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LOGAN SQUARE — A longstanding thrift store on Logan Square’s Milwaukee Avenue is closed indefinitely after its roof collapsed and there was an emergency gas leak in the building.
Family Thrift Store at 2160 N. Milwaukee Ave., a large secondhand store that has called Logan Square home for decades, is “closed until further notice” following the safety issues, according to signs posted to the store and city officials.
One of the building’s roof trusses caved in on or around July 23, city spokesman Michael Puccinelli said. That day, employees also reported a “strong smell of gas,” prompting an emergency response, Puccinelli said.
The city’s Department of Buildings had the gas company turn off the gas and instructed the building’s owner to do “emergency shoring” to avoid demolition and prevent further damage, Puccinelli said.
A city inspector is following up with the owner’s contractor Tuesday to inspect the work and review the structural engineer’s report, he said.
City records show the Milwaukee Avenue building passed all of its recent inspections.
Attempts to reach the owner of Family Thrift and the owner of the building were unsuccessful.
Family Thrift sells used clothing, furniture and home goods out of a massive warehouse.
The store has remained on Milwaukee Avenue for years, even as the neighborhood around it changed. Luxury apartment buildings and businesses like brewery incubator Pilot Project and Beautiful Rind cheese shop have popped up along the stretch in recent years.
Family Thrift has two other city locations at 7000 S. Pulaski Road A and 2527 W. Cermak Road.
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