Imani’s Happy Place: Shop, donate, be happy

When you start your own business the desire for it to succeed is great.

Most business owners step out on nothing more than faith.

Tori James did just that last year when she opened Imani’s Happy Place Feb. 1, in downtown Atlanta.

James saw more than a business opportunity, she envisioned a place where people could come to her shop for help in times of crisis or emergency situations.

“Helping people really begin to grow on me when I worked for a non-profit job here in town,” James said. “It was already in me to want to help others and I felt like I had enough support from the town to start my own business.”

Coming up with a name for the shop was easy. James named the business after her dog Imani.

Imani, pronounced (ee-MAH-nee), means “to believe, with all our heart, in our Creator, our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.”

“Imani in Swahili means Faith,” James remarked. “That’s what I stepped out on when I decided to go this route.”

In December of 2020, James sought out more space for her already cramped store on Hiram Street and relocated to 106 N. East Street.

“Moving to our current location was better in many ways because not only do we have more room for storage but I can display more items for people to see,” James said. “Also, COVID-19 limited how many people could enter my old shop at one time. The great thing about the extra storage space is that I’m able to store things that might not sell but if it’s needed I have it,” James added. “Like right now I have medical equipment that may not normally sell but if someone needs it I have it.”

Of course an operation this size would need more than one person running it.

“I would like to thank my special family and volunteers for Imani’s Happy Place which include, Welton Richardson (significant other), Walta (mother) and Dan Duren, Tony James (father), Jessica James (sister), Imani (dog), Edith Westbrook (grandmother) Judy and James Ragsdale, Candace Cox, Angela Gibson, Nancy Jones, Becca Allday and one to remain anonymous,” James added.

Imani’s Happy Place is not a 501c3 and not a non-profit but the clothes are priced very low.

Of course if someone is in dire need James gives them what they need no charge. “If someone needs a pair of shoes I’ll give them a pair,” James replied. “I want to help those in need in any way I can.”

Another way James decided she could help the community is to partner with Rebecca’s Food Pantry.

“Imani’s Happy Place is always a food drop-off and money donation drop-off for Rebecca’s Pantry,” James said. “Donations of anything reusable.”

“Imani’s Happy Place Resale partnered with us when she opened the business,” Judy Ragsdale said. “When we see a client that has recently been released from jail, has suffered loss because of a house fire, are homeless and need help or simply if they need clothes for an interview we give them a voucher and they drop by the resale shop and Tori will help them with whatever they have need of. It’s a great resource for us because we can point our clients towards a place that will help them beyond what the Food Pantry can do for them.”

Recently Imani’s Happy Place and Rebecca’s Food Pantry hosted a food drive in memory of Pantry Director Rick Grandmaison who passed away Mar. 30, after a short battle with cancer. Grandmaison was the Director of Rebecca’s Pantry, who truly had a heart for the ministry of the pantry and had compassion for those struggling as he had done.

“Rebecca’s Pantry would like to say thank you and express our appreciation for everyone that participated in the food drive at Imani’s Happy Place Resale. During COVID-19 God has remained faithful. We’ve seen lots of extra families but we stayed strong,” Ragsdale said. “Donations have continued to come in. We suffered a great loss losing our beloved Director Rick Grandmaison but God is going to carry us through this time.”

Rebecca’s Pantry is open every Thursday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at West Side Baptist Church located at 712 W. Main Street in Atlanta.

For Imani’s Happy Place, donations are accepted during business hours only. The shop’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Imani’s is closed Sundays and Mondays. Imani’s Happy Place accepts anything reusable and still of use from household items to clothing.

The shop relies on donated items to resell from the community and its goal is to offer reasonably priced necessities to the community. If necessary a volunteer from the shop can pick up donations.

If you need to reach James concerning donations or other needs contact her at 430-342-4247 or check out her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/imanishappyplace/. For any questions concerning drop-offs at the Pantry

For any questions concerning drop-offs at the Pantry call West Side Baptist Church at 903-796-3279.

Faith is important to hang on to at all times and James would like everyone to know that at Imani’s Happy Place you can shop, donate and be happy.