Unique Franklin County store to close

TURNERS FALLS, Mass. (WWLP) - Economic hard times are being blamed for the upcoming closure of a landmark store in Turners Falls.

Arnold Houle plans to shut down Arnie’s Thrift Shop for good the end of February. Since 1986, the store on Avenue A has sold a wide range of items, from used furniture to discount food, and it's had some very good years being a thrift shop. Houle recalled those good times during the 1990s.

“We would supply people from Greenfield, Turners Falls, Chicopee, and Holyoke; far away as Boston. We used to take truckloads of furniture out to the Cape,” Houle said.

But the good times have not lasted. Houle told 22News that since the recession began in 2008, business fell off to the point where he has been having trouble paying his bills. They are now planning to close at the end of next month.

Longtime customer Eric Waite says that he will miss Arnie's Thrift Shop. Waite drove to the store from Greenfield on Wednesday morning, as he does every week. To him, Arnie's is irreplaceable.

“I come here every Wednesday, if not more than to check out what Arnie's brings in. It's kind of a little playground for someone who collects antiques and unusual objects like I do,” Waite said.

The store sells everything from Waffle Irons to bedroom furniture, but there just aren't enough customers like Waite to keep the thrift shop open.

Houle remarked that he hopes years from now, some people in Turners Falls will drive by the building on Avenue A, and remember that Arnie's Thrift Shop used to be there.