The non-profit Blue Jacket Clothing Company celebrated the opening of its second location on Coldwater Road on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Blue Jacket representatives said the opening of a second location is a testament to the importance of similar-minded businesses in the area.
Blue Jacket Clothing Company began as a way to offer ex-offenders affordable business professional clothing as they looked for work.
In 2012, the store opened its doors to all shoppers. Its sales now fund not only the business itself, but the Blue Jacket Career Academy as well, a two-week, 40-hour job readiness program operated by Blue Jacket. The program also helps provide job placement among other pre- and post- job placement services.
Blue Jacket Executive Director Tony Hudson said he’s excited for the expansion of the company’s services in Fort Wayne’s North Side. Hudson estimates Blue Jacket’s south-side location provided more than 40 thousand articles of clothing to Career Academy students since launching in 2005.
The store will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Calhoun Street location will open from Wednesday through Friday from 12 to 4 p.m., and will accept donations at the main entrance between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.