CHS has learned that the grandaddy of thrift shopping is coming to Capitol Hill. Seattle Goodwill is planning to open a Capitol Hill store in the former home of Half Price Books that has stood vacant since the discount retailer shuttered the location last year.

“We would love to be on Capitol Hill,” a spokesperson for the nonprofit retailer tells CHS about the project. “It really is a neighborhood that appreciates the recycle, repurpose, reuse values.”

Permit paperwork for 115 Belmont Ave E is in its early stages but calls for a “Tenant Improvement of existing retail space including (2) Offices, Retail Storage areas, break room, and Changing rooms.” The architect firm on the project frequently designs new locations for the nonprofit retailer.

The construction work inside the building is expected to stretch into spring . The two-level store will employ about 40 people — and they’re hiring:

Seattle Goodwill is looking for a Store Manager to join our team at our Capitol Hill location! Job Summary:

Responsible for the daily operations, achieving sales budget, personnel management, financial reporting, rehabilitation functions, and safety regulations directly related to a store.

At 15,000 square feet, the 24th Seattle Goodwill store will be spacious and is planned to offer the usual Goodwill treasure and will also have a donation center.

Goodwill Capitol Hill will join a solid thrift and vintage culture on Capitol Hill including a Red Light Vintage store, Crossroads Trading, Take 2, Le Frock, Pretty Parlor, No Parking, the Lifelong thrift store and more. It will also join the neighborhood in a timely fashion as another grandaddy thrift shop faces an uncertain future here and issues of affordability and places for “regular people” to shop seem under threat. Plans for a seven-story office project on 11th Ave will likely not include a space for the longtime favorite Value Village location that currently calls one of the buildings involved in the redevelopment home. Meanwhile, pop culture is also doing its part to cement thrifting as an integral component of Capitol Hill living.

In 2012, Goodwill broke ground on its new offices and training center at Rainier and Dearborn after a larger plan for a mixed-use redevelopment at the site was mothballed.

In its listing last year, the property Goodwill is signing on for on Capitol Hill and its 50-some surface parking spots were available at $30 per square foot. The marketing materials for the building documented a 55,000+ population living within one mile of the location and the nearly 200,000 living within three miles.

A new tenant will also add to the former Half Price Books building’s colorful history of interesting businesses. Half Price joined the 1926-built building in 2003. For a time, a laser tag arena called the building home. Before that, we’re told, “the downstairs had a variety of rooms from fake dungeon to shower stalls, and was wired with T1, and well, you do the math.”

The Capitol Hill Goodwill is currently planned for a May 2014 opening. No word, yet, on whether what’s his name is available to walk over for the opening ceremony.

You can watch for updates and learn more at seattlegoodwill.org.