Samaritans’ Closet comes to Empire
By Ross Boissoneau
Sun contributor
Everything old is new again, as Samaritans’ Closet proves at its store in Lake Leelanau. Which is why it is now opening one in Empire.
“It is a successful business model. Everyone loves it,” says Mary Stanton, executive director of Leelanau Christian Neighbors. The faith-based non-profit owns and runs Samaritans’ Closet, which stocks and sells items that are old, vintage, pre-loved, used—pick one.
Actually, pick two, or three, or as many as you care to. Whether clothing and housewares, furniture and furnishings, art—anything someone wants to part with and that someone else may want can be found at the store.
Now the longtime Lake Leelanau store is being joined by a second across the county. The new location is due to host its grand opening May 22 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 11840 S. Lacore Rd. It will then run on the same schedule as the Lake Leelanau store: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 10-3 p.m. on Saturdays.
Empire resident James Gerndt will be managing the store. He’s been learning the operation at the Lake Leelanau store. Stanton says they may hire a part-time person and that staff from Lake Leelanau may also help out as needed.
While “new vintage” is a contradiction in terms, the trend toward vintage shopping shows no signs of abating. In his Substack column, Professor Gad Allon at the Wharton School says the market is big and growing, and pre-owned clothing has surged in popularity. The professor of operations, information, and decisions at the University of Pennsylvania also quotes the BBC, which notes celebrities getting in on the action through swaps and sales of their pre-owned designer clothing, and shoppers paying TikTok stylists for bundles of thrifted clothing.
So, clearly, it’s a thing. Despite the numerous stores in the region selling gently used items, Stanton sees the Empire store as a viable option. It is a way to help the environment, provide income for the faith-based non-profit that owns and runs it, and enable people to move on from items they no longer are using.
Stanton also sees the store as a tool to reduce the amount of trash going to landfills. “It’s a great recycling tool for the county. People are cleaning out, wondering what to do with things (they) don’t want. Here, they’re either sold or we recycle them. It’s a win-win-win.”
Samaritans’ Closet sells more than just clothing. Stanton says that is part of its appeal. Its inventory is constantly changing, and you never know what you’ll find. “I took my grandson and got a $4 bag of Hot Wheels. There are board games, puzzles, clothes, shoes. Someone just donated a Mahjong set—it’s just gorgeous,” she says, noting an internet search proposed a value of hundreds of dollars.
“Diamond rings, gold bracelets, a mink coat,” Stanton continued, listing donated items the Lake Leelanau location has sold. “We had a sailboat a couple years ago. Random fencing, tools, sporting equipment, lights, luggage, cupboards, a flute, a guitar.” The list goes on and on.
Proceeds from the Empire store will stay within the county to fund LCN’s programs. They include its food and baby pantries, providing financial assistance to those in need, and Blessings in a Backpack, which provides a backpack filled with nutritious food for students from schools across the county to eat over the weekend.
The organization has been a presence on the east side of Leelanau County for decades, and Stanton is excited to spread the word and the offerings across the county. “Leelanau Christian Neighbors has been around a number of years. Next year is our 40th anniversary,” she says. “We started in Suttons Bay, and in 2017 moved to Lake Leelanau. We always wished we had a bigger presence on the west side.”
Now they will. She believes not only will the new store draw from the immediate area, she sees it bringing in people from across Benzie, Grand Traverse and elsewhere. “People will drive from everywhere,” Stanton says. The current location in Lake Leelanau already brings in shoppers from Traverse City, and with the burgeoning appeal of vintage and secondhand items, she doesn’t think it’s unreasonable that it will potentially bring in shoppers from as far away as Traverse City, Manistee and beyond.
