Brea Goodwill one of last in countywide revamps

The Goodwill in Brea recently underwent a major revamp one of the last in a line of store remodels by the nonprofit around Orange County. Brea s 13,258-square foot shop has a new checkout counter, a fresh coat of paint, new concrete floors and graphics throughout the store showing the donation and shopping process. Originally opened in 2005, the Brea store was in need of a little love, said designer Eric Smissen, senior manager of media and branding for Goodwill of Orange County. Smissen said the layout of the Brea store w" and came off as being two separate spaces set up next to each other. Now, wider aisles, extra shelving space, new lights and other changes have helped give the space a more unified look. Since the initiative to upgrade Orange County s Goodwill locations started five years ago nearly all of the organization s 24 stores have received new looks, Smissen said. We committed to it. We wanted to make sure that were staying with the times and giving our customers the best shopping ex" he said. It s been fast " A new Goodwill boutique will soon open in San Juan Capistrano, Smissen said, and upgrades could be on the horizon for the La Habra store and the Euclid Street store in Anaheim. Plans for Orange s Swift A Swift building The Swift & Swift building at the southeast corner of the Old Towne Orange plaza will soon be host to restaurants and tenant offices, with construction expected to start in the fall. Last year, the two-story, 8,872-square-foot building was sold to Nimo Holdings for $4 45 million. The property, more than 100 years old, was originally a bank until it housed the Swift & Swift accounting firm in 1962. Two walk in vaults are still in the building. Nimo Holdings President Dean Kim said tenants have not been selected yet, but the plan is to house two to three restaurants on the first floor with 12 offices on the second floor. The group is securing permits and hopes to start construction in the fall, Kim said. Most of the work w ill be done on the interior, with the exterior receiving along with more windows and entrances, Kim said. Tenants could start their own construction on the interior in November, Kim said. It s nice to be a part" Kim said. We d like to see somebody do very well there for a l