising for the new space going?
Bear: We’ve been working on a capital campaign to raise funds for about a year and a half. So far, we’ve raised a little over a third of our $1.5 million goal with other pledges in the works. The community’s support has been incredible, and we’ll continue to ask for help as we move forward.
Moab Sun News: What’s been the most challenging part of this transition?
Bear: The toughest part has been managing the logistics of the move while keeping the organization running smoothly. We’re downsizing, but we still want to serve the community at the same level, so there’s a lot to balance. But we’re committed to our mission, and we know this move will ultimately benefit WabiSabi and the community.
Moab Sun News: Any final thoughts or updates you’d like to share with the community?
Bear: I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported us during this transition. We’re excited about what’s ahead, and while it’s a big change, we believe it will help us continue to serve Moab for years to come.
