In June, Fenway Health will be shutting down its Boomerangs thrift stores in Jamaica Plain, the South End, and Cambridge’s Central Square. The decision to close was made due to financial losses, with the stores now losing over $500,000 a year compared to bringing in a few hundred thousand dollars annually in the past.
Chris Viveiros, the director of communications at Fenway Health, acknowledged that Boomerangs has had a significant impact on supporting HIV care and services in Massachusetts. However, with the challenges facing brick and mortar retail stores, the organization needs to prioritize its health care services over retail operations. Viveiros stated that efforts will be made to support the approximately 50 employees currently working at the stores as they transition from their jobs.
Upon hearing the news, customers took to social media to express a mix of sadness and frustration. Some placed blame on Fenway Health for the closure, arguing that the outcome could have been avoided. Originally opened by AIDS Action, which later merged with Fenway Health in 2013, the stores have been a staple in the community for many years.
Viveiros acknowledged the impact that the closure of Boomerangs will have on the community and expressed his own sadness at the news. Despite this closure, Fenway Health remains committed to providing quality care and services to its patients and clients while utilizing resources to support their core mission rather than retail operations.