Gowanus Free Store Closes Citing Construction, Ongoing Challenges

BROOKLYN, NY — When Gowanus Mutual Aid opened a free store on the corner of Douglass and Bond streets last March, the group said online it hoped the volunteer-led space would operate "indefinitely."

Aptly dubbed "The Sharing Corner," the store — which started as a couple of cabinets — quickly grew into a small, colorful structure with shelves for clothing, unopened non-perishable food and kids toys alike. With the help of volunteers, Gowanus Mutual Aid kept the store stocked and organized.

The first signs of trouble, though, came publicly in May, when the mutual aid group suspended free store donations of clothing and books; items that were going to waste, as people were dropping boxes and bags en masse and creating a mess.

"Recently the Free Store has been overloaded with donations and some mornings we arrive to find the store has been trashed during the night," the group posted two weeks later, asking community members to meet to address the mess.

Then, on Wednesday, Gowanus Mutual Aid announced The Sharing Corner is closed for good.

The group — which declined Patch's request for comment — did not give a reason for the store's closure in its original announcement on Instagram.

In the post's comments, though, Gowanus Mutual Aid went into more detail, citing imminent development and ongoing challenges as reasons for shuttering the free store.

"The main issue is the building directly next to the free store is being demolished and has filed for permits with the city for construction to begin," said one regular volunteer in response to a question about what prompted the store's closure. (Patch found as-yet unapproved plans filed with The Department of Buildings to build a 22-story mixed-use building at 192 Douglass Street, the building that the free store is currently attached to.)

Gowanus Mutual Aid echoed this sentiment, saying that in addition to the construction the group has been dealing with other difficulties.

"If you take a look at past posts you will see that we have been trying (unfortunately with limited success) to work through some other challenges," the group commented. "Given that development is imminent anyway, we have decided just to close the store."

The decision to close, though, comes with a "heavy heart" the group said, thanking volunteers for keeping it running and encouraging neighbors to donate to other organizations listed in the post.

"Before we go... Thank you everyone who took the time to donate and care for the Free Store and our neighbors! You are forever in our hearts," the group said.

Gowanus Mutual Aid launched in December 2020 amid a citywide mutual aid group boom.

At first, the group focused on neighborhood grocery deliveries, which waned after vaccines were made available. Then, the group set up "market days," where essential supplies are handed out in bulk at the free store.

Dismantling the free store, though, isn't the end for the group, which is now reconsidering its role in the community and focusing on other community efforts.

In the near future, there are still three market days between June and September, the first of which, Patch learned, will still be held at the free store.