Clearbrook resale shop closing next month
The Clearbrook Resale Shop in Arlington Heights will close on January 21 after more than 25 years in the community, officials said.
The shop, which takes old goods and resells them while providing jobs for Clearbrook clients, was not making much of a profit in recent years and its space is needed to expand other programs, said Gloria Drake, the agency’s vice president of communications and event planning.
A children’s program that currently operates in a space rented from the Rolling Meadows Park District will move to the resale shop space sometime next year, she said.
Everything in the resale shop, located at 1815 W. Central Road, will be on sale for 50 percent off starting Jan. 3, Drake said, and anything that is not sold will be donated to local churches.
Clearbrook will work with the employees at the shop — less than 10 people — to find new employment, she said.
“It’s been a fantastic operation for us, one that certainly answered a need in the community,” Drake said.
But with more resale shops opening in the area, the Clearbrook shop was not bringing in enough revenue to meet the organization’s needs. Drake said officials at Clearbrook have been talking about the decision for about a year and made the final decision a few months ago.
“It’s bittersweet for us to do this,” she said, adding that the shop and its many longtime supporters will be greatly missed. “Never say never that we won’t open another shop, but right now we aren’t focusing on that. We want to focus on expanding our programs to allow us to serve more people.”
Customer Kathy Muno said she will miss the shop, where she has donated and bought items for many years.
“It was a place I felt good about donating to,” Muno said. “It gave me a good feeling going there because you know you’re helping Clearbrook and the things you buy have a history behind them.” The shop is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p. m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Clearbrook is an Arlington Heights-based nonprofit that provides opportunities for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities around the Chicago area.