New London — The Salvation Army Store at 170 Bank St., a staple for downtown shoppers for four decades, is closing Sept. 30.

The Connecticut Salvation Army said it will close four of its 11 family thrift stores in New London, Torrington, West Hartford and Danbury.

"The first priority of the stores was to raise funds to continue offering rehabilitation programs to people in need at no-cost, but current circumstances have made supporting these programs through these store locations impossible," Capt. Leo Lloyd, who oversees the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in Hartford, said in a news release dated Sept. 15.

"The decision to close the stores was not made lightly, but after much review, it seems to be the most responsible choice,” he said.

Cathy Zall, executive director of the Homeless Hospitality Center, described the closing of the thrift shop as "a real loss."

She said low-income families who try to stretch their dollars shop there and the store has been "a source of very affordable clothing for a lot of people."

Ann Lidestri, who has been shopping at the New London thrift shop since she was in high school in the mid-1970s, expressed dismay.

"I am so disappointed, and I know dozens of other people who are talking about how disappointed they are, too," she said of the closing.

"It just doesn't make sense," she continued. "The place was going great guns for decades and they ran it into the ground, whether on purpose or not. People are disappointed, they are outraged, and someone should be held accountable."

The Salvation Army said it regularly reviews the financial performance of its stores, services and programs to ensure maximum efficiency, and available offerings are discontinued only when absolutely necessary.

"The Salvation Army stresses that assistance for financial hardship and a variety of other life issues will continue to be available through their service offices located throughout Connecticut, including Torrington, Danbury, Hartford and New London," the release said.

It also noted that the stores worked with Salvation Army social services offices to provide clothing, furniture and bargain goods to families in need through a cooperative voucher system.

“The Thrift Store did provide great value to many,” Major Jorge Marzan, who oversees the Salvation Army’s Southern New England division, said in the news release. "Although the stores are leaving, the Salvation Army isn’t going anywhere. We’re still absolutely committed to meeting needs by serving these communities.”

Where possible, employees of the stores will be referred to open positions at other Salvation Army centers and, the release noted, the Salvation Army is interested in opening new stores to replace the shuttered locations.

Staff at the New London store declined to comment Wednesday, and a sign on the door announced the pending closure. The staff has stopped taking donations and Wednesday morning many racks and shelves in the retail areas were picked over or empty.

Customers who regularly shop there said they had been told the store was closing. Fifteen months ago, a spokeswoman for the Salvation Army said the nonprofit was considering a move to a larger location with convenient parking in an effort to attract more shoppers and increase sales.

At that time, the spokeswoman said the New London store was the smallest of the 11 operated by the Salvation Army in the state and, along with Torrington, the lowest grossing.

Typically, the store has sold clothing, shoes, accessories, household goods, sporting equipment, books and movies, and bric-a-brac.

Around Labor Day the store began heavily discounting merchandise. On Wednesday, everything was 75 percent off. 

Lidestri, who shopped there earlier this week, said she picked up a silver-plated pitcher and a silver-plated ice bucket, both in excellent condition, for almost nothing.

"I got a big haul for like $10. It was great for me, but it's so sad. We don't have answers, but we do have questions," she said of the regular shoppers.

She also expressed concern for people without transportation, and those with few resources, who depend on the store for clothing and household items.

"The need is just amazing," she said. "All the people who live in New London who don't have cars and people who have little kids and the disabled. Everybody shops in there. The needy people and the wealthy. There's a real cross-section."

New London Mayor Michael Passero said he was aware the store is closing and believes there are other resources for those in need, like the Jumble Shop at St. James Church, the Homeless Hospitality Center, Jewish Federation and Safe Futures.

He also added that the potential sale of the building overlooking the Thames River could be a benefit for the city's tax rolls, since the Salvation Army is tax-exempt.

It was unclear Wednesday whether the Salvation Army would sell the brick and masonry building that was built in 1965 and once housed the state Labor Department.

Traditionally, the Salvation Army operated the stores to support its Adult Rehabilitation Center programming, which provides spiritual, social and emotional assistance for men and women who have lost their ability to cope and provide for themselves.

a.baldelli@theday.com