An Asbury Park thrift shop operated by the Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Monmouth County is undergoing a series of renovations that will permit an increase in merchandise and a more extensive display of the newly acquired items.

The changes are part of new management at The Twice is Nice Used Furniture Thrift Shop, according to Paul Freedman, JF&CS executive director.

Manager Morris Zagha succeeded Joyce Fisch of Bradley Beach, who managed the store since 1985 and now works at the facility on a part-time basis, Freedman said.

Zagha, an Ocean resident, has been in the retail business for 45 years. Freedman said his experience will help ensure that the JF&CS thrift shop continues to support the agency's human services.

"The thrift shop has been an extremely important resource for JF&CS since the store opened in 1985," said Freedman. "But it's time to turn the store into a more competitive operation. Other similar-type stores have opened in Asbury Park, and to meet the challenge, we need to enlarge our customer base and expand the selection of merchandise that we can offer."

But an increase in competition isn't the only challenge that the shop is facing: A weak housing market equates to a smaller turnover of used furniture, which always has been the mainstay of the store's inventory, he said.

Revenue from the thrift shop has been in a slow decline in recent years. The store took in approximately $200,000 for several consecutive years, according to Freedman. In 2006, however, the yearly income from the thrift store fell to $135,000, he said.

"When I was appointed as executive director of the JF&CS, I was asked to make the thrift shop become more profitable; it was a very specific concern of the agency's board of directors," said Freedman.

Enter Zagha, who had owned and operated a retail clothing business in West New York, NJ, until his recent retirement. After he became the JF&CS thrift store manager this summer, Zagha began to redistribute existing merchandise and add new items within the 6,000-square-foot space.

Zagha has added clothing to the inventory, and the store now features racks of brand-new articles of clothing for infants through adults.

"The styles and sizes of the clothing, all of which is new, appeals to a wide variety of people," he said. "As a result, customers who come to check out the furniture may end up shopping for clothing as well."

"Either way, the number of customers and the scope of their purchases register growth and expansion," said Zagha. "That's the name of the game."

The store's interior also received an overhaul. Furniture was rearranged so customers now can see the entire length of the store as soon as they enter. Furniture and home decor items also are newly displayed in settings that promote style and comfort, he added.

There are other changes still underway; for example, the thrift shop's large inventory of mirrors is being displayed throughout the store. In addition to being more visible to customers, the mirrors convey a sense of light and space, Zagha said.

The changes already have increased the shop's recognition factor; many home decorators and antique dealers whose businesses are in Asbury Park have begun to purchase items on a daily basis from the JF&CS thrift store.

Local theater groups have borrowed furniture for stage sets, and members of the Ocean Township High School prom committee borrowed some items to use as decorative props, according to Freedman.

Although Zagha is well aware of the continuing fluctuations of the retail market, he has confidence in the staying power of the JF&CS thrift shop.

"The bottom line is that by increasing sales revenue, the agency will be able to continue to provide valuable services for the Jewish community in Monmouth County," said Zagha. "We're proud to be a part of that effort and we are going to be an even more successful part of the process."