Thrift store adds generosity and style to Martin City’s growing retail scene.
Martin City has a new neighbor, and it’s not just another little thrift boutique. Blessings Abound is huge, and has officially opened with a strong message: thrift can do more than offer a great deal. It can fuel real community change.
The day the store opened inside the State Line Shops, between Total Wine & More and Michaels, CEO Mike Thomas told us the move into the Martin City Community Improvement District had been a very long time coming. “We’ve been looking to expand for seven years. It took that long to find the right spot, and now we’re here.”
Mike Thomas is the CEO of Blessings Abound Thrift Store
A South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting officially opened Blessings Abound in Martin City. Watch the event on YouTube.
The nonprofit has been around for nearly two decades, with its primary location on Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park. After starting in a church basement and then moving to a small retail storefront, Blessings Abound has now grown into one of the biggest, most generous thrift operations in the region.
Thomas chose Martin City with purpose. “We wanted to expand into Missouri but we also looked for a place with a healthy mix of shoppers and donors. Martin City hit that balance.”
Crowds filled the store as soon as doors opened.
Getting here wasn’t easy. Many developers write lease restrictions that exclude thrift stores from shopping centers. “We ran into that all the time,” Thomas explained. “But once people actually see how we operate and the kind of impact we have, that perception starts to shift. Some of those same developers are now reaching back out. But we’re already here, and we’re glad to be.”
Big picture numbers tell the story of Blessings’ goals and impact. Thomas says in the past year, the Kansas City-area thrift market generated around $100 million in annual revenue overall. “Out of that $100 million, about $1.2 million was donated back to the community. But Blessings Abound, from just $5 million in sales last year, gave back nearly $2 million. That’s more than all the others combined.”
When you donate to Blessings Abound, you support nonprofits throughout Kansas City, including organizations addressing hunger, housing, and other basic needs. For Thomas, that’s the most important difference. “If you’re willing to drive the extra mile, your donations and your purchases can go a lot further.”
The Martin City store accepts direct donations on site, with a dedicated drop-off area being finalized out front for easy access. If you’ve got bigger furniture to donate, you can arrange for pick up service.
Blessings Abound also sets itself apart with a more curated shopping experience. “A lot of thrift stores focus almost entirely on clothing. We’ve worked hard to offer a broader mix including home décor, furniture, and sporting goods. It creates a better experience and gives donors more ways to contribute.”
Blessings Abound seems to be an obvious match for Martin City. Just up the street, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore offers a strong focus on home improvement materials with some furniture and home furnishings overlap. Together, Blessings and ReStore help create a retail destination that gives back to the community in practical ways.
Thomas and his team are already in love with Martin City and they’ve made quite an effort to embrace the neighborhood. Blessings has joined the South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and also showed up in full force for the Martin City St. Patrick’s Parade as the main sponsor. “We don’t just want to operate here,” says Thomas. “We want to be part of the community.”
Blessings Abound was the title sponsor of the 2025 Martin City St. Patrick’s Parade
Blessings Abound fits right in with Martin City’s reputation for doing business with heart. As Thomas puts it, “This neighborhood has a real spirit of connection. That’s the kind of place we want to be. We’re here to serve, and we’re here to belong.”
