The Club Nova Thrift Shop in downtown Carrboro has permanently closed, according to the local non-profit.

A release from Club Nova on Monday shared the news that the shop, located at 103 West Main Street in Carrboro at its rehabilitation clubhouse, will not be reopening. The organization, which serves community members who have serious mental illnesses

“Given that many of our members are in the high risk category for COVID,”  reads a message on its website, “as an organization, we realized we could not take the risk of exposure that would come with reopening the Thrift Shop and members working with the public. As a result, we decided to go ahead and close the Club Nova Thrift Shop permanently.”

The decision comes amid a shift for Club Nova planned prior to the pandemic, as the non-profit prepares to construct a new Psycho-Social Rehabilitation clubhouse in early 2021. While the initial plan was to operate the Club Nova Thrift Shop until construction began, leadership for the organization said the coronavirus pandemic caused them to re-evaluate priorities and put their resources into outreach, home visits and meal delivery.

Leadership of the thrift shop also issues messages to the community, encouraging frequent patrons to continue supporting and being involved with Club Nova.

“We know our regular customers will be sad to see our Thrift Shop close, and we thank you for your many years of support of our community,” wrote Ruth Burnett, Club Nova Thrift Shop Unit Leader. “We appreciate the relationships we have built with you as our customers and donors to our shop. Through your caring involvement, you have selflessly helped us to create a fun and meaningful environment to work in for the last 18 years.”

According to Club Nova, its hopes to use the new clubhouse to interact with the community and patrons in new ways. Instead of a thrift shop, the non-profit plans to have space for member art exhibitions and to use it to grow its role within the Carrboro arts scene. The three-floor, 9,500-square-foot space will also have features to better serve its clubhouse members, like a full commercial kitchen, an 80-person dining hall, a greenhouse and environmentally friendly infrastructure.

While the new clubhouse is being constructed, Club Nova says it plans to operate its service to participants out of the old Chapel Hill Town Hall on West Rosemary Street.

A tribute to the Club Nova Thrift Shop can be found on the organization’s website.

Photo via Club Nova.

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