BRENTWOOD — A longstanding resale store that provides scholarships to a school that serves students with disabilities will close in November.
A rent increase and loss in revenue were the downfall for the Miriam Switching Post, which operated for nearly 70 years in several locations, most recently at 292 Hanley Industrial Court.
The store is a fundraising arm for Miriam School and Learning Center, which enrolls students with autism, learning disabilities and other challenges in kindergarten through high school in Webster Groves.
“After many heartfelt discussions and a thorough review of our financial projections, we’ve reached a difficult but necessary conclusion,” said Meg Bamford, head of school, in a statement. “The cost of doing business at the Switching Post — in our current model and venue — now exceeds the revenue we’re able to generate. As a result, we are no longer able to keep the doors open in a sustainable way.”
A decade ago, the store contributed close to $400,000 annually to the Miriam School and Learning Center’s tuition scholarship fund. Tuition can range from $12,300 to $41,200 a year, depending on services needed and a sliding scale, according to the school’s website.
The shop’s lease payment was set to increase by 40% in January, Bamford said. The store lost an undisclosed amount of money in a robbery last November following the school’s annual Holiday Extravaganza fundraiser.
The store specializes in upscale and antique art, collectibles, furniture, home decor and jewelry. Donations will be accepted through Oct. 4, with the last day of operation on Nov. 1.
Officially, the store is “on hiatus” as school leaders evaluate how to continue their fundraising for scholarships.
“We are incredibly proud of what the Switching Post has meant to Miriam and to the broader community. And we are actively exploring ways to reimagine what’s next — whether that’s a new model, a new space, or a fresh vision inspired by the same heart and purpose,” Bamford said.
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Blythe Bernhard | Post-Dispatch
Education reporter
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