Thrift store chain follows Target to shut outlets in US city over crime

THRIFT store fans in one city are set to lose two outlets in one fell swoop after the area has been hit with issues.

Evergreen Goodwill will shutter two of its locations in Seattle, the thrift store chain announced on Friday.

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The stores at South Lake Union and West Lake Avenue are set to close for good on September 22, per the Seattle Times.

Officials cited issues in the community as the reason for the two closures.

Both locations have reportedly seen increased theft, vandalism, and threats of violence against workers, according to Darren Carlson, the regional director of operations for the chain in Northwest Washington.

“We’ve had break-ins, attempted break-ins, we’ve had incidents in the store where police have had to be called,” he said.

“It’s gotten worse, and particularly with violence,” over the past six months, Carlson revealed.

The regional director noted that security at these two stores has been a concern for several years.

It has seen the introduction of “asset protection personnel” at the two soon-to-be-shuttered stores that focus on theft and similar issues, Evergreen Goodwill spokesperson Alyssa Grigg told the news outlet.

Police data cited by the Seattle Times revealed that in the first six months of 2024, burglaries, shoplifting, and theft in South Lake Union had increased by 18% compared to the same time last year.

Meanwhile, there was little to no change in the University District.

With profits being into by theft and subsequent security measures, and with neither location being big enough to hold a full line of products seen at other Evergreen Goodwill stores, the two doomed locations are not worth keeping open.

“We really worked hard,” Carlson said of trying to make these smaller stores profitable, but “there’s a lot of things that go into making these small stores difficult,” he noted.

Employees who will be affected by the upcoming closures have been offered a transfer to the chain’s other locations in the area.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Evergreen Goodwill for comment.

However, the thrift store chain is not the first to exit parts of the city due to safety concerns.

In May, North Face shuttered its downtown flagship store after almost five years, following in the footsteps of Nike and Lululemon.

Retailers situated in downtown Seattle have cited crime as a major problem.

While crime overall in the city has gone down since 2022, pockets of criminal activity have increased, notably in the downtown area, according to data from the Seattle Police Department cited by MyNorthwest.

Meanwhile, in September, Target shuttered nine stores, including two in Seattle due to safety concerns.

The stores in Ballard and the U-District shuttered on October 21.

“Theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance,” Target said in a statement, per The Seattle Times.

Other closures were seen in Portland, San Francisco, New York, and Oakland.

“We can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all,” Target said at the time.

Meanwhile, Target’s successful cull of stores as the chain tackles theft has seen retail experts warn that other chains may follow suit.

However, some, like Macy’s are fighting to keep locations open as the chain’s CEO struggles to save the brand with 155 store closures.