AFL-CIO set to close thrift store in new year
By Kirsten Stokes
Over the last 40 years, the AFL-CIO of St. Joseph has provided the community with discounted clothing through their Fab-U-Less Finds thrift store.
Now, with over a dozen thrift stores in St. Joseph, the market saturation has led to sales in the Fab-U-Less store significantly decreasing leaving no choice but to cease operations in 2025.
Nichi Seckinger, Executive Director for the AFL-CIO said this decision was difficult to make, but their objective as an organization is to identify what is needed or duplicated in the St. Joseph area. The store employs four employees and expends nearly 40% of the agency’s overall operational cost.
“Unfortunately the overhead operational cost of the program just got to be too much for the agency,” Seckinger said.
Working with different organizations, the AFL-CIO will continue its voucher program.
“We want to make sure that we’re able to continue to help people because a lot of our vouchers go to fire victims, people who have been evicted and lost items and are starting over, or people who have emergencies or unexpected situations like pregnancies or health issues where it requires them to get new clothing or new household items,” Seckinger said.
With the store closing, the remaining space will house the Diaper Depot program.
“We currently have 250 children in the program and before we had about 26 a year that we could serve,” Seckinger said. “So, it’s a ridiculous change between the two.”
Ordering 10,000 diapers each month the added space will be great for the growing program. In addition, the Adopt-A-Family gift room will be expanded as well.
Fab-U-Less Finds will begin a clearance sale offering 50% off remaining merchandise beginning on Jan. 14, 2025. The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, unless otherwise noted or until the remaining inventory is depleted.
No vouchers will be given during the clearance event.
“We’ve really been trying to think of all of the parts and pieces of the new plan and we’re hoping we have everything together by the end of January,” Seckinger said.
