The Pennyworth Thrift Shop will close its location at 949 Bonifant St. and move to the basement of Grace House on the grounds of Grace Episcopal Church later this year.
In an email to the Source, board president Jewell Little said, “Over the past year, the sales at the Pennyworth Shop have declined. A sufficient number of volunteers have not been available, and rent in the downtown Silver Spring area has been going up. Compounding this, the Purple Line construction threatens the existence of the shop.”
The landlord has granted the shop a month-to-month lease for up to six months to allow the organization to prepare for the move, she said, adding that the board is considering closing as of Dec. 15.
In anticipation of the move, the shop is no longer accepting donations until further notice.
In the meantime, Little said, “We will definitely be having extra-ordinary sales to hurry and move inventory. These sales will begin immediately.”
The group expects the move to Grace House at 1607 Grace Church Rd. to be temporary for one year, at which time they will assess “the circumstances regarding the viability of the shop.”
The shop, a ministry of the church, celebrated its 65th anniversary earlier this year.
The shop is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Fridays.
Photo by Marsha Obusek courtesy Pennyworth Thrift Shop.