07/15/2026
Hello all. This is a post I've been avoiding for too long, but it has to be done, and it's long. Eco-Thrift will be permanently closing at the end of September, barring some miraculous intervention. Those of you who are regulars have likely heard the story and others the rumors, so I figured it's time to make it official.
Eco-Thrift leases its current location from the city of Fort Collins. The city has committed to giving the property to the Housing Catalyst to develop and therefore will not be renewing our lease after September. I have looked into multiple possibilities to relocate the business, but the cost of relocating coupled with a significant increase in rent makes this option impossible as an independent small business. I was initially told by city representatives that relocation funding was “almost 100%” guaranteed based on the source of funding for the project, but unfortunately this was incorrect information. The Housing Catalyst won't even apply for their project funding until next year. All attempts to initiate a conversation about potentially continuing to utilize the space in the interim have been unsuccessful.
Many of you likely also already know that we are losing our Habitat ReStore at the end of the year as well. I have to admit reading comments about their closing has given me even more trepidation to “go public”. I was saddened by so many critical and harsh statements about the store. Unless you've worked in a re-use or waste diversion setting, I think it's very hard to understand the challenges and resources needed to make it happen.
Many of you also likely know that I have wanted to pass the reins to someone else for a while now, but the combination of low profit margins and no long term lease have been a significant barrier. I have been fortunate that my housing situation and family support have made Eco-Thrift something I could commit to in spite of it not paying all the bills. I also have to thank our amazing, dedicated and fiercely loyal customers! We obviously wouldn't exist without your donations and your purchases.
Many of you have asked how you can support us. If you have 7 to 10 thousand square feet of space to donate to creating more resilient re-use in this community, now is the time to speak up! Yes, an outrageous ask, but you never know. Aside from that I strongly believe our city government needs to get directly involved in creating more waste diversion and re-use spaces for our community if it's something they truly value. While not generating a lot of profit, these spaces are essential to economic and environmental sustainability and resiliency.
I am committed to keeping our EcoTool Library running. I had hoped to not have to relocate it at the same time as closing the store, but that is not looking like a possibility. I have been putting feelers out to other community minded organizations and am open to any suggestions about potential partnerships. The silver lining to not running both a store and a tool lending program is that I will have more time to dedicate to building up what has become a valued and well used community resource.
It has been an honor and a lot of heartfelt work to serve this community in this capacity, and while I'm ready to not shoulder the responsibility any longer, there is so, so much I will miss! Ten years ago I started working at Eco-Thrift temporarily while in limbo between jobs. I was hired to help the founder and previous owner, Tony Cooper, with an exit strategy. I pretty quickly realized this was something I could be passionate about and fit my skills and need to be doing work that felt meaningful. I became the exit strategy and became the owner on January 1st, 2017.
It's been a remarkable decade to say the least! I've often joked that my exit strategy could be to write a sitcom series about the day to day experience of running Eco-Thrift. It's been an adventure! Thanks so much to all the amazing staff, volunteers, partners, donors, shoppers and characters that have made this place so unique. I love you all!
With much gratitude,
Stacy
