Goodwill Industries is saying goodbye to Yorkville after 24 years of serving the neighborhood. Their popular thrift shop and donation drop-off site located at 1704 Second Avenue, between East 88th and 89th Street will be closing its doors permanently in just a few weeks.
The non-profit confirmed to Upper East Site that the Goodwill Store, which opened on Second Avenue way back 1998 and was renovated in 2013, would be shutting down operations on February 5th. Upper East Site has learned that the non-profit’s lease expires at the end of February.
At the store on Saturday, only a single printed out flier taped to the front door warned shoppers of the impending closure. Inside the longtime thrift shop, all the racks were still packed full of clothes.
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“Goodwill appreciates the continuous support of our mission of power of work and sustainable fashion from our loyal Upper East Side donors and shoppers,” said Jose Medellin, Goodwill Industries of New York and New Jersey’s Director of Communications.
“Revenue from our stores funds employment services for individuals with all types of disabilities … as well as behavioral health services that help people with mental illness stay healthy,” he explained.
While this is a departure from Yorkville, Goodwill Industries is not leaving the Upper East Side altogether. The other Goodwill Store, located at 1114 First Avenue, at the corner of East 61st Street, remains open to shoppers and donors.
“We are proud of our impact on the community and the environment,” Medellin added.
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Longtime Upper East Siders might remember that prior to becoming the Goodwill Store, the space at 1704 Second Avenue served as the home to the Stuyvesant Square thrift shop.
Upper East Site checked property records and at this point there are no filings indicating that property is being developed. We also did not find any listings offering the space for lease.
Goodwill tells Upper East Site that it is looking for another location in the neighborhood with reasonable rent. It is also appealing directly to Upper East Side residents to encourage their buildings, which may have restrictions on what their ground floor commercial space can be used for, to allow a Goodwill Store.
Landlords interested in helping keep the Goodwill Store stay on the UES should contact Katy Gaul-Stigge at Goodwill Industries by clicking here.
