Metro Vancouver Non-Profit Thrift Stores Struggle to Survive Amid Soaring Commercial Rents

Non-profit thrift stores in Metro Vancouver say they’re struggling to stay afloat as commercial rents climb, putting vital community programs at risk.

The BASES Family Thrift Store in Burnaby is one such example. After 12 years of operation and over $1 million raised for local families and children, the organization says it can no longer afford its lease. BASES president Peggy Woodruff says the store’s rent has quadrupled—from $10 per square foot to $40—and after searching for more than 18 months and reviewing over 80 properties, they haven’t found a new affordable space.

“We know how to run a successful business,” Woodruff said. “But we just can’t afford the rent.”

In Surrey, the SEVA Thrift Store is facing similar challenges. Board member Raj Arneja says the store once donated over $100,000 to the community in its first seven years. But in the last two, with rent nearly tripling, those donations have stopped. “The profit is completely gone,” Arneja said.

To stay open, SEVA transitioned into a non-profit and recently received charitable status, which Arneja hopes will help them access grants. Beyond funding, she says the store plays a crucial role in helping its 60 volunteers build work experience and community ties. “It’s a great stepping stone into any kind of career,” she said.

As commercial rents rise alongside development and property values, some municipalities are exploring potential relief. In New Westminster, one councillor proposed creating special economic zones to help small businesses survive. But finance experts like Andrey Pavlov of Simon Fraser University say rent control isn’t the answer.

“The problem is supply,” Pavlov said. “We need to make it easy, fast, and safe to invest in more real estate—commercial and residential.”

Without more space coming onto the market, thrift store operators say they’re left with few options—and communities may lose not just low-cost goods, but the funding and support these stores provide.