Del Mar Village Small Businesses Spotlight: St. Peter's Thrift Shop

Welcome to our business spotlight blog series, in which we interview the folks behind your favorite Del Mar Village businesses. We hope you learn something new and stop in soon!

Get to know St. Peter’s Thrift Shop: Valerie Rieger, Manager

Tell us your backstory: What was your path to owning a business in Del Mar Village? Did you grow up here? Why did you choose Del Mar Village to set up shop?

I have been a parishioner at St. Peter's Episcopal Church for 23 years. I live in El Cajon and accepted the job as thrift shop manager for the opportunity to use my business education and retail experience to help those less fortunate. Since taking over the shop in 2020, we have awarded additional grants to local nonprofits in San Diego that include Beacons North County, NAMI and Generate Hope. In addition to the grants awarded, we work hard at creating awareness and educating people about these organizations that help people who are neurodiverse, struggle with mental illness and are survivors of sex trafficking.

Del Mar is a community who embraces our mission by their generosity of donating items, volunteering and shopping at our store. Not only do we have volunteers who are parishioners at St. Peter's, more than half of them come from the community and they are of diverse faiths. Some of our volunteers are students who are with us to fulfill community service hours.

Tell us about your business. What should people know about it? What makes it unique?

Our mission at St. Peter's Thrift Shop is to be a beacon of hope for those we serve within our community, and to provide opportunities for service, fellowship and faith. 100% of our net profits support St. Peter's Episcopal Church and the Diocese of San Diego. St. Peter's dedicates 4% of its total revenue to provide grants to 14 different nonprofit organizations.

What is one product or service you are most known for or is particularly special to you?

We receive donations six days a week. On any given day there are an array of thrift shop treasures.

Tell us one fun fact about your business most people don't know.

The thrift shop once occupied the space that was most recently occupied by Bully's.

What do you love about Del Mar Village?

The beautiful ocean views, the many options of restaurants and unique businesses, and most of all the accessibility that attracts so many friendly people walking our streets.

How would you spend the perfect day in Del Mar? Where would you go? What would you eat or do?

I would have a picnic with my husband in Seagrove Park and reminisce about our wedding day that took place there, and spend the night at L'Auberge where we spent our wedding night.

Thank you, Valerie!

St. Peter’s Thrift Shop

334 14th St

Del Mar, CA 92014

858-481-1945

https://www.stpetersdelmar.net/st-peters-thrift-shop