New London — Preparations are underway for the return of the Salvation Army Family Store to downtown New London.

The thrift store at 170 Bank St. is due to open on July 8, at a time when several downtown businesses have announced closings or are struggling under regulations imposed to keep the spread of COVID-19 in check.

The thrift store, which had been in New London for more than four decades, was shuttered with three others during a downsizing of Salvation Army operations in 2016. The stores — there are seven in the state — fund the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center in Hartford, which provides free assistance to individuals struggling with substance abuse and other issues.

The rehabilitation center remained open during the pandemic but thrift stores were closed for two and a half months, said Bob Moorthie, business administrator for the Salvation Army’s rehab center. The closings led to the difficult decision to send home 116 employees, people who Moorthie said are “part of the family.” It also temporarily stopped the flow of funding for the rehab center.

The thrift stores have since reopened. The Salvation Army still is recruiting workers and in New London is seeking people who are bilingual.

The reopened store in New London will feature thousands of items of clothing, along with knickknacks, books, shoes, handbags and other accessories. Moorthie said he expects the store will be supplied with 2,000 pieces of clothing every other day and inventory is constantly being swapped out.

Initial supplies should not be problem. During the time the thrift stores were closed, Moorthie said there was an outpouring of donations during an apparent “spring cleaning” while people were quarantined. Donations boxes were overflowing and items were stored in shipping containers because they could not be placed in stores.

Garments are scrutinized, sorted for quality, tagged and sent out to stores, where they are again looked over before being placed on racks. Moorthie said clothing is typically sold for about 10% of original price. The average price is $2.69 for women’s clothing and $2.37 for men’s clothing.

The New London store will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Moorthie said the bathroom and fitting rooms are under renovation. The exterior also has been cleaned up.

The main goal in opening the store remains providing affordable clothing to people in need and the store is an important addition to an area where many people are living on a limited income, Moorthie said.

The opening comes five months after the closing of The New London Homeless Hospitality Center’s Homeward Bound Treasures, a thrift store that was located at 35 Golden St.

g.smith@theday.com