Melissa Glascock has long been a supporter of the downtown retail experience. With the end of the pandemic in sight, Glascock sees this as the perfect time to revitalize shopping in Charles Town though a reimagining of Needful Things. Glascock’s parents moved Needful Things into the former Newberry’s department store in 1991 and her vision for the renovated space will invite 19 vendors to set up individual boutiques within a renamed Needful Things Emporium. She sees the opportunity to host a variety of eclectic shops under her roof as a way to build a shopping experience that will entice customers to choose Charles Town as an intentional destination.
Glascock watched her parents, Alice and Dwayne Masemer, expand the business they started in 1981 for many years. She took over the business herself starting in 2007. What began as a thrift shop evolved into a business of buying storage unit foreclosures. “You never know what you might find,” said Glascock, “sometimes it’s just trash, but sometimes it’s rare items. One of the lots we purchased years ago included a key to the City of Charles Town given by the Mayor to the King of Togo. He wasn’t really a King, but he fooled a lot of people at the time. We still have the key as a reminder.”
“We will keep the resale business open in the Needful Things 2 storefront which is open now,’’ continued Glascock. “We expect to have a grand reopening of the Emporium shops in April. The lunch counter will continue to be a part of the new store too, but it will be run by Cocina Plantosaurus and they will likely be open in May or June.”
Needful Things 2 and Needful Things Emporium are at 214 and 218 W Washington St, Charles Town WV. Reach the store by phone at 304-725-6315 or visit them on Facebook for hours and updates.
By Staff Contributor