The Salvation Army Thrift Store on Walker Rd in Windsor is closing its doors after 17 years.
According to spokesperson, Major Pam Goodyear, keeping the store open is no longer financially viable as it's been several years since it's been profitable.
Goodyear says 19 employees have been given severance packages and the organization is doing everything it can to help them transition.
She says there are a number of factors to blame.
"Decrease in sales. Increase in operating costs and wages. Salvation Army Thrift Stores operate to find our other services within communities. So with this store not making a profit for some time, we had to make the difficult decision to close it."
Goodyear says the Salvation Army will continue to have a presence in Windsor.
"The Salvation Army has been in Windsor for 130 years and we will continue to operate. We still have our church in south Windsor, we have the learning corner over on Lauzon Rd and then, of course, we have our centre downtown which has community and family services and a food bank."
She says the store will be winding down operations over the next couple of weeks.
"It's not profitable. It hasn't been for a number of years. So this is not a new situation or something that's happened very recently. We do appreciate the support of the community. Seventeen years for this thrift store. It wasn't an easy decision to make, but the time came."
The store will officially close Saturday, September 1 at 6pm.
The union representing the out of work employees, Service Employees International Union, has called an emergency meeting Tuesday night at the Windsor Sportsmen's Club to address next steps.