BOUNTIFUL—What started out as a dare from their 9-year-old son has now turned into a growing family business. Lost and Found Thrift in Bountiful has been in business for about 12 years. The Roddas started the business on the basis that they grew up on. 

After their first purchase of a chalk ware statue of Babe Ruth eating a hot dog, they were able to “start their thrift store for about $600 and some junk,” said Cheryl Rodda. She explained that both she and her husband grew up going to garage sales and thrifting. “We took what we grew up going to and combined it into a store,” said Rodda.

Rodda said that they aren’t the typical thrift store. Lost and Found uses its Facebook page to promote the business as well as all of the items they get for sale. While they encourage people to come into the store to look around, customers can also make purchases from the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/utahthrift. 

The business started on the premise of trying to have a small town feel. When the Roddas first opened their business, it was located in a small store of only about 700 square feet. “We kept getting questions about us buying stuff, and we just started getting bigger,” said Rodda. “We had a customer, who came in all the time, say that he had a spot for us to use, and that’s how we came here.” That space has now expanded to nearly 8,000 square feet.

Lost and Found Thrift is located at 75 East 500 South, Bountiful. 

“Facebook has been a great venue to get us out there,” said Rodda. “We don’t advertise; we use word-of-mouth. Customers can purchase using Facebook, and the store will hold for up to 48 hours. We can be flexible to meet different needs.”

The Roddas enjoy helping out in the community as well. As it is a family business, they have very few full-time employees. Instead, they help with one-on-one rehabilitation efforts. They have worked with group homes and halfway houses in the past. “They make it fun here,” said Marci Fifield, a volunteer in the store. “It’s never ending.”

From Christmas displays during the holiday season to Halloween classes about witches, Rodda enjoys her time at the store. “We try to have fun with it,” she said.

Lost and Found plays Santa for a local family during the holidays. The Roddas will pick a family that needs help that they know or that has been recommended by employees or customers. Once they have a family, they will post what the family needs on Facebook and take in donations for them. “It all basically started with someone caring,” said Rodda.

“They are the nicest people on earth,” said Felicia Delong, a longtime shopper. Delong has been shopping at Lost and Found since its first location.

Lost and Found also rents things to those in need. While they mainly deal with schools for theater props, wedding needs and even cups for tea parties, the Roddas will work with everyone. In the past, they have rented props for school carnivals and even to BYU Broadcasting for commercials.

“People also know to ask for the haunted items,” said Rodda. The store has had professional paranormal investigators come in to confirm which items are haunted. Rodda explained that there have been times she has heard her name being called, things falling off of shelves, chandeliers spinning and even sounds with nothing present to explain them.

Rodda explained that Lost and Found has something for everyone. “This is a place where everyone can come, especially guys,” said Rodda. “Because most of these places are geared toward women, we wanted to make sure that everyone felt welcome. We figured it would be really cool to have a place where guys can go too.” 

They have a man cave as well as home goods and knick-knacks of every kind. Men can shop for sports cards while women look at dolls and kitchen goods. Even the kids can peruse movies, games and old toys.