The Goodwill at 1704 Second Avenue (between 88th and 89th streets) is “permanently closing” on August 16, according to new signage at the location. Employees confirmed the approaching closure with East Side Feed.
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The store originally announced it would be closing in January 2023 when their long-term lease came to an end.
Then, the following month, they reversed course and continued to operate on a month-to-month basis.
Employees tell East Side Feed that the landlord no longer wants to keep them as a tenant.
The store originally opened in 1998, continuously serving the neighborhood for 26 years.
When asked about the closure, two employees said they were “disappointed” and “discouraged.” Those working at the Second Avenue store won’t be offered automatic transfers to other locations; instead, they’ll need to apply for other jobs within the company, which won’t be guaranteed.
Both employees said they would be “fine” and that they feel for the customers, saying they’ve heard many express their dismay over the impending loss. They shared one story about a man in his thirties who came in last week and mentioned that he had been shopping there since he was a teenager. He said he couldn’t imagine not being able to come in.
The sign on the front directs customers to shop and donate at alternate locations, including the new, smaller store at 1496 First Avenue (between 78th and 79th streets) and the store at 1114 First Avenue (at 61st Street). Upper East Siders can also shop and donate at Upper East Side Thrift Shop, which has locations at 1670 First Avenue (at 87th Street) and 1720 Second Avenue, just a block north of the Goodwill. Housing Works also has a location on Second Ave at 90th Street.
Was only a matter of time until the 2nd Ave Subway-inspired rents got to them. (Housing Works likely is able to cover a bigger nut two blocks north.) Neighborhoods change…
Why are all the uptown Goodwill stores closing? A big one around 122nd & 3rd Ave closed within the past 2 yrs. The UES and 5th Ave are the LAST places I’d look for a goodwill store. WTF?
Good Will stores are closing because of their bad management. Yes, high rents…but all items received for free, low paid store staff, renting contracts concuded without future vision. However corporate management enjoying high salaries and never really cares about the struggling stores. I wonder if a Russian barber (still works as barber) could recently open quite modern two relatively large stores in the same area (E 90 and 2nd ave, and E 87 and 1st ave) and is profitable, why across the country a thrift store chain with decades of existence is failing and closing ubruptly so many stores.
There is no secret any more that better quality donated items will never reach regular stores…guess why not? it would be interesting to see where and who get them…for free!
Therefore to save the sinking ship…a ridiculous pricing…sweat worn not even clean T shirts for $8 and more, deeply worn no natural fabric tops over $11 and more, plastic used cups for $2.99!! Unlike barber’s shops ( 10 -7 pm each day) Good will stores are open 11-6 pm, but often without any prior notice closed before 4!
40% off color tags items never displayed as the staff is directed to remove them from the hangers!
Sad…as people who used to bring tons of donations to this store, will not care any more…all this will finish in garbage cans (barber’s stores do not use legal tax deduction confirmations).
Business in NY is tough…those who do not compete honestly and do not innovate,
sooner or later are out! Sorry for the most devoted store staff.
Good Will stores are closing because of their bad management. Yes, high rents…but all items received for free, full time exemption, low paid store staff, renting contracts concluded without future vision. However corporate management enjoying high salaries and never really cares about the struggling stores. I wonder if a Russian barber (still works as barber) could recently open quite modern two relatively large stores in the same area (E 90 and 2nd ave, and E 87 and 1st ave) and is profitable, why across the country a thrift store chain with decades of existence is failing and closing ubruptly so many stores.
There is no secret any more that better quality donated items will never reach regular stores…guess why not? it would be interesting to see where and who get them…for free!
Therefore to save the sinking ship…a ridiculous pricing…sweat worn not even clean T shirts for $8 and more, deeply worn no natural fabric tops over $11 and more, plastic used cups for $2.99!! Unlike barber’s shops ( 10 -7 pm each day) Good will stores are open 11-6 pm, but often without any prior notice closed before 4!
40% off color tags items never displayed as the staff is directed to remove them from the hangers!
Sad…as people who used to bring tons of donations to this store, will not care any more…all this will finish in garbage cans (barber’s stores do not use legal tax deduction confirmations).
Business in NY is tough…those who do not compete honestly and do not innovate,
sooner or later are out! Sorry for the most devoted store staff.
Good stores are closing because of their bad management. Yes, high rents…but all items received for free, low paid store staff but corporate management enjoying high salaries. I wonder if a Russian barber (still works as barber) could recently open quite modern two relatively large stores in the same area (E 90 and 2nd ave, and E 87 and 1st ave) and he is highly profitable, so where the problem is?
There is no secret any more that better quality donated items will never reach regular stores…guess why not? it would be interesting to see where and who get them…for free!
Therefore to save the sinking ship…a ridiculous pricing…sweat worn T shirt for $8 and more, deeply worn no natural fabrics over $11 and more, etc/
Business in NY is tough…those who do not compete honestly and do not innovate,
sooner or later are out! Sorry for the most devoted staff. So simple as it is.
out of fashion
another very. sad sign of the times-one of the few places easy to donate goods that folks could afford to buy.