This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Murray • Battered by rising costs and shrinking profits, The Salvation Army is closing its two thrift stores in Salt Lake County.
The West Valley City location at 3460 S. 5600 West shut its doors at the end of March. The last day of business for the Murray store, 5448 S. 900 East, will be June 29. In the end, 19 employees will lose their jobs.
The stores were receiving good donations of gently used and new merchandise and drawing shoppers, according to Salvation Army Major Richard Greene. However, rising rent coupled with other expenses — including utilities and insurance — ate up the profits, he said.
"We couldn't put the price tag on the items that were donated to pay the expenses," Greene said.
In addition, the stores until recently provided work therapy for people in drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. When those programs ended, so did grants that paid the evangelical Christian service organization for providing the jobs, Greene said.
Also hurting business is the increase in the number of dollar stores, which has lured away some of the bargain hunters, he said.
The thrift store's regular shoppers say they like the variety and the prices.
"I like that there's new stuff," said Lucy Castro, who was browsing at the store's shoe rack on Friday. She used to shop at the West Valley outlet and now drives to Murray from her Taylorsville home to take advantage of Salvation Army prices.
Karen Francis, of Cottonwood Heights, likes the furniture and home goods. She frequently gets compliments about the nice pieces she's found at the thrift store.
"I'm really sad to hear that they're closing," Francis said. "I really like to come here."
The Salvation Army has operated thrift stores in the Salt Lake area for about a century, Greene said. Merchandise that remains unsold will be sent to the organization's other stores, including one in Ogden, the only outlet remaining in Utah, he said. The Ogden store's operating costs are lower, since it owns its building, and it's doing well, according to Greene.
The nonprofit group has been facing financial challenges in the past few years. Last fall, officials said that after more than 20 years, they could no longer afford to serve dinner at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall to homeless and low-income people. (A coalition of churches, businesses and other groups took over the effort.)
As The Salvation Army outlets close, another option for bargain hunters is opening on April 26. Goodwill is launching its first Utah store at the former Ethan Allen store at 4545 S. 900 East in Millcreek.
Chelle Feist, community relations officer for Goodwill's Northern Rocky Mountain area, said donations have been "great" and she expects the store to be a success.
"A lot of people know Goodwill and know the quality," Feist said, "and I think name recognition will help a lot."
Twitter: @PamelaMansonSLC