OPINION: Upscale turned thrift store is an ominous sign

My girlfriend and I were in the market for a new couch. We wanted a nice and comfortable one to tie the living room together in front of a new projector, and she was willing to spend money. So, on a recent Saturday, we drove to what a year ago was an Ethan Allen — an upscale furniture store. When we arrived, we realized the property on the 12000 block of Montgomery NE is now a Goodwill.

It’s a very nice Goodwill, where I purchased a golf bag and my girlfriend found several nice tote bags in a special showroom of sorts in the store, where higher-end thrift items are resold. But, as Mayor Tim Keller tells business leaders that Albuquerque is “making a comeback,” I thought the transition was a bit of an ominous sign for the economic state of our city.

The transition is symbolic for Albuquerque. Ethan Allen is associated with affluent shoppers with the means for discretionary spending.

Goodwill plays an important role in our community. Goodwill Industries is more than just its thrift stores. It uses its thrift stores to fund crucial programs for veterans, seniors and people re-entering the workforce, and it offers a variety of classes on different skills. But the arrival of a Goodwill reflects a different kind of consumer behavior — customers need a place to buy affordable furniture and household items.

To be fair, Ethan Allen still has a smaller presence in the city in Uptown. And the Northeast Heights neighborhoods surrounding the Goodwill continue to see property values rise.

But there are trickle down effects to the transition as well. A luxury store like Ethan Allen likely generates significantly more gross receipts and property tax revenue than a nonprofit thrift store. What does that move say to possible investors or companies looking to relocate to New Mexico? Does it show the local economy is weakening?

Now, this could be just a one-off. And I’m a fan of Goodwill and other thrift stores. It’s important to repurpose used items, especially clothing which is often made with plastic fibers that can otherwise end up in a landfill. Goodwill has a top-notch recycling program for clothing that isn’t resold as well as for electronics and other items.

Residents and city leaders, however, should take notice of such a move. If it becomes part of a larger trend, and we start to see more higher-end retail stores close, more empty storefronts, fewer new developments and an uptick in stores selling second-hand goods, it may signal that our city is headed in the wrong direction and steps should be taken to reverse that trend.

For my girlfriend and I, it all worked out for the best. We got a couple second-hand items and purchased a new couch at a local furniture store. And I see silver linings about the state of the city every day. The Gizmo building Downtown has a new owner with a vision to turn the building into an art hub. The Rail Trail is under construction will be a nice addition to the Downtown and Old Town areas. Political leaders are mulling a large investment in the State Fairgrounds.

Keller took some heat on social media when he suggested that a city he’s been heading for two terms is “making a comeback.” And I hope he’s right and the state of the city does make a change for the better.

And remember, in order to make a comeback, first you have to be down.