SAN ANTONIO — Two San Antonio non-profits are closing their thrift stores.
After 41 years, Roy Maas Youth Alternatives will close its landmark location off West Avenue at the end of September.
Kym's Kloset, a newer shop that survived the pandemic, will open one last time Sunday.
"We see people just having a hard time buying groceries. If they're having a hard time buying groceries, I think they're having a hard time buying clothes, too," said Pamela Allen, CEO of Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach, who operates Kym's Kloset.
Kym's Kloset
Kym's Kloset is tucked inside a shopping center off Blanco and West Avenue. The thrift store opened five years ago at the Quarry before moving north to its current location.
Allen says the economy put their business in a tough spot. The announcement of their closure, she says, is bittersweet.
"We saw sales drop significantly. We used to be in the Quarry where we'd bring in over $1,000 a day in sales. Here in this area we were lucky if we brought in over $100 a day," said Allen. "We have been so blessed by our friends in this community and we look forward to the next chapter."
Thursday, shoppers took advantage of the deals at Kym's Kloset: Tops and shorts for $1 and everything else 75% off.
"We're also selling our fixtures, selling everything we can," said Allen, who acquired many of the shop's fixtures and shelves from Coldwater Creek when the company closed during the pandemic.
During its five years in business, Kym's Kloset helped raise $60,000 to $75,000 annually to further the mission of Eagles Flight.
"We've helped with groceries for families. We've helped women fleeing domestic violence relocate. We've helped bury babies," said Allen.
The closure comes at a time of great need. This summer, the non-profit's southside outreach center at 2454 W. Southcross is serving the highest numbers they've seen.
"We hit astronomical numbers. We served over 9,500 people within just that community," said Allen. "That doesn't include what we do off site."
Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach is now focusing on providing wraparound services at their new Adult Activity Center, The Nest. This is in addition to the other services they provide for people in need.
Clothing donations for Kym's Kloset can be brought to the southside outreach center.
Roy Maas Youth Alternatives Thrift Shop
Off West Avenue and Basse Rd., in a building that's a mainstay in the Dellview Neighborhood, neon green signs are posted on the doors of Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA) Thrift Shop.
They read: Not Taking Donations.
According to the non-profit's website, "the RMYA Thrift Shop provides clothing and other essentials to the children at RMYA, and sells discounted merchandise to the community. All proceeds fund the Bridge emergency shelter and Meadowland long-term residential program; the community family counseling & resource center; and a transitional living program for former foster care, homeless youth, and youth in extended foster care."
After four decades in business, the agency's leadership decided it's time to close the thrift shop and focus on their core mission: helping children in crisis.
"While our thrift store provided an amazing connection point to our community, it is not central to our mission which is taking care of children entering the foster are system or children at risk of entering the foster care system," said Julie Healy, Chief Development Officer for Roy Maas Youth Alternatives.
The shop started in 1976 as a fundraising tool.
"It requires a lot of staff and overhead," said Healy. "While we're sad that it's the end of an era for our employees, it's actually an indicator of our success."
Ahead of the closure, the thrift store is running a 50% off sale and adding an extra business day. Through September 28, their hours of operation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
"This is in no way an indicator of Roy Maas closing," Healy explained. "We no longer need it as a fundraising mechanism...the agency is doing better than it ever has."
This business move comes shortly after the RMYA center for trafficking victims, Centro Seguro, ceased operations for similar reasons.
The thrift shop's staff members will move to other roles with the non-profit.
"Those who are not staying with us, we will do our very best to find them placement elsewhere," said Healy.
The Roy Maas Family Counseling & Resource Center, which operates on the same property, will not be affected by the closure.
As for what's next inside the walls of the thrift shop, those plans are still in the works.
To learn more about RMYA and their mission for local youth and families, click here.
To learn more about Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach, click here.