By Kelly Youngblood
A year after moving to the University YMCA, the Champaign Girl Scout office and shop has moved again — to a location many hope will be more convenient for staff, volunteers, and families.
The Champaign center of the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois opened on July 31 at 2001 Round Barn Road, Suite C.
Pam Kovacevich, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, says the new location will offer better parking and accessibility.
“We loved the energy of the campus, the girls liked being affiliated with the university location, but there were difficulties that we had,” Kovacevich said.
Kovacevich said volunteers had expressed it wasn’t easy for customers to find suitable parking or make a quick trip in and out of the store. A focus group she hosted also shared the same concerns.
“It was difficult for them to do their transactional business with us and find parking so we looked for a location more suitable for that and found the location at the Round Barn address,” Kovacevich said.
The one-year lease at the University YMCA location expired at the end of July. They found the new location at Round Barn in April and announced they would be moving.
Kovacevich said they signed a two-year lease agreement with an option to renew, but she expects they will stay at the Round Barn location for the long-term.
“What works well in that location for us it that there’s ample parking and it’s very close to jumping off the interstate so anyone coming form Danville or Mahomet, it would be very convenient for them right there,” she said. “I think this location will be a good one.”
Along with the new location comes expanded hours. Retail shop hours are now Monday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 9:30 a.m. to noon; and the first Saturday of the month 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or the second Saturday if it’s a holiday weekend.)
Office hours are Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.
Champaign is one of six centers that serve the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, which covers 38 counties. For more information about the local Girl Scout organization, go to its website or Facebook page.