Closed since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club Second Hand Store will not be reopening at its longtime rented location on North Summer street in Edgartown.
Closed since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club Second Hand Store will not be reopening at its longtime rented location on North Summer street in Edgartown, club leaders said Wednesday.
“Over the last eight months we have shifted resources away from the Second Hand Store in order to focus on our mission of providing quality programs and services to Island youth,” interim club director Chris Roberts wrote in a letter to the Gazette.
The two-story shop, which formerly bustled with shoppers — many of them locals who made it a regular stop, often lingering to chat with staff and neighbors — has been emptied of merchandise. The property is owned by Edgartown businessman Geno Courtney.
A Boys & Girls Club committee will work on a new retail operation to launch in the future, according to the letter from Mr. Roberts, who was named interim director in September after director Jesse Damroth announced her departure.
“In the meantime, we’ll be selling Second Hand Store jewelry, clothing and other items through various online venues, and continuing to provide clothing, food, and childcare services to our member families,” he said in the letter.
Reached by phone at the club in Edgartown, Mr. Roberts declined to comment further. In his letter, he noted that the club has waived all fees for its programming from March, 2020 through June, 2021.
“In a pandemic environment this included virtual program activities, a seven-week in person summer camp, remote learning pods during hybrid school schedules and an after school program within Covid guidelines,” he wrote.
“The need for our services continues to grow, and annual donations cover all our program costs as we operate at break-even each year.”
Founded in 1937 as the Edgartown Boys Club, the club moved in 1978 to its current location on Robinson Road, near Edgartown School, and in 1985 became the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club. It is an independently operated charter member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America and maintains a website at mvbgclub.org.
Comments
To bad I loved that store and
Bob EdgartownTo bad I loved that store and the different people who ran it over the years. I hope they can find a new location after all this covid problem has passed.
Very sad news. I loved this
Carla A Cooper EdgartownVery sad news. I loved this store and all of the great employees.
I hope they can open up in
jane V edgartownI hope they can open up in another location soon. It was a great resource for gently used items for so many and it is ashame to see so much good clothing, furniture, etc to to the dump and sitting outside of over flowing goodwill bins. I thought that the 2nd hand store was a huge money maker for the club?
I'm very sorry to learn that
Karen EdgartownI'm very sorry to learn that the store won't be re-opening. It provided a much-needed service to the island and they usually had just what I needed. It was fun to just pop in to see what they had because you never knew. With all the expensive stores downtown, Edgartown needs a second-hand store!
I found a replacement bowl
Adelaide Kent New YorkI found a replacement bowl for my blender there. A real lifesaver! While I agree that more direct service is needed, I will miss the store.
Store was a great place for
Jim EdgartownStore was a great place for recycling gently used items. The Boys and Girls Club should consider this as a critical part of their mission.
This was a much needed
Alexandra Bartsch EsgartownThis was a much needed resource for islanders and visitors
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