The SCCAS Benefit Shop, a vibrant resale shop located at Felt Street and 17th Avenue since 2018, will close on Saturday, March 1, 2025, due to the expiration of its lease. However, if sufficient funding and insurance are secured in the coming weeks, it plans to reopen in April as an independent non-profit, Love Animals Benefit Shop (LABS), potentially in the East Cliff Village shopping center.
Originally opened in November 2014 in a historic bungalow behind the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter, the Benefit Shop has generated significant revenue for the Shelter, totaling $594,308 over ten years. From 2014 to 2024, the shop’s eclectic sales provided $262,912 directly to animal shelter operations, despite expenditures of $331,395 for renovations, utilities, and staffing.
Due to the lack of available municipally-owned property, the Shelter has made the difficult decision to close the shop as part of its operations. Current Coordinator Lea Goodman and a team of dedicated volunteers are committed to finding a way forward, emphasizing the shop’s role in recycling, providing volunteer opportunities, and fostering community engagement.
Amber Rowland, General Manager of the Animal Shelter, expressed concern about the loss of the supportive community that has developed around the shop. The Santa Cruz County Parks Department had previously allowed the shop to operate in their building, but now requires the space for its own operations.
To ensure the shop’s future, the Benefit Shop group has initiated a Go Fund Me campaign and plans to form a new 501c3 organization. Their goal is to operate a resale shop that will continue to donate profits to organizations focused on preventing animal homelessness, including the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter and Project Purr.
Goodman urges the community to support the Benefit Shop team’s efforts to creatively reuse and recycle while promoting animal welfare. Donations, volunteer efforts, and community support are encouraged as they work toward a sustainable future for the shop.