Goodwill closing 8 stores in East Bay, laying off 61

Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay has announced it is closing eight thrift stores and laying off 61 employees because of the pandemic’s cascading economic effects.

“We have had to make a difficult decision for economic reasons,” Mike Keenan, CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay, said in a statement Friday. “Our employees are our first priority and we will continue to do everything we can to support them at this difficult time and fulfill the Goodwill mission in our remaining stores and facilities.”

In its announcement, the regional nonprofit said the laidoff employees would receive separation packages that include a week’s pay, a month of health benefits and other assistance, including help applying for unemployment benefits, drafting a resume and searching for work.

More than half of the impacted stores are in Alameda County, with five retail locations in Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Livermore and Oakland’s Durant Square.

The three remaining outlets are in Solano and Contra Costa counties.

Goodwill East Bay’s announcement said the economic shutdown “created a tremendous fiscal challenge” when stores closed for most of last year.

Goodwill East Bay uses its revenues from selling donated materials to provide paid job training and case management for clients who face employment barriers.

According to its most recent financial disclosure, Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay brought in $26.8 million in revenue in 2018. The taxexempt corporation spent nearly $18.7 million of that on salaries and other compensation.

While Keenan was an unpaid board chairman in 2018, his predecessor as president and CEO, James. R. Caponigro, made almost $334,000 that year.

Six other executive employees made $100,000 to $173,000 that year.