The Humane Society of Central Oregon will soon have a new thrift store headquarters, adding about 70 percent more space to its operation.

The organization purchased the former Benjamin’s Home Furnishings building on Southeast Third Street in Bend — across the street from Walmart — and it hopes to move in by July 1, said Sabrina Slusser, executive director.

Furniture Outlet currently leases the building, but that lease expires April 30, said Peter Lowes, principal broker with The Lowes Group and a co-owner of the building.

He said the furniture company will vacate the building then, giving the Humane Society about two months to set up before its anticipated opening.

Moving in to the 24,000-square-foot Benjamin’s building could make way for a new use for the Humane Society’s current thrift store headquarters on Northeast Greenwood Avenue. That could include potentially re-opening the building as a veterinary office for low-income pet owners, Slusser said, but those discussions are preliminary at this point.

“Our staff and board (of directors) are working together on a business plan to see if we can turn it into something that would provide services for low-income members of the community,” Slusser said.

The organization for several years had looked into buying a new thrift store building and consolidating its operations in one place.

The Humane Society of Central Oregon currently has about 14,000 square feet of combined space at its Greenwood thrift store, the Paws and Shop store in the Old Mill District and a small warehouse for storage near Southeast Wilson Avenue and Southeast Ninth Street.

All of those operations, including the warehouse, will be consolidated in the new building.

“This way, we’ll be able to generate more money for our animals,” Slusser said. “The efficiency of our operation is going to be improved, and the shopping experience for our customers will be improved.”

The Humane Society of Central Oregon relies on its thrift store sales to fund operations at its animal shelter, located on Southeast 27th Street.

Sales of clothing, home furnishings and other items supplement the money the organization takes in through donations and fundraising.

The organization paid $1.36 million for the Benjamin’s building, according to a Dec. 24 deed filed with the Deschutes County Clerk’s Office. The building previously sold in 2000 for $1.4 million, county property records show.