Jericho Road Ministries opens Hudson thrift store, expands into Pasco County
More than 100 shoppers crowded Jericho Road Ministries’ new Hudson thrift store in its first hour, as the line wrapped around the building on State Road 52.
Shoppers started lining up an hour before the ribbon cutting, and by the time Jericho Road Ministries opened its new Hudson thrift store at 8924 State Rd. 52, the line had wrapped around the building. More than 100 customers came through in the first hour, a strong opening for a store the ministry says is its sixth thrift location and its first in Pasco County.
Store manager Joe Mathis said the turnout exceeded expectations and showed clear community interest. The opening day crowd also took advantage of free tote bags while supplies lasted, coffee and dessert vendors, and a 9 a.m. ribbon cutting that marked the latest step in Jericho Road’s retail expansion along one of Pasco County’s busiest and fastest-growing corridors.
The Hudson location is more than a storefront. Jericho Road says proceeds from purchases and donations help support people overcoming substance abuse, while the stores also provide jobs for residents in the ministry’s recovery program so they can gain work experience as they rebuild their lives. Mathis said roughly three-quarters of revenue after expenses goes back into housing, food and clothing for people in the program.
That model ties the thrift stores directly to Jericho Road’s REbuilt recovery program, which the ministry describes as a faith-based pathway to freedom, purpose and community. One ministry page describes REbuilt as a 5- to 25-month journey from crisis to independence, while a separate listing says the recovery program is free for qualifying participants and lasts about five months. Jericho Road says its men’s and women’s centers provide housing, daily meals and clean clothes free of charge, and its food assistance ministry offers free groceries every Tuesday.
The opening also reflects a broader employment pipeline inside the ministry. In a 2025 highlights post, Jericho Road said it added 16 new staff positions that year and filled 12 of them with graduates or current residents of the recovery program. It also said more than half of its staff are graduates or current residents, underscoring how the thrift stores function as both revenue generators and job-training sites.
Jericho Road’s history shows how the Hudson store fits into a long local buildout. The ministry says it began in December 1998, opened its first men’s shelter in October 2000, added Mary’s House for women in 2008, and expanded thrift operations from Ridge Manor in 2007 and Spring Hill in 2008 to County Line Road in 2019 and Jefferson Street in Brooksville in 2025. Pastor Bruce retired as executive director in August 2018 after more than 20 years of service, and Andrew Chamberlin later took over. Even with limited parking on opening day, the Hudson store drew a crowd that made clear the demand for low-cost goods, donation outlets and the recovery funding behind them.
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