Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
New Crestwood Boulevard Goodwill brings shopping, donations + job opportunities together
Reading time: 4 minutes
Sponsored
There’s a new reason to swing through the Crestwood-Irondale area—and it goes beyond scoring your next thrift find.
Alabama Goodwill Industries just opened a brand new location on Crestwood Boulevard, and behind the racks and donation bins is a mission that’s changing lives across the state.
Read on for a peek inside the store, why this location matters and how the organization is helping people, especially those with disabilities, find purpose through the power of work and caring community support.
Alabama Goodwill’s new store
Excitement was high as the doors opened for Alabama Goodwill. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)
Located on Crestwood Boulevard in the Village East shopping center across from the Amazon Fulfillment Center, Alabama Goodwill’s newest store officially opened on April 9.
There’s just one way to describe the grand opening: exciting! The morning kicked off with media previews, coffee from Santos Coffee and a growing crowd of shoppers ready to be first in line.
Treasure hunting is in full swing at Alabama Goodwill’s newest store. (Bham Now)
Once inside? So. Much. Good. Stuff. The clothing racks were color-coordinated (why can’t my closet at home look like this?), making it easy to browse.
And, if you’re a home goods person, the shelves are stacked with dishes, bakeware and all kinds of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.
But the opening wasn’t just about a new place to thrift. For this specific area of town, the opening marks a fresh opportunity to connect more people to jobs, resources and support right in their own neighborhood.
Why Crestwood Boulevard was the perfect fit
Opening day at Alabama Goodwill on Crestwood Boulevard. (Bham Now)
This new location wasn’t chosen at random. Before opening, Alabama Goodwill conducted a community needs assessment to better understand the challenges people in the area face when it comes to employment.
What they found was a real opportunity to expand job training, career coaching and workforce development resources for those who need it most.
By putting down roots in Crestwood-Irondale, they’re meeting people where they are, helping remove barriers to employment and creating pathways to long-term stability.
The new store and donation center also expands Goodwill’s reach across the Birmingham area, making it easer for locals to give back and get involved.
What Alabama Goodwill really does
You can find some seriously good thrifted gems at Alabama Goodwill, but there is much more to the organization than shopping.
Every donation and purchase helps fund free job training, education + employment programs across the state.
The focus is on helping people who face barriers to work—whether it’s a lack of education, limited job experience or living with a disability.
The need is real, too. In Alabama, workforce participation for individuals with disabilities is lower than the national average, and many people still lack access to the resources needed to find stable employment.
Take a look at Alabama Goodwill’s statewide impact in 2025:
- 1,833 individuals served
- 879 total lives impacted
- 502 workshops + training
- 75 new Goodwill jobs created
A local Goodwill success story
For Randolph John, Alabama Goodwill’s mission program has been more than a workplace—it’s been a support system.
He’s been working at the Clarimont donation center for about five months and says the experience has truly changed his life.
Living with multiple disabilities, Randolph told us that Goodwill has created a space where he feels valued and understood, and stepped in to help when he hit a tough spot financially and struggled to pay rent.
“Goodwill has always been there for me. I’m glad they allowed me to work. They treated me like part of their family.”
Randolph John
Alabama Goodwill’s career resources don’t stop at the store. Through My Career Advisor, anyone in the community can access free job training, resume building and career coaching.
Next time you’re cleaning out your closet or hunting for something new-to-you, consider stopping by Alabama Goodwill’s new location on Crestwood Boulevard. Every donation and purchase helps support life-changing programs right here in Birmingham.
Heading down I-65 South? Drop off your donations at Alabama Goodwill’s Alabaster location—it just celebrated its grand opening on March 30.
Learn more about Alabama Goodwill and how they’re helping locals reach their full potential.
Sponsored by:
