Even Retail Thrift Stores Are Closing In Topsy-Turvy Economy

It’s not just top and mid-line retail stores suffering sales declines–Neiman Marcus, Tiffany, Macy’s, Herberger’s, and Sears. It’s also hit second hand stores. Savers, a for-profit thrift store chain based in Bellevue, Washington, is closing two of its 11 Twin Cities locations, a Savers in Bloomington and a Unique Thrift in Columbia Heights, as well as a number of other locations nationwide. According to a letter from the company to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the company will close a Savers store in Bloomington at 8049 Morgan Circle S. no later than July 15 and a Unique Thrift store in Columbia Heights at 2201 37th Av. NE no later than Oct. 31. An employee expects the Bloomington store to close by the end of June. About 145 workers at both stores will be impacted. No closing sales have yet begun. Both stores still appear to be fully stocked.  Colette McMorrow of Bloomington shopped for grandkids’ clothes on Thursday at the Bloomington Savers. “I’m buying sizes for next year knowing the store will be closing soon, ” she said. “You can’t beat the prices, especially on Tuesdays when everything is an additional 40% off for seniors.” Read more at Minneapolis Star Tribune.