Owner of Friends of Haven Thrift Store Madeline Crane made the unfortunate announcement on Wednesday, March 27 they would be closing their doors for good in May, citing a drop in business caused by customers not feeling safe in Nanaimo's downtown. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

shutting down

Nanaimo thrift shop owner blames downtown disorder for shutting down

Mar 28, 2024 | 5:42 AM

NANAIMO — A popular local thrift store is closing up shop permanently in May with the owner saying fear of downtown area social unrest has driven their customers away.

Madeline Crane has owned and operated the Friends of Haven Thrift Shop on Albert St. for the last six years but has worked there for over 16.

Despite backing from loyal customers and donors, Crane said their neighbourhood has deteriorated sharply, causing a “substantial” drop in business.

“We’re not able to pay the bills anymore. We tried lots of different things… to get business, but unfortunately, we hear a lot of people don’t want to come downtown anymore. A lot of people don’t feel safe coming down here, and we fully understand that, and that’s nothing that we have any control over whatsoever.”

Crane said they had a realtor helping them try to secure another location out of the downtown but were unable to identify a building suitable to their needs and budget.

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Reducing staffing levels wasn’t enough to keep their doors open, Crane said.

“We’re really quite shocked because we made it through the pandemic. Not very many businesses were able to succeed as well as we did through the pandemic, but that was mostly due to our customers and our donors and our supporters, but this is one that we can’t fight. We have no other option.”

Crane made the unfortunate announcement on their Facebook page on March 27, spawning a flood of sad, shocked, and supportive comments from their customers and donors.

Friends of Haven Thrift Shop will maintain their regular hours and services in April, but will close up shop for good on May 18. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

“I am really overwhelmed by the amount of response our Facebook post has gotten,” Crane told NanaimoNewsNOW. “It’s mixed emotions, people are talking about how much they love the store and what it’s meant to them over the years. It’s tough, it’s really tough…we knew that this day was going to be a shock to a lot of people.”

She said their last day of operations will be on May 18.

However, starting May 1, they will no longer accept donations as they unload remaining inventory.

From there, Crane is unsure what she and her husband Cory, who also works at the store, will do after saying goodbye to their last customer.

Both are longtime Nanaimo residents, with Friends of New Haven being the first place Crane worked when she arrived in the Harbour City 24 years ago.

“We’re just focusing right now on finishing off the business here on a good note and looking for employment elsewhere. Being employees instead of bosses…just want to thank the community for supporting us for as long as they did.”

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow