'Theft, safety concerns' lead Goodwill to close two Seattle locations

Two Goodwill locations in Seattle will close in late September due to "escalating theft, safety concerns" as well as rising rents, the company announced last week.

The South Lake Union location on Westlake Avenue North and the University District store on University Way Northeast are the two impacted. The locations, open since 2008, will be open for donations and shopping until September 22.

“The decision to close these stores was not made lightly,” said Derieontay Sparks, Sr. Vice President, Customer Experience, Retail, and Revenue Growth at Evergreen Goodwill in a release. “Both locations have experienced a troubling rise in property damage, break-ins, and safety concerns for our employees. These challenges, coupled with rising rent and operational costs, have made it unsustainable to continue operating in these areas.”