For nearly four decades, a small thrift store tucked behind Petaluma Market has been quietly sustaining local hospice care — but Sacks Hospice Thrift Shoppe will close its doors for the last time on or before May 15, ending an institution that generations of Petaluma residents have relied on.
Key Takeaways
- Sacks Hospice Thrift Shoppe at 128 Liberty Street in Petaluma will close on or before May 15, 2026.
- Providence Hospice Foundation cited required building upgrades it cannot legally fund with thrift store donations as the reason for closing.
- The volunteer-run store opened in 1987 and has directly funded local grief support, palliative care, and necessities-of-life programs.
- Proceeds from the store’s liquidation sale will still go toward hospice services.
- At least one longtime volunteer has publicly called the closure “short-sighted” and “a critical part of the community.”
A Petaluma Community Institution Since 1987
Sacks Hospice Thrift Shoppe opened at 322 Western Avenue in 1987 before relocating to its current home at 128 Liberty Street in 2008. Operated entirely by volunteers, the store sold donated housewares, furniture, clothing, and electronics at affordable prices, while channeling proceeds directly to Providence Hospice Foundation programs serving Sonoma County residents facing end-of-life and grief challenges.
The closure came as a blow to many longtime supporters. Gene Gable, who has volunteered in the store’s electronics section, told the Petaluma Argus-Courier the decision felt “unilateral” and called the store “a critical part of the community.” He said he believes the move is “short-sighted” — a sentiment echoed by others in the volunteer community who say they were not consulted before the announcement was made on April 16.
The news lands amid a broader set of changes affecting Petaluma this spring. The city recently celebrated the return of Clover Sonoma ice cream after a three-year absence — another beloved local institution — while continuing to wrestle with major infrastructure gaps, including the $97 million Caulfield Bridge project, which still needs $70 million in funding.
Why Providence Is Closing the Store
According to Mary Beth Walker, a communications manager for Providence, the decision came down to the building’s physical condition. The leased space at 128 Liberty Street requires “significant capital improvements and required safety and compliance upgrades,” Walker told the Argus-Courier. Because Providence does not own the building, donations made to the thrift store — legally earmarked for hospice care — cannot be redirected to fund structural repairs on a landlord’s property. The lease formally expires in August 2026, but Providence set an earlier closure date of May 15.
Providence St. Joseph Health, the parent organization of Providence Hospice Foundation, is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the United States. Critics of the closure have questioned why a system of that scale could not find an alternative solution, though Providence’s spokesperson did not address that point in statements provided to local media.
What Happens to the Funding?
Providence says proceeds from the store’s liquidation sale will still be directed toward hospice programs — including grief support services, necessities-of-life assistance, and community palliative care. However, the closure eliminates an ongoing, community-embedded funding stream that operated continuously for nearly 40 years. It is unclear whether Providence plans to establish a replacement revenue source or whether the loss of income will eventually affect service levels.
For Petaluma residents who regularly donated goods or shopped at Sacks, the coming weeks offer a final opportunity to support the store. Providence has not announced what will happen to items that remain unsold after May 15, according to the Petaluma Argus-Courier.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Sacks close, and can I still shop there?
Providence Hospice Foundation has set a closure date of on or before May 15, 2026, for Sacks Hospice Thrift Shoppe at 128 Liberty Street in Petaluma. The store remains open in the weeks leading up to that date. Any purchases made during the liquidation period will still benefit local hospice programs.
Will local hospice and grief programs lose funding because of this closure?
Proceeds from the liquidation of remaining inventory will go to Providence’s hospice programs, the foundation says. However, the closure does eliminate a long-running, community-supported source of revenue. Providence has not announced a replacement funding mechanism to sustain the hospice services the store has helped support for nearly four decades.
Who ran Sacks, and why weren’t volunteers notified in advance?
Sacks was run entirely by volunteers under the umbrella of Providence Hospice Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Providence St. Joseph Health. According to a volunteer who spoke to the Petaluma Argus-Courier, those who gave their time to the store were not consulted before the closure was announced — a point that has become a central grievance among those most closely involved with the store’s day-to-day operations.
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