NORWICH – Having an entrance on Broad Street will greatly improve The Pink Door’s visibility and accessibility, customers and shop volunteers say.

The thrift clothing store, started in 1972, doubled its floor space earlier this month as part of an expansion that started in August.

Pink Door management and volunteers say they needed more room to accommodate a significant increase in donations and patrons after Norwich’s Salvation Army store closed in June.

“We wanted to do what we could to take over for the Salvation Army. As soon as they were gone, we saw an impact,” said Marilyn Quinney, president of the Chenango Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, which operates the Pink Door.

“This expansion gives us the opportunity to serve the community by making affordable clothing available and using the money we take in to enhance patient care at the hospital. We’re doing two things at once,” she said.