Stakeholder's Briefing — Updated October 29, 2026

A permanent home. A stronger future.

Community Storehouse faces another move as the City of Martinsville plans purchasing our building for municipal use for the Police Department. While plans and timelines remain uncertain, we are actively exploring alternative properties to ensure our services continue uninterrupted.

29 E. Main St., Uptown

Former Carter's Men's Clothing Store

Current Prospective Property

Size12,000 sq ft / 3 floors

Listing Price$99,900 (foreclosure)

Assessed Value$210,000

Our Opening Offer$60,000

Counter-Offer$90,000

Current StatusIn Negotiations

The Vision

Each pair shows the building as it stands today alongside what it could become — a permanent, thriving home for Community Storehouse.

Building Exterior

29 E. Main St. exterior — before and after showing the Carter's building and the Storehouse on Main vision

The former Carter's Men's Clothing storefront at 29 E. Main St. (left) and the vision for Storehouse on Main (right) — a prominent, welcoming presence in Uptown Martinsville.

Main Floor Interior

The main floor currently holds stored fixtures and debris (left). The vision: a bright, organized client-choice grocery and marketplace (right).

Clothing Department

Clothing area — bare walls and empty racks before, styled clothing displays after

Empty clothing racks and bare walls (left) transformed into a beautifully merchandised clothing department (right).

Office & Checkout Area

Office and checkout area — cluttered before, clean and functional after

A cluttered back office (left) becomes a clean, functional checkout and administrative workspace (right).

Children's Section

An empty room with bare walls (left) reimagined as a fully stocked, welcoming children's clothing section (right).

Ladies Section

Bare hanging rods (left) become a fully organized ladies clothing department with color-sorted merchandise (right).

Lighting & Main Floor

Main floor lighting — empty space before, styled retail floor with pendant lights after

The existing pendant lighting infrastructure (left) sets the stage for a warm, inviting retail floor (right).

Seasonal & Holiday Section

Seasonal section — bare orange walls before, holiday merchandise display after

An empty room with unfinished walls (left) transformed into a festive seasonal and holiday merchandise display (right).

Men's Section

A cluttered, overgrown space (left) reimagined as a polished men's clothing and accessories department (right).

Storefront Window Display

Storefront window — empty display case before, styled seasonal window display after

An empty, wired display window (left) becomes a vibrant, eye-catching storefront display visible to every passerby on Main Street (right).

Staff Break Room

A cluttered, makeshift kitchenette (left) transformed into a warm, functional staff break room with proper cabinetry and seating (right).

Private Office

Water-damaged walls and stored clutter (left) give way to a polished, light-filled private office space (right).

Rear Entrance & Loading Door

Rear entrance — boarded door and exposed wiring before, clean secure entrance after

A boarded-up door with exposed wiring and rust (left) replaced by a secure, well-lit rear entrance suitable for donations and deliveries (right).

Rear Alley & Access Lane

Rear alley — overgrown and deteriorated before, cleared and accessible after

The rear alley overgrown with weeds and in disrepair (left) cleared and maintained for safe vehicle and donation access (right).

The Road So Far: Challenges in the Search

Unfortunately, the search has revealed significant challenges:

Many available properties are in considerably worse condition than our current facility.

Several buildings offering comparable, smaller, or larger square footage have asking prices upward of $300,000, often before substantial renovations.

Other properties have presented serious concerns involving water damage, accessibility, structural conditions, parking, or inadequate layouts.

Continued leasing would leave Community Storehouse vulnerable to future increases, property sales, and the uncertainty of occupying a facility we do not own.

The Full Picture

Detailed analysis of the financial, strategic, and organizational considerations behind this potential acquisition.

Help Us Secure a Permanent Home

If you are interested in learning more about leadership giving opportunities or the acquisition initiative, we welcome your questions and conversation.