CLOSURE: After 50 years Brampton non-profit store closing down with half-off sale

When it is gone, it is gone.

That’s the message from Perpetual Bazaar, a local thrift shop and charity that’s closing down after half a century in Brampton.

First opening in 1974, the consignment and charity store at 111 Main St. North sells crafts, books, jewellery and knick knacks and was founded by a women’s church group to help support seniors in the community.

Perpetual Bazaar says it has been close to shutting its doors for good several times during its 50-year run, but the store will be closing permanently at the end of January and is blowing out its inventory at 50 per cent off.

“Unfortunately, circumstances have conspired to bring about our demise,” Perpetual Bazaar said in a post on Facebook, adding there was no single reason for the closure but rather “a collection of unfortunate events coupled with changing times.”

In 2020 the store faced weeks of closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Perpetual Bazaar is entirely a volunteer-run operation, and around half of the staff were uncomfortable about returning to work.

Other factors included a lack of foot traffic following the relocation of the Brampton Farmers Market, and ongoing construction on Main Street that has restricted both staff and customers from accessing the store.

“While such access has very recently returned, it is unfortunately too late for our ability to remain solvent,” the post reads.

Perpetual Bazaar says it has not been able to raise the funds needed to stay open through our sales and the closure has been coming for years. But staying afloat for 50 years is a milestone Perpetual Bazaar says is “a miracle” for a charity.

You can visit Perpetual Bazaar at 111 Main St. North in Brampton until the end of January.