Salvation Army Store Closings

[VintageTreasures]

FYI: I heard that Salvation Army is going to close some of their stores. I heard this from 2 different people who work at Salvation Army. I also volunteer at non-SA thrift store and the store that I volunteer with has the Salvation Army pick up all our unwanted donations, which are then sold at SA. Today was our last pick-up so it looks like this really is for real. I was told that SA is closing all their stores around here (towns around the Denver, CO area) except for 2 in Denver proper, because they are losing money. So just a heads up. I don’t know if this is nationwide or just Colorado, but there may be some SA closing sales in the future. And if you shop there you may want to scope out some other sources just in case.

[T-Satt]

VintageTreasures: REALLY???

Which store did you hear this from? We like to hit a couple regularly, usually weekly when they would send out a text with a 50% off day during the week. We usually go to the one in Thornton, then sometimes Boulder and Parker. We did the clearance warehouse once but it was a bust.

[s]

Definitely not a nation wide thing, they’ve opened two new stores in metro Detroit in last few months. They did close two area stores down, but it was due to the condition of the facilities and the cost of fixing them.

[VintageTreasures]

T-Satt, I’m sorry for my delay in responding, I just saw your question. I heard this at the Boulder SA store. But it was more of an eavesdropping situation rather than a direct conversation. I overheard an employee talking to a customer about the store closings.

I also heard this (second hand) from the Salvation Army employees who (used to) pick up the overflow from the thrift store where I volunteer. I will ask our manager exactly what they told her and report back. It might have been a telephone game style misunderstanding on my part. I do believe it is true that some SA stores around here will be closing but I may have the quantity that will remain open (2 in Denver) wrong. I’ll let you know if I find out anything more.

[T-Satt]

Thanks. I do know that the number of discount days during the week has dropped off. We used to get a text once per week that they were doing a discount on one weekday. We haven’t received any of those in weeks.

Some of their pricing has gone up as well. The last couple of times I have been there, the pricing has been too high.

[Retro Treasures WV]

Goodwill has been closing stores in my area, and opening more elsewhere. I’ve asked them about it and they’re pretty transparent. They close the underperforming stores and open stores in better locations. Sadly the underperforming stores are ususally in remote small areas that could use the resource the most.

Just goes to show that these chains are BUSINESSES first, and community non-profits second. Their mission statement is not to provide cheap goods to poor people. It is to make as much money as possible to fund whatever outreach programs they choose to perform.

[KatieScott]

The Goodwill near my office just closed, they built a brand new building about 15 blocks away.

It may be just me, but the new building seems to have crappier stuff and higher prices.

***

P.A. I’m really not trying to be negative.

[Habnab]

Our local Salvation Army closed about a year ago after decades in business. I don’t know, though, if the decisions are made locally or at the central office.

[VintageTreasures]

Okay, I got the skinny from our manager. She said that she was told by SA that all the stores in Colorado except 2 in Denver will be closing. She didn’t know if the closings are happening anywhere other than in Colorado but she did say that she was in touch with a counterpart in Oregon and some SA stores there have already closed. I also saw on a you tube channel recently that a SA in Iowa just closed. So it sounds like they ARE closing the stores that aren’t making $, perhaps nationwide.

[T-Satt]

Interesting. I’ll have to keep my eye out.

The only one I know of in Denver is the warehouse, and we didn’t do well there. The others are Thornton (close to us), Boulder, and Parker.

Thanks for the heads up!

[T-Satt]

Went to the Salvation Army in Thornton on Saturday. 75% off sale, only a few good items.

They said that the one in Parker and Colorado Springs were staying open. I guess they weren’t pulling the revenue they needed and wanted to focus on Rehab programs.

They did say that they may open new ones in about a year.

[Steven S]

Our SA in Sioux Falls (pop 200,000+) closed in 2014. We have 3 Goodwill industries stores, a Savers and St. Vincent’s plus a couple small independent thrift stores.
I’m not sure why the SA closed, they always had a lot of nice inventory. The building is now being used by the SA for social services.

[T-Satt]

We were hit or miss at SA. When we had gone a few years ago, too overpriced. Then this one was doing well, and having 50% off days during the week (loved that). Then the discount days disappeared, the prices went up…and they closed.

[Inglewood]

SA around here is taking a hit for their religious/political viewpoints. Lots of press the last few holidays about various businesses not wanting them on their premises with the kettle program because of their viewpoints.

In my area, only one of the 6 SA stores have closed – the one that did was in a very bad location. SA has a lot of good deals, but the political/religious extremes they are promoting in my area disappoint me and they probably are slowly killing themselves with the extremist views and protests.

Just watched a little documentary on the start of the SA – kind of interesting how they started out as part of the anti-drinking Temperance movement and would actually get in brawls in England at bars and breweries to try to stop the sins of drinking. They called themselves an army as they felt they had to go into battle to fight sins and evil as they saw it.

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