Photo: Courtesy of More Than Words
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The beloved Cambridge thrift store Boomerangs is coming back under new management.
The store in Central Square closed in June, but will now be opened by More Than Words, a local non-profit that supports youth who are in the foster care system, in court, homeless, or out of school. The store will now be called “Boomerangs by More Than Words.”
“We think that this extension of our mission by opening Boomerangs is going to be another vehicle for delivering on our mission,” said More Than Words CEO Jodi Rosenbaum.
The store was open for over 20 years, run by AIDS Action, now part of Fenway Health. The store raised funds for HIV care and services, but had to close a few months ago because of ongoing financial losses.
More Than Words plans to keep the store similar to the original, but with a few new changes.
“It might have a little bit of a different vibe, a little bit of a different layout but it will have the same quality [of] really wonderful, curated selection of items,” Rosenbaum said.
Along with thrift clothing, Rosenbaum said the store will sell books, home goods and accessories.
Staff at the store will be graduates of More Than Words, helping them to support their career and education. Rosenbaum said this goes along well with the overall mission of the nonprofit.
“We are focused on giving young people, ages 16-24, who have been marginalized and oppressed — often by systems that are supposed to support them — an opportunity to take charge of their lives,” Rosenbaum said.
During its first three months in business, Boomerangs by More Than Words will be donating 1% of its profits to support HIV services at Fenway Health, as a way to continue on the mission of the original store.
The new store will be open by December 1.
WBZ's Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reports.
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