After 93 years, the White Elephant located at 2380 N. Lincoln Ave. is closing Aug. 31. According to store officials, this Children’s Memorial Hospital thrift shop does not have the money to stay in business in the Lincoln Park area. The store is donating all of its profits to the hospital.

The disappearance of this thrift shop may have an impact on locals, especially DePaul students. William Schau, a student at DePaul, refered to the White Elephant as a “staple in Chicago” and said he is sad to see it go.

Ryan Reynolds, another DePaul student, said he sometimes shops at thrift stores because it is cheap. He thinks that college students go to these places because of reduced prices and because “it’s a good place to find older aesthetics.”

Also, most DePaul students live off-campus and need furniture for their apartments.

“It is hard to find furniture from the 90’s at IKEA,” said Reynolds. That is why one might choose to shop here.

Coming to the White Elephant saved them money and the short distance to the store was also a plus because they could carry whatever they purchased.

Other people are not affected by the closing of this thrift shop.

Maureen Penland, a Lincoln Park resident, has been to the White Elephant once and never planned to return.

“It was really messy and hard to navigate,” she said.

The White Elephant sold a variety of furniture and various other items, including clothing.

Asia Wolska, who used to shop there when she was in high school, said the “White Elephant showed unique clothing and decorative styles to students while helping out the community. Students are always looking for ways to express themselves through what they wear.”

Not only are college students sad about the store’s closing, but so are other Chicagoans. Sue Ontiveros is disappointed that the White Elephant is closing because “they always had an interesting selection of things. [It was a] fun place to go through and browse.”
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