Credit: GOOGLE MAPS
Unique Thrift Store in Ohio City is closing. The store’s last day of business will be Saturday, Oct. 8, an employee confirmed to Scene. 

And based on what we’ve heard, it’s an emotional day at the store; employees found out the news just this morning.

“The decision was made by the corporate office to close the store,” is what we got as an answer from an employee working the phone today.

It’s another abrupt blow to a neighborhood where rising costs are changing the tenor of who lives where and who buys what. Unique has been something of a westside landmark for decades. Rooted in the community, it’s nothing short of a beacon for those who laid the groundwork of the neighborhood — and those who rely on cost-effective goods within walking distance. 

The store repeatedly won “Best Thrift Store” in our annual Best Of Cleveland voting contest. 

This article appears in Sep 28 – Oct 4, 2016.

Eric Sandy is an award-winning Cleveland-based journalist. For a while, he was the managing editor of Scene. He now contributes jam band features every now and then.

18 replies on “Unique Thrift Store in Ohio City Will Close on Saturday”

  2. Ohiocity as we know it is gone
    It’s a trendy spot being controlled by developers real estate agents investment groups and a Out of touch CDC

  3. “It’s a trendy spot being controlled by developers real estate agents investment groups and a Out of touch CDC”

    It’s called gentrification and those young white collar urban dwellers LOVE IT.

  4. It’s called Brooklynization and it’s understandable in New York or Chicago. But I never thought I’d live long enough to see it happening in Cleveland and Lakewood. It’s what I came here to escape, and it’s why I stayed. . Today Ohio City, tomorrow Gordon Square.

    Hopefully, by the time the yupster greedheads get as far west as I am, I’ll be dead.
    In fact, I’d prefer it.

    Chuckles the Clown

  5. A sad day for the neighborhood as it loses a community icon. We must, however, embrace the change and follow Unique to their new location as the future unfolds. It was inevitable.

  6. Say it ain’t so! I’m heartbroken. I love this store. I found many treasures for my family and my students. It will be sorely missed.

  7. Shame on Ohio City. I just shopped Unique Thrift yesterday, Monday, October 3rd and all was well. Today I mourn the death of community that once was diverse, eclectic and interesting😭. Just because a CDC can, doesn’t always mean it should. Folks in East Cleveland you’re next, batten down your hatches.

  8. Gentrification has been happening for millennia. It wasn’t invented in Brooklyn and it’s been happening in Cleveland for almost a century.

  9. “neighborhoods should change ONLY TO THE POINT I LIKE THEM AND NO FURTHER!”

    ~this thread.

  10. Uh. This story is half written/investigated. Why is it closing? Is it moving? This is the equivalent to hearing my neighbor telling me it’s closing.

  12. Maybe the Unique brand is being phased out in favor of Savers. I know in recent years the Uniques at Memphis & Fulton and North Randall closed. (The North Randall store was previously located at both Mapletown and Southgate. ) This will leave just one Unique left, the one at Lake Shore Blvd. and Vine Street in Willowick. This closing will mean the closest thrift stores from there would be the Savers on Brookpark Road and the Value World in Lakewood. I will miss this store, and I’m sad to see it closed. It was there at least since shortly after Pick-N-Pay closed there.

  13. I live 4 feet from this place and it’s a huge bummer. I’ll be a kings ransom this become a boutique grocery store to compete with Dave’s.

  15. I work for the Ohio City CDC that is being mentioned throughout these comments- Let me clear something up! We did not close Unique Thrift Store, had nothing to do with closing Unique Thrift Store and in fact just found out it was closing yesterday along with the rest of the world. Their lease was not up, they had regular, great business, no glaring issues. As this article suggests, this appears to be sudden news for everyone, even the store’s employees. We are very sad to hear this news and for the loss of this neighborhood staple that provides affordable shopping to our residents.

  16. NEEDS is at 7710 Lorain on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30pm to 2:30pm. Everything is FREE. Savers is still open at Brookpark and Ridge next to HH Gregg. Savers is also on Centerridge next to the Westgate Transit Center. Seniors get 30percent off on Tuesdays.

  17. I am devestated at the closing of Unique. I shopped there after the North Randall location closed and found so many collectibles, toys, knick knacks, clothes, and bedding. It was my go to store for bedspreads and sheets. Found many collectible items that I did not find elsewhere. The prices were really good. I mourn the loss of this store and feel for the employees who are losing their jobs. No more are the mom and pop stores allowed to be open. Almost every thrift store is gone along with D&K, Uncle Bills, Silverman’s, and those small free standing ice cream stops. We are losing so many places that will now only live in memory.

Comments are closed.