Out of the Closet
Out of the Closet is a nonprofit chain of thrift stores whose revenues provide medical care for patients with HIV/AIDS. The chain is owned and operated by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a Los Angeles-based charity that provides medical, preventive, and educational resources for patients. AHF is the nation's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare, research, prevention, and education provider. Out of the Closet thrift stores generate income to help fund the medical services AHF provides for those patients who are unable to pay. Proceeds from Out of the Closet Thrift Stores directly benefit AHF.
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| Founded | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Michael Weinstein |
| Location | |
| Origins | Atwater Village, Los Angeles, California |
Area served | California, Florida |
| Product | Pre-owned merchandise |
| Owner | AIDS Healthcare Foundation |
Key people | Michael Weinstein, President Laura Nelson, CFO |
Revenue | 5.8 million (2006) [1] |
| Website | www.outofthecloset.org |
Background
Out Of The Closet was founded by AHF president and co-founder Michael Weinstein, whose retail experience stemmed from his family's furniture business on the East Coast. He opened the first Out Of The Closet in Atwater Village in 1990. The 'Out of the Closet' name has been federally trademarked by AHF since 1997.
In addition to Out of the Closet's retail activities, the stores provide customers with a variety of opportunities to donate to charity.
The store's merchandise comes directly from donations, and therefore the store's revenues are directly reliant upon neighborhood charity. Merchandise sold includes adult clothing, consumer electronics, furniture, bric-a-brac, jewelry, handbags, shoes, and books.
There are now over 30 Out of the Closet locations throughout the United States,[2] including four locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, three in Texas, four locations in South Florida (two in Miami and two in Fort Lauderdale), and a location in New York City.
In addition to regular thrift store operations, several stores also offer additional services, including free rapid STD and HIV testing on a walk-in basis, along with counseling in a separate location of the store.