Backstreet Mission closing thrift store

Backstreet Mission’s thrift store will be closing, co-founder and board of directors president Linda Kelley said. The store is a low-cost alternative for the community, and proceeds help support Backstreet’s homeless shelter.

Everything has been 50 percent off for the past two weeks, and the store will close Dec. 19, cashier Kaela Robinson, said.

“Since the new Highway 46 went through, people just don’t drive by it any longer,” Kelley said. “They don’t know we’re there.”

Kelley said the organization unsuccessfully tried to advertise.

“It’s been dwindling down for a little while, so we just made the decision to close that store,” Kelley said.

Kelley said the food pantry located inside the store will be relocated, and there are plans for a new thrift store location.

“We will be opening a new store, however, probably on the east side of Bloomington in the near future, probably in the early part of next year,” she said.