Timmins thrift shop's new owners looking to make a difference

Jan's Closet, one of the best-loved thrift stores in Timmins, has seen a lot of change under new ownership. The new owners are not merely businesspeople but are instead guided by a vision to do something good for the community. In this way, the owners can offer low-cost thrifting options and conduct outreach programs to help people in need while also bringing the city together.

According to Philip Mauro, one of the owners, the new direction of the store is spearheaded by his goal of building relationships through giving. "What we do here is we're trying to build relationships by offering donations," Mauro said. "I believe it's working; I believe those relationships are developing."

Icuran, the corporation founded by Mauro and his college buddies, owns Jan's Closet. Together, they bought the store at the tail end of 2024, hoping to mesh retail with a positive outreach effort. "That corporation owns the store, so we are looking to do a lot of outreach work with food and clothing," Mauro said.

Owners of Jan's Closet have large plans toward the future, which include collaborating with DIY Community Health, a neighboring organization that shares the same vision of helping the local community. According to Mauro, this partnership is a mutual aid arrangement that benefits both organizations and, more importantly, the people they want to serve.

I did my placement with DIY during the summer," Mauro shared. "I spent that time doing outreach in Timmins, meeting people downtown, getting to know them, handing out food, and picking up needles. It's more like we do something for them, and they help as much as they can for us."

It is a joint effort to develop a safety net for vulnerable persons in the city. Mauro said that rebuilding trust in the community and providing services accessible to all is the most important thing. "The way to build trust is to care for people," he said. "If you don't offer that care, then they don't think you're doing anything for them. It's a trust that's been lost, so our goal is to be as close to a wrap-around service as possible."

In addition to offering affordable clothing, Jan's Closet is also looking to provide opportunities for people who are finding it hard to get employment. Mauro shared, "I intend on offering volunteer positions that can transition to paid work." "If they want to come through that way with a social worker after or during store hours, then they're welcome to," he said.

The store’s staffing model is designed to be inclusive and supportive, reflecting Icuran’s overarching goal of providing warm clothes, food, and other essential services to those who need them most. Mauro stressed the importance of recognizing the humanity of individuals experiencing hardships. “I want people to be aware that the people they see around town that are struggling are human beings,” he said. "The only way it gets better is that we treat them with love and respect and create the systems in the city to support them."

Jan's Closet survives on the donation of clothes and the patronage of customers. Mauro said that the community has already responded positively, with piles of donated clothing pouring in. "We have mountains of clothes to work with," he said. The staff is constantly sorting through these donations to ensure that high-quality items are available for sale or distribution.

Mauro explained that the store’s revenue is essential for maintaining the business and funding their community initiatives. “The only way that can be done is by people coming in to buy stuff,” he said. “Ultimately, there is rent to pay and employees to pay, so people need to come in and support the business. I believe that what we’re doing will create a change that will be noticeable over time.”

Mauro and his team at Jan's Closet continue to pursue the mission of creating a community that makes everyone feel lifted and up for the fight, no matter their situation. With partnership from DIY Community Health and efforts made through outreach, they would hope to restore people's faith and trust back into who they feel nobody cares for.

Jan's Closet is located at 3 Birch St. N. Clothing and other items are always welcome as donations, and Mauro invites the community to shop at the store to support their vision of building a more compassionate and connected Timmins.

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