LITTLE ROCK — Saturday will mark the end of an era for the Salvation Army Thrift Store in southwest Little Rock.
After more than four decades, the charity has decided to shutter the store where one can purchase gently-used donated items ranging from sofas and suits to wedding dresses and cookware with the proceeds going into the charity’s coffers and used to serve the needy.
A spokesman for the Salvation Army said the organization hopes that the closure will be temporary as the charity is actively searching for a new location where there is more traffic.
“Primarily, we need a place that’s more of a high traffic area where people go to shop,” Kathy Barbeire said. “The store hasn’t been profitable because of the decline in the number of shoppers in the area.”
The soon-to-be-closed store at 6501 Geyer Springs Road is the only one in the central Arkansas region that serves Pulaski, Saline, White and Lonoke counties, Barbeire said. However, she said there are Salvation Army stores in Conway in Faulkner County and Hot Springs in Garland County.
In addition to being in an area that’s “become more industrial over the years,” Maj.James Taylor, central Arkansas area commander for the Salvation Army, said the building is in disrepair. However, fixing it up wouldn’t keep the store open, he said.
“We are very disappointed to close the store,” Taylor said. “This store provides a valuable service to those in need in our community and the bottom line is that those needs aren’t going to go away.”
He said the Salvation Army has looked at several locations, including places in North Little Rock and west Little Rock. The empty Saver’s building on Cantrell Road in the Riverdale shopping center proved too small, he said.
“We need to have warehouse and retail space in the same building, so we’ll probably need between 27,000 to 30,000 square feet at the minimum,” he said. “We’ve looked all over the place and tried to negotiate but we’re a nonprofit. We can’t pay the square footage price they want for rent.”
Taylor said the charity will continue to offer free clothing to those in need.
“Goodwill Industries of Arkansas has agreed to partner with the Salvation Army during this transition, as we search for a new location so we can still provide clients with clothing,” he said. “Through this partnership, people in need will continue to work through the SalvationArmy and can be referred to Goodwill stores for assistance with clothing needs.”
Barbeire said people wishing to donate items should call (501) 374-9296.
She said the Salvation Army might be able to accept furniture items “that we might need in the shelter for example,” but otherwise, they would be referring donations to Goodwill or other charities.
“I know that Our House [shelter] has a thrift store, the Compassion Center has a thrift store and that Saver’s is affiliated with Big Brothers Big Sisters,” she said. “Unfortunately, we wouldn’t be able to take many items.”
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 03/28/2012