Disabled American Veterans Store in Lubbock to Close
After more than 50 years of serving the Lubbock community and its veterans, the Disabled American Veterans store at 13th St. and Buddy Holly Ave. is closing its doors for good. The thrift store, which is in partnership with the local DAV chapter, has provided over $400,000 to Disabled American Veterans over the years but has struggled to turn a profit in recent times.
Owner David Butts took over the store just two months before the pandemic hit and was forced to shut down for two months. Since then, business has declined and Butts has made the difficult decision to close the store. Despite his efforts to keep it afloat, he believes it would take a miracle to save it at this point.
Butts emphasized that while the store is not profitable, its mission to help veterans is of utmost importance. He expressed his gratitude to those who have served our country and said that his own father’s military service is why the store is so special to him. As a result of this closure, many veterans will lose their access to affordable clothing, furniture and household items that they need for daily living.
With the store set to close just before Christmas, Butts is offering a 50 percent discount on all items. He highlighted the unique treasures found within its walls and encouraged members of the community to take advantage of the sale before it’s too late. “This isn’t just about making money,” said Butts. “It’s about helping our veterans.”