Social Enterprise
We believe that God should be in all things, including business and that is why we created a social enterprise with Common Threads.
Why Social Enterprise?
Social enterprises are for-profit business ventures with the primary purpose to increase the common good of the city, community and the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Common Threads is BHITC’s first social enterprise, which offers employment, growth in the local economy and a positive impact on the city of Cleveland.
Clearly, the public agrees, voting Common Threads the ‘Best Thrift Store’ in Cleveland three times (2017, 2019 and 2020) since its opening in 2016!
Where is Common Threads located?
The Fairview Park location opened in June 2016 and the Brook Park location opened in December of 2020.
Common Threads Brook Park
5793 Smith Road
Brook Park, OH
Common Threads Fairview Park
22049 Lorain Road
Fairview Park, OH
Our Approach
Social enterprises provide a door to helping those reach higher wages positions. They can start at Common Threads and work their way up and then eventually on to other job opportunities. We chose a thrift retail business because it has a little bit of everything with permanent employment, training in customer service, inventory management and more.
We also do things differently in the workplace: leading with Christian values and providing our employees and the customers a better overall experience to the thrift marketplace.
With the income that comes in, it goes back to great employees and BHITC, which uses the income to restore and renew Cleveland.
Stories of Hope
— Cheryl
Meet Cheryl, who came to Common Threads five years ago because she wanted a better work environment and she felt like God was leading her in that direction. She was working at the Subway in Fairview Park when she saw that Common Threads was planning to open their first location nearby. She found out that it was run by a faith-based organization and felt like God was drawing nearer to her and wanting her to draw nearer to the Christian community.