FORT MILL TOWNSHIP Less than two years since the Humane Society of York County settled into a larger, custom-built home, the shop created to support the animal shelter has doubled its space.

The PAWSibilities thrift shop, which now looks more like a professional retailer than a not-for-profit secondhand store, is holding a grand reopening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 8-9, at 2144 Carolina Place Hwy. Visitors will be treated to refreshments and door prizes and, as always, will have the opportunity to shop for bargains on everything from books and clothes to furniture and fitness equipment.

Some of the pets cared for by the HSYC, which moved in 2011 from Carolina Place Highway to a facility off Regent Parkway, also will be at the celebration to meet prospective families.

The expanded PAWSibilities is more spacious with well-defined departments. Among the racks of clothing from casual to formal are pressed and folded health professional scrubs, which are one of the store’s best sellers at $2.50 a pair.

“People can’t get enough,” said HSYC volunteer Mary Beth Knapp.

In fact, it was the scrubs trade that led to the expansion.

“When the shop next door became vacant, I called the rental agent to see if we could rent the space to sell the scrubs,” said Elaine Siegel, a HSYC volunteer and, along with Sandy Lewallen, co-chaired the reopening celebration.

“They let us, and the scrubs sale was successful. We also knew if we expanded we could sell [more] furniture, which is a good money-maker for us,” Siegel said.

Before long, the wall separating the two store fronts came down.

“A lot of our customers don’t call it a ‘thrift shop’ – they call it a ‘gift shop,’” Siegel said. “Many of our customers come more than once a week, and for some who are on fixed incomes or just need a place to go and find friendly people to talk to, this is their safe haven.”

Want to go?

• The PAWSibilities thrift shop at 2144 Carolina Place Hwy., near Lowe’s Home Improvement in Fort Mill, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thuesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Donated items may be dropped off during open hours or 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays. For more information, call 803-802-0600 or visit pawsibilitiesthriftshop.com.

• The Humane Society of York County, at 8177 Regent Pkwy., Fort Mill, is open 1-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. For more information, call 803-802-0902 or visit humanesocietyof yorkcounty.org.