The Salvation Army Thrift Store has too many clothes. In fact, they need more space to fit them all. But the clothes are going to have to wait.

A deal among the Salvation Army, Video Gallery and Gateway Commercial Realty would provide for more room for the overstock of clothing. Through the deal, the thrift store would move into the building currently owned by Video Update. Video Gallery, which bought Video Update, would move their store to into a building being constructed on the former site of the Golden Corral Restaurant on East Main Street.

But the process will take more time and the clothes will remain in storage.

One of the first steps is to close the deal. Tom Leland, a real-estate development broker for Gateway Commercial Realty, is working on finalizing the title transfers. &uot;I have to make sure that the titles are clear before ownership of the buildings can be transferred,&uot; he said. &uot;It should be finished by the middle or end of October.&uot;

Next, the building has to be renovated.

Video Update’s Senior Customer Service Associate Mark Fritsch said that their move &uot;depends upon the progress of the building&uot; that they are moving into. He said no preparations for the move are currently being made.

Thrift Store Manager Terry Solland is in a similar situation. &uot;We know we’re moving,&uot; he said. &uot;We just don’t know when.&uot;

Salvation Army Captain Bob Miles said the organization has two levels of hierarchy. The Albert Lea Salvation Army belongs to the Northern Division of the Central Territory, headquartered in Roseville. The corporate headquarters are in Chicago. &uot;The deal has to go from our division headquarters to Chicago and back,&uot; Miles said.

Once Video Update moves, the Salvation Army will begin renovating the building, which Miles said is about two times the size of the current building. Initial renovations will include interior painting and the construction of a wall that would separate the retail area from the donation-receiving area. The renovations will be paid for from capital donations to the Salvation Army headquarters. &uot;These are donations specifically for buildings and repairs,&uot; Miles said.

But November and December are busy months of the year for the Salvation Army, and Miles suspects that the new thrift store will not open until the new year.

&uot;We might open the building up as a donation center until then,&uot; he said. But for now, &uot;We are waiting and anticipating.&uot;

None of the employees’ positions would be affected by the moves.