Popular Beach thrift store Ends closes after 35 years
Customers at Ends, the famed thrift shop in the Beach, rummaged through wornout cardboard boxes and rusted racks on Monday, eyeing $4 bath mats and feeling the fabric of $10 tuxedos.
It’s an experience that could never be had on Amazon, the online company that the owner of Ends partly blames for the store’s closure.
Harold Weisfeld, widely known as “Zoltzz,” is closing down his location on Queen St. E. this month after 35 years. The store began after Weisfeld started buying left-behind clothing from dry cleaners and reselling it, and his operation expanded into all kinds of apparel and home products at a discount.
“I’m tired,” said Weisfeld, a 73-year-old who warmly greets customers and passersby on the street.
The store’s official closing date is Tuesday, but it will stay open until the end of the month to allow him to give his stuff to charity.
Online shopping is one reason that Weisfeld is closing down.
“Once Amazon and online came in, the traffic patterns changed,” he said. “There just isn’t any traffic, it’s too much down time.”
While increasing property taxes are hurting his business, Weisfeld also decided to close the store on Queen after an unpleasant end to an act of charity. “A woman came up to me and I make, as a hobby, wooden sculptures and she told me how much she loves this stuff,” he said. “I gave her a little piece, it was like 75 bucks. I gave it to her as a present and she was very poor lady. Ten minutes later, one of the kids that was working for me came up and says, ‘You know the lady you were talking to? She just stole a pair of socks.’
“I phoned my wife and I said I’m finished. That was the last straw.”
That experience didn’t sour Weisfeld on most of his customers, who he beams about.
“I love the people,” he said, reflecting on his time running the store at 1930 Queen, near Woodbine Ave.
“They were great, just fabulous to me. There’s a couple that didn’t like me, but that’s what life’s all about.”
Now that he is nearing retirement, Weisfeld plans to spend more time working on his sculptures.
As for his customers, many of whom bought from Ends for decades, they are sad to see it go.
“It’s very, very sad,” said Mary Loria, who has been going to Ends for 20 years. “The ambience of this place, the character, the staff is amazing.”
Elizabeth McFicker has been shopping for “everyday things” at Ends for 15 years.
“The quality is quite good for the really inexpensive price,” she said.
Eddie and Alexa Smith will benefit from Weisfeld’s decision to give his products to charity. They are organizing a youth powwow this month, where they will give some of the products to the children.
“We’ve had great success (with) beautiful people like this (Weisfeld),” Alexa Smith said. Weisfeld said giving is “a great high. When you give, you teach people to give.”
“It’s very, very sad. The ambience of this place, the character, the staff is amazing.” MARY LORIA ENDS CUSTOMER