About

Staff

Morgan Stemberger, Manager
Tammi Johnson, staff

Board of Directors

Emily Barker, President
Tony Lawrence, Vice President
Anne Lippin, Secretary
Paula Gilbertson, Treasurer
Deb Green
Jaime Hanneken
Audrey Kennedy
Christy Key
Katrina Kubeczko
Ellen Sundell

Mission Statement

• To do justice by offering quality goods at reasonable prices,
• To live kindly by creating a welcoming environment and a network of support,
• To humbly express our values by volunteering,
• To donate basic items to service agencies,
• To donate our proceeds to be used in the community and
• To provide a place for the recirculation and recycling of material goods to maintain a stable and sustainable environment.

 

History

Steeple People Surplus Store was founded in 1979 by members of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church (HAUMC) who wanted to provide a community service by selling quality donated goods at affordable prices. The store operated for 38 years as Steeple People Thrift Store at the corner of Franklin and Lyndale, growing from a small part-time operation to a six-day-a-week resource. In March 2017 the building was sold and the store closed.

Solid support to resurrect Steeple People was provided by HAUMC and the store’s devoted board, volunteers, and customers. In October 2018, the store reopened as Old School by Steeple People in the Stevens Square neighborhood on Nicollet Avenue, just north of Franklin Avenue. City Pages named Old School “Best Thrift Store” in its first year of operation at the new location.

In July 2025, after nearly seven years on Nicollet, the store relocated to our current location at 2728 Lyndale Avenue South. 

Along with three paid staff (a full-time store manager, full-time store supervisor, and a part-time cashier), Old School by Steeple People relies on a devoted group of volunteers to provide support for the store’s operation. Store customers might come initially for the great selection and reasonable prices, but they stay for the Old School community. Many loyal customers turn into volunteers and board members!

Profits from Old School support worthy local charitable causes. Since 1979, profits of over 1.5 million dollars have been given to programs supporting the needs of children, people experiencing homelessness, and other deserving populations. Additionally, Old School acts as a channel of distribution by sharing a variety of the donations we receive with other organizations. Donations include clothing to the Groveland Food Shelf, household goods to the Courage Center and Bridging, and book donations to the Women’s Prison Book Project.