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ATTLEBORO - While many retailers are closing locations or cutting back on employees because of the continuing recession, Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries is opening a new, department-store-like retail location next week on Route 1.

Goodwill, which sells donated new and used clothing and other goods to finance job-training programs for the disabled and underemployed, is opening at a time when more consumers are turning to thrift stores because of layoffs or just to stretch a buck.

But the new, brightly lit store occupying 16,000 square feet in a newly renovated building, isn't your grandma's thrift store.

"The new store will have more of a department store feel," said spokesman James Harder, who noted the store will be packed with clothes and housewares, as well as some furniture.

Harder said a smaller unit is scheduled to open in Jamaica Plain. "We know that times are changing, and we want to give our customers the best retail experience we can," he said.

The store also will have an attended donation center to accept gifts seven days a week. Donations can also be brought inside the store.

Grand opening of the new retail store is 10 a.m. on Aug. 27.

"We are really excited about these two new stores," said Terry Fitzpatrick, vice president of social enterprises at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries. "The Attleboro location is brand new territory for us, but the response we have gotten from the community has been great. And we're really excited about going back to Jamaica Plain, as it was an excellent location for us for a number of years."

The Attleboro area currently has two other well-patronized thrift stores operated by charities.

The Salvation Army occupies the former Kids Town location on Union Street and the St. Vincent de Paul Society operates a store on Route 1 in Plainville. Across the nation, business at nonprofit and privately run thrift stores is booming as consumers increasingly search out savings and value.

"The stigma that was once attached to thrift stores has gone," Harder said. "You find a lot of people coming into thrift stores now to find solid value, or for the fun of shopping for vintage clothing and other items you wouldn't find at a typical retailer."

Locally, Goodwill's sales figures were up 7.6 percent last year, Harder said, at a time when many retailers were reeling from a souring economy. Goodwill currently operates nine stores in the Boston area.

Both among nonprofits and private enterpreneurs, resale is hot.

A survey conducted by the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops reported major increases in sales in the second quarter. Of the 263 stores that responded, 64.1 percent said sales increased over the corresponding period last year. Stores reported an average increase of 31 percent.

The survey also revealed that 77.9 percent of the stores saw an increase in new customers.

Greater acceptance by retail customers has also resulted in a wave of new shops opening across the country. According to the association, the number of new shops is increasing at a rate of about 7 percent a year. The association expects that will continue this year.

RICK FOSTER can be reached at 508-236-0360 or at rfoster@thesunchronicle.com.

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