By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Joseph’s Coat has found a new home as of February: 1140 Monticello Highway.
This means that the Madison City Council will not have to vote on a proposed zoning text amendment to allow secondhand or thrift apparel stores in the professional/limited commercial zoning district (P2).
Council discussed this amendment during their last meeting but postponed a vote until Berry Rainwater, President of Joseph’s Coat, and his volunteers could look over a building offered by Mike Conrads as an alternative location. A compromise was reached so no vote will be necessary.
Rainwater said that he is glad the building will work out for him and the ladies who volunteer there.
“I want these ladies to be happy,” he said. “If we did not have good volunteers it wouldn’t work for us because we wouldn’t have a store without volunteers.”
The building will need to have partitions and walls moved but once those are changed, Rainwater said it will work.
Conrads said it will be a joint project to renovate the building until it meets their needs.
He described the new location for Joseph’s Coat as a modular building in excess of 3,000 square feet.
The new location for Joseph’s Coat is adjacent to The Caring Place, ACTION, Inc., and Harvest of the Heart.
“That makes wonderful sense to locate it with them,” he said. “This location will better serve the clients of Joseph’s Coat as it will be a one-stop shop.”
Joseph’s Coat will offer a $5 per bag sale Dec. 19 through Jan. 12 at its Athens Highway location. It will remain at that location until the latter part of January.
When asked about his feelings regarding the compromise, Rainwater replied, “We have to be good neighbors and make everybody happy.”
When asked the same question, Conrads replied, “It should be nice for everybody.”

Printed in the December 20, 2012 edition